Most Portland drivers worry about a breakdown or a tire blowout on a busy Oregon highway, but don't worry too much about failure of their air conditioning system. A breakdown on the side of the road can be a miserable and dangerous affair during Portland rush hour, but so can a long ride in a hot vehicle.
A lot of Portland drivers judge their vehicles' air conditioning systems as “non-essential” and so may neglect them in favor of repairs and maintenance that keep the vehicle running. But preventive maintenance of an air conditioning system is simple and inexpensive, while auto a/c repair can be very expensive.
Portland drivers should have the refrigerant in their air conditioning system checked regularly to ensure it is adequate and clean. Air conditioning systems often fail because air and water have contaminated the refrigerant. Air reduces the efficiency of the refrigerant, and water can cause rusting of the system's components. If your refrigerant is contaminated, the system should be evacuated and recharged. This will actually extend the life of your air conditioning system, preventing repairs, and keep it at peak performance.
At All Around Automotive, Inc., we advise our Portland customers to run their air conditioner periodically in the winter. This will keep the seals from drying out and cracking, saving them the inconvenience of this relatively minor repair.
Check with your vehicle owner's manual or with your friendly service advisor at All Around Automotive, Inc. for information about how often your vehicle air conditioning system should be serviced.
All Around Automotive, Inc.
3434 SE Division St.
Portland, Oregon 97202
(503) 239-0827
www.allaroundautomotive.com