Posted by 
A DEALERSHIP expert reveals key ways to keep your A/C system healthy, and how to maximize cooling during hot days.
One of the best ways to keep cool is to keep up regular maintenance.
A dealership employee recommends drivers take steps to make sure their A/C can handle the high demands of summer[/caption]
Getting tinted windows can help reduce the internal temperatures of a vehicle[/caption]
He recommended a ceramic tint if possible, as it’s more effective at keeping a car cool[/caption]
Before turning the A/C to full blast after several months of not using it, there are a few system checks that drivers should do to make sure everything is in shape to handle the summer demands.
The first check can be done from home, and no wrenching experience is needed.
Taking a look behind your car’s glovebox is a great first step.
“A lot of people don’t realize that there is actually cabin filter inside their vehicles, like a Hepa filter,” Joe Pascone, an employee at the Vanguard GMC Dealership in Sherman, Texas, told CBS affiliate KXII.
He explains the function of the cabin air filter is essential to the A/C’s cooling ability, as air is filtered through it before it goes into the cabin.
It’s also important to keep clean for you and your passenger’s health.
“It actually keeps all the pollen and all the bad stuff from outside from getting into the vehicle and if it’s not replaced, it actually starts building up dirt and actually cause your air conditioning not to function correctly,” he said.
If your A/C system has to work harder, cooling efficiency can be reduced.
“So you’ll actually be warmer in your car than colder because it’s actually restricting the airflow. So that’s something that a lot of people totally miss out on,” explained Pascone.
He recommends drivers take a peek at their cabin air filter once a year or every 15,000 miles, depending on the climate.
Those who live in humid and warm climates should check more often, as there’s a higher risk for mold growth.
When those things are checked and managed, he recommends a simple trick to cool a hot car quicker.
Instead of immediately turning on the recirculating feature and blasting the A/C on the max settings, drivers should seek fresh air.
“The biggest thing is making sure it’s on fresh air for a few minutes, that way it’s pulling fresh air into the vehicle until cool starts cooling down, and you can change it over to recirculate,” Pascone suggested.
Everybody always wants it to be a little bit cooler, there’s a couple of things, you know, really important to make sure that your A/C has been serviced.
Joe Pascone
Finally, Pascone says another effective way to beat the heat is to minimize the amount of light being let into the vehicle.
If your vehicle doesn’t have tinted windows from the factory, it may be something worth looking into.
Especially if you live somewhere notoriously hot, like Texas or Arizona.
“There’s different kinds of styles of window tint out there, but there’s a ceramic tint that actually helps keep the inside of the vehicle cooler from the get-go,” he said.
“That way it takes less time for your car to recover from how much of that hot sun is beating down on it and stuff.”
Expert advice on prepping your car for summer
Dustin Piggot, the Service Manager at a Subaru Dealership with years of technincal experience, told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive interview which items drivers should have checked before temperatures rise:
- Have a multi-point inspection performed. A paid inspection will prompt a technician to check vital systems like braking, power steering, and front and rear suspension for any leaks or malfunctions. They will also test the condition of the battery and check vital fluid levels and conditions.
- Cooling system. Before things heat up, drivers must have their cooling system inspected for proper coolant levels and condition, have radiator hoses evaluated, and have the radiator checked.
- Have your A/C system checked. If freon is low and needs charging or parts need to be replaced, it’s essential to address the issue before temperatures rise.
- Make sure your tires are appropriate for warmer weather. If you live in a climate that necessitates a dedicated winter tire, swap them with all-season or summer tires if possible to extend the life of the winter tire. Winter tires are softer and will wear out much quicker in warmer weather.
- Look at tread depth. Tires with low tread depth will make it more difficult to stop your car if you need to avoid an accident.
- Give your car some TLC. Before it gets too hot, Piggott says it’s important to give your car a good cleaning to wash away winter grime and dirt and treat your paint to a nice coat of wax to protect it from harsh UV rays and high heat. Many dealerships like his offer detailing and washing services.
Read more here.
Drivers can also look into sun visors to sit in the window to keep the interior cool and be savvy about where they park.
When possible, park in the shade to reduce interior temperature.
He says it’s also important to have the A/C inspected and serviced.
“Everybody always wants it to be a little bit cooler, there’s a couple of things, you know, really important to make sure that your A/C has been serviced,” he said.
