Stay cool on the road this summer

Matt Peacock, MD of Star Tech Ltd in Poole, sheds light on your car’s air conditioning system.

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Summer has finally arrived and I’m hoping that we get to enjoy hot, balmy summer days for the next few months.

Whatever the weather, it’s good practice to turn on your car’s air conditioning all year round as it helps prevent the build-up of residue and bacteria.

If you notice that the system is not blowing as cold as usual or has a musty odour, it will certainly need some professional attention.

Read on for some frequently asked questions we receive about air conditioning.

Why recharge my car’s air con?

Firstly, to keep you cool, comfortable and healthy.

However, it will also help avoid costly repair bills. The system’s refrigerant is extremely cold which helps cool down the air con compressor. With little or no refrigerant, the compressor would get dangerously hot and fail, thus need replacing.

My air con smells musty.

A musty smell may be due to the evaporator in the system growing bacteria, mould and fungi.

While an air con recharge won’t help resolve this issue, our additional Forte Power Clean AC treatment will kill bacterial build up and removes odours coming from the air vents.

Why does air con stop working?

Low refrigerant is the most common reason. This could be caused by a system leak or age. Worst case is that the compressor has failed.

Who can carry out my air con recharge?

Not just any garage!

There are strict rules on who can carry out your recharge. The law states a company MUST use the appropriately trained technicians certified to work on equipment containing F gases.

Our specialist technicians are certified to do this work.

Is air con part of my service?

Air con recharges are not included in a standard service schedule set out by vehicle manufacturers. Many manufacturers provide a separate air con service schedule which will recommend a re-gas, on average, every 2 years.

What’s involved in a recharge?

Recharging the air con system involves removing all of the refrigerant, pressure testing the system to check for leaks, removing all moisture and replacing with fresh refrigerant.

How long does an air con recharge take?

The process takes about an hour to complete. At Star Tech, we specialise in Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Smart and Mini and you can have your air con recharged while you wait.

BEWARE CHEAP DEALS!

Cheap air con recharges should be considered very carefully. Some garages, including well known retailers, will provide a ‘make do’ recharge, putting a small amount of gas in to get people on their way. A short while later, it stops working again. Make sure you know what you are buying.

** August Offer **

25% OFF all air conditioning re-gases during August.

Call Star Tech on 01202 694758 or contact us to book.