The hot summer weather is here and with it is a reminder about how important your car's air conditioning system is for keeping you comfortable on the road. Here's 7 tips for keeping your air conditioning running at maximum performance.
1. Run your A/C weekly on defrost mode
2. Clean or change the air filter
As temperatures drop, so does your tire pressure. Depending on your vehicle and what type of tires you have, your tire pressure can drop anywhere from one to two PSI for evDirty cabin air filters prevent proper airflow. Check your filter often and clean or replace it.ery 10-degree drop in temperature. Driving with low tire pressure is dangerous and can even lead to premature wear on your tires. At The Mufflerman, we recommend everyone drive with a tire pressure gauge, allowing you to easily check your tire pressure regardless of where you are. If you notice your pressure is low, top it up as soon as you can.
3. Don’t pre-cool your car
Your car’s air conditioning operates at maximum efficiency when you’re driving. Don’t pre-cool your car. On extra hot days, put the fan on high once you start driving and open only the backseat windows for 10 to 20 seconds to force out the hot air.
4. Set A/C to the coldest setting
Your car’s air conditioning is most efficient when set to the lowest temperature and adjusting the fan for comfort. Most air conditioning systems cool the air to 3-4 C. A higher temperature forces the system to re-heat the air, burning more fuel.
5. Keep your car clean
Dirt and bacteria can negatively impact your car’s air conditioning system. Keep dirt and debris at bay by cleaning, dusting and vacuuming regularly.
6. Don’t use A/C on recirculate if you have back seat passengers
The recirculation mode pulls air from the front of the vehicle and re-cools it. It works well for passengers in the front of your vehicle, but can leave air stale and hot in the back.
