Technically speaking, the air conditioning is not a critical part of your car. Whatever you are driving, it could function without the air conditioning ever working. But obviously a car with no AC is borderline undrivable. So, what do you do when your AC starts to misbehave?
The best response is to identify the cause, and the most common cause is a leak in the air conditioning’s freon. Freon is a gas that is used in refrigeration. You can think of it as the cooling element inside your car that turns hot air cool. Without freon you have no air conditioning.
How do You Know if Your Car is Leaking Freon?
Cars excrete fluids almost as much as humans do. The trouble is that freon does not leak in the same way that oil might leak from your oil system or how water might leak from your exhaust.
There are a few telltale signs of freon leakage, but you have to be looking for them. Here are a few of the traits that will help you spot a freon leak before your AC gets damaged.
- White Stains Under Hood
This sign is the most helpful, as it can only be freon that is causing it. These stains can appear in many different places under the hood of your car, but most commonly you will see them underneath the hood itself or along the edge of that area.
- Ice Around Compressor
You are unlikely to spot this sign as it is happening, but it is one of the most definitive signs of a freon leak. The issue here is that the freon is leaking, but the cold it creates is being “caught” by the compressor, resulting in the moisture on it freezing.
- Air is Humid
Once more we have a sign of trouble that can be hard to spot. Sometimes it is just humid outside and that humidity travels through the vents. But sometimes what you are feeling is actually small amounts of freon being blown onto you. The difference between normal humidity and a freon leak will be the smell. It will be slight at first but increase as the leak worsens.
Also, do not worry too much about there being freon in the air. It will never be enough freon to hurt you from breathing it in.
Visit us to Get Your Freon Leak Resolved
Freon leaks are harder to spot than they are to fix. If you suspect that your car might be suffering from a freon leak, or just about any other problem, then do not hesitate to call us at 510-793-6067. Our prices are competitive, and our representatives are experts in this matter.
We can get you a quote on how much it will cost to make the repairs, as well as direction on how to fix things yourself if you are a more do-it-yourself kind of customer.
