Summer: Beating the Heat with A/C | Tommy's Automotive

Summer: Beating the Heat with A/C

Car air conditionerRoad trips are a family favorite for many, and now that the heat is rising, it’s essential for any summer road trip to have optimal air conditioning.

We rely on our auto air conditioning every single day, yet many of us don’t know how it works. Even if your A/C unit appears to be working, it could be running inefficiently, meaning either you can’t quite get cool or you might be losing a lot of gas mileage.

AC Problems May Be Caused By Low Refrigerant

A common problem with an air conditioner is it may have a low level of refrigerant, which can happen without a visible difference. If your refrigerant levels are off, your car will be using an abundance of gas to cool itself down, causing you to lose gas mileage and money. Because of routine problems like this, we recommend that you have your A/C serviced at least once every two years (if not more often), especially before the summer months. This will ensure that everything is working properly.

Is Your Car More Efficient With the Windows Rolled Down?

In addition to having regular maintenance on your A/C system, there are a few ways to save fuel while still staying cool. Of course, there is the dilemma of whether to roll the windows down or run the cool air conditioning. Although there is some debate among the experts, the general consensus is that at lower speeds (under 45 mph), having the windows down is more efficient, while at higher speeds (above 45 mph), having the windows down causes too much air drag, so running the A/C is the better option. A final way to save gas that is not commonly known is to run your A/C on re-circulate because it takes significantly less energy to cool down the already cooler inside air than the hotter outside air.

As you get ready for the hottest months of the year, or your road trip, consider taking your car into the shop to make sure everything is running at peak efficiency. Contact us today!