We get many air conditioner complaints this time of the year when the days start to warm up and families’ first test out their car air conditioner systems: “the air smells like a wet dog”, “the air isn’t blowing cold”, “I hear rattling when the I turn the a/c on”. Many times the problem is nothing more than having the controls on the wrong settings. Here a few tips to test your system out yourself:

• Turn on your air condition to the coldest setting, make sure all the vents are working and that the air is cold
• Test the air condition fan speeds, you should have varying fan speeds from low to high
• If you smell a foul odor when the air conditioner is turned on, it means there may be a buildup of bacteria or mold in the system. Have this taken care of right away by your service professional as you don’t want to aggravate your allergies or subject your kids to condensed mold spores.
• Check your service records to see when was the last time you replaced the cabin air filter
• Inspect under the hood at the bottom of the windshield, near the wiper blades, for a buildup of leaves. Leaves can block the incoming vents and reduce the performance of the air conditioner
• Also check for a buildup of leaves behind the front grill, which can also reduce the efficiency of the air conditioner
• When the air conditioner is on, listen for any unusual noises from the dashboard or under the hood. Rattling can signify a broken mechanism or a foreign object in the vents. *Just like at home, make sure your little ones know not to stick anything inside the vents of your car. and be careful with vent clip air fresheners*

If you’re still experiencing a loss of air flow or hot air, it’s time to bring your car to the experts. The first culprit we’ll check is the cabin air filter; it is designed to remove harmful particles from entering the passenger compartment and filters the air inside the car. The cabin air filter needs to be changed every 12,000 as it can clog quickly with road dust, soot, gaseous odors, pollutants and other contaminants that would otherwise enter the ventilation system. A clogged cabin filter will affect the airflow of the air conditioner, but not the temperature itself. If you’re air is not blowing cold at all, it’s time to come see us.
At Osceola Garage we recommend having your air conditioner serviced once a year and prior to the summer season. We’ll run an air conditioner performance test that includes: checking system pressure, inspecting air conditioner components, cabin air filter, and cooling fan operation. We will also evaluate the air condition performance and recharge if needed. No matter the problem, you can be sure we’ll find a solution so you and your car leave happy and ready for the summer heat.