Well, summer is here again and it’s finally time to use the A/C in the car for that road trip to Wenatchee or Chelan. You know the drill – crank it up to full and…it’s not cold. It’s kind of cold, but not REALLY cold! “What happened?” you ask to nobody in particular, “I haven’t used it since last year and it was fine then."

What many people don’t realize is that the air conditioning system, or more correctly the HVAC system (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) is used even during the winter when the defroster is on. This is to help remove the moisture in the air from the cabin of the vehicle, which is why sometimes you will notice a puddle of clear water form underneath the vehicle when you park after running the A/C – it is actually moisture that has been condensed and REMOVED from the car (also why it’s called air conditioning instead of air cooling.

If you find yourself in the situation I described, the system has likely developed a leak. Now, under ideal conditions the refrigerant in the system would never leak out – similar to a refrigerator at home. The truth is that cars and trucks are not operated in ideal conditions (heat, cold, bumps and potholes, etc.) and when a leak develops the performance drops.

Many shops offer air conditioning service, and the prices can vary widely depending on just what is being done. One thing that is undeniable is that refrigerant is expensive.

R134a, which what, is currently used in the US and most of the world is also a commodity and has a variable price. If your system is low and has a leak, my advice is to have a qualified technician diagnose and repair the leak to prevent you from having to refill the system with liquid that can cost $30 per pound or more and it also prevents it from entering the environment.

Another important reason to keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape is when the refrigerant leaks out, atmospheric air can get in (which has moisture a.k.a. water in it), damage the internal workings of the system and be costly to repair.

So, get in your car or truck, crank the A/C to “full” an see if it’s cold – if it’s not, then have a qualified shop service it and the go over the mountains and enjoy the sun!

Todd Ainsworth is shop manager at Alki Auto Repair and can be reached at todd400@comcast.net or 935-8059.