Air Conditioning Repair and Service

Service Overview

There’s nothing more frustrating than climbing into your car on a hot day, only to find that your air conditioning system is blasting hot air from the vents. When you don’t keep your AC system properly maintained, it has to work harder to cool your vehicle. This leads to wear and tear as well as increased repair costs.

The expert technicians at Park Muffler are on hand to offer you air conditioning service and repair so you can enjoy a drive on those hot summer days without overheating.

How Your Vehicle’s AC System Works

You may be surprised to learn that your vehicle’s air conditioning system doesn’t technically create cold air. What is actually does is remove heat and moisture out of the air that’s already in your vehicle. The air conditioning system uses a refrigerant, which travels through the condenser. The condenser is like a radiator, allowing the liquid refrigerant to come in contact with the fresh air. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the air, allowing fresh, cool air to blow through the vents and cool your vehicle.

While you may feel that summer months are the only time to be concerned about the state of your vehicle’s air conditioning system, it comes in handy in the winter months too.
Since the AC system dries the air in your vehicle by removing moisture, it can be used to effectively and quickly defrost your windows in the winter time.

Signs Your Air Conditioning System Needs Repair

While it is recommended that you keep your vehicle’s air conditioning system regularly maintained, it’s important to know the signs that it’s time for a repair.

If your AC system is not working properly, you may notice the following:

• Hot air blowing even when the system is set to cool
• Inconsistent temperature control
• Failure to cool the vehicle, even when running
• Strange noises
• Less air blowing through the vents than usual
• Stale, moldy or damp smells coming from the vents

If you notice any of these issues, it’s time to bring your vehicle in for an inspection.

Diagnosing the Issue

When you bring your vehicle to our highly-trained technicians at Park Mufflers, we will use our knowledge and expertise to pinpoint exactly where the issues with the AC system lie. More often than not, your vehicle is low on refrigerant or needs an AC recharge on the system. This is the first issue we will look for in hopes that the repair is quick and easy.

However, sometimes air conditioning problems are more complex. To find and diagnose the issue, we may recharge the system and use a UV dye to detect any leaks. If any are found, they will be patched and repaired. If the issue is not a leak, we may inspect your AC compressor clutch to see whether or not it is engaging, check the compressor belt to see if it is loose, or check to see if your AC condenser needs to be cleaned.

Sometimes, the problem doesn’t necessarily reside within the system. The air may be cool, but the flow is weak or inconsistent. In this case, we’ll check other areas such as the cabin filter, the blower motor, or the blend door.

Recharging the AC System

Some people may be compelled to recharge their air conditioner at home with a kit to save on repairs costs. However, this should be done with extreme caution, as it may do more harm than good. Recharge kits found in stores may use a propane gas that is not compatible with the refrigerant your air conditioning system requires. Using it can cause further damage and complications. As the kits claim to fill small leaks, they can actually fill and plug essential areas of the A/C system, such as various valves.

Ultimately, these at-home repairs can cost more money than you would have paid to have a professional technician do the work. If you’re considering using a kit, we highly recommend speaking to a professional first!

Our Services

Park Muffler offers a full range of air conditioning diagnostics and repairs for all makes and models of vehicle. Whether there’s a leak or your system simply isn’t cooling how it used to, our team can help keep you cool in the warm summer months.

If you are experiencing any sort of issue with your vehicle’s air conditioning system, contact Park Muffler! We’ll help keep your vehicle’s heating and cooling system in top working condition.