Car Systems:
Q.How long does it take to service and re-gas my air conditioning?
A. At least one hour to carry out a full professional service.
Q How much gas does my air cond system take?
A.It varies on the make and model of the vehicle. A normal saloon car can take half a kilo, whereas a 4x4 may take one and a half kilos.
Q.How ofter should my air cond system be serviced?
A.Every year to ensure it operates at maximum efficiency. If you let the system run low on refrigerant, the compressor has to work twice as hard and will, therefore, wear out in half the time.
Q.How often should I run the air con in my car?
A. All the time on hot or cold depending on the outside temperature. this will ensure that the rubber seals and gaskets in your system do not dry out or crack thereby causing leaks. run your system for a few minutes every week at the very least. Contrary to popular belief, it does not greatly reduce your mpg.
Q. When I switch on my aircond, I get a smelly 'pong' inside the car, what causes it and how do I
get rid of it?
A. It is micro organisms that collect on the evaporator behind the dashboard and the fan blows these nasties into your face, causing allergic reactions, coughs, sneezes and sore throats. At JCG, we can treat your air cond system and kill them off, thereby making your car smell pleasant again.
Q There are aircon 'top-up' kits for sale in some motorists shops,. how good are they and should I consider using them?
A. Do not use them for two reasons, 1. They are potenially dangerous and you could injure yourself. 2. Your aircon system will contain moisture and contaminants that you will re-circulate throughout all the aircon pipes and components. We remove all moisture and contaminents as part of our service schedule prior to re-gassing. It is always better and safer to have your system re-gassed by a qualified professional.
Q. How do I check that the air cond system is working when I go to buy a second hand car?
A. start the engine, lift the bonnet and turn the air con on to maxiumum cold and maximum fan speed. the air from the vents should be almost freezing within one minute or so.
Go to the front of the car and listen for the compressor clutch clicking in and out and an accompanying slight rise and fall in the engine revs. the compressor is driven by a belt at the front of the engine and is about the same size aas the alternator. If all this happens then the a/c is working ok.
However, if you then purchase the car, we would recommend that you have the air cond serviced to ensure efficient running for your usage.
Q. If the gas leaks into the passenger compartment of my car, can it be dangerous?
A. No, the modern refrigerant is called R134a, it is not harmful to health and is not an explosive gas. It is also environmentally friendly, unlike the old refrigerant gas R12, which was phased out from 1993.
Q. Why does my air con system run low on refrigerants?
A. All the pipes and connections on your air con system are naturally slightly porous so you lose anything up to 20% of the gas every year due to natural leakage.
Home Systems:
Q.How often should the filter in my air cond unit be checked?
A.It is recommended that you check it at least once a month. If you smoke in your house, have inside pets,or a large amount of traffic in the house, check the filter once a week.Out side enviroment should be considered as well, dust storms and high polution areas do affect the filter as well.
Q. My unit is blowing only cool but not cold air, why is this?
A. There could be a few answers to this problem. The condenser [ outside coil ] could be clogged causing a higher pressure, which means higher temp. it could be as easy as cleaning the coil. It could also be low on refrigerant or could have a leak which needs to be repaired before adding refrigerant. Leak checking and adding refrigerant has to be done by a certified technician.
Q. What would cause the air conditioner to frost over?
A. Because of high humidity in the air, the evaporator gets cold enough to cause the extra moisture to freeze. This could happen if you are low on refrigerant or if your coils or filters are dirty. If you are low on gas, there most likely is a leak and this should be repaired.
A temporary fix is simply to turn off the unit until it warms up/thaws. Then turn it back on. But this is not a permanent solution so call us to come and check for leaks and the
refrigerant levels.
Q. How do you know if your cooling system can be repaired or if it is time to replace it?
A. At JCG, we will come and check your system and professionally advise you
but you may also consider replacing it if:
Your air conditioner is more than 10 years old
Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up
Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold.
No one is home for long periods of the day and you do not have a programmable thermostat.
Your home has humidity problems.
Your home has excessive dust.
Your heating or cooling system is noisy.
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