How to use the car air conditioner and not harm your health
Content
The car air conditioner is designed to save people from the heat and perform some other functions, that is, the unit is extremely useful. But its improper use can have the opposite effect, that is, the overall comfort of life will decrease, both in the presence of painful sensations and in economic terms.
Meanwhile, the device is extremely automated, all the rules are written in the instructions, you just need not make mistakes.
The principle of the air conditioner in the car
The operation of the climatic system for cooling the air in the cabin does not differ from conventional household air conditioning devices.
There is a standard set of equipment:
- a compressor driven by an engine that creates the desired pressure of the working refrigerant;
- electromagnetic clutch opening the belt drive to the compressor rotor;
- an air conditioner radiator or a condenser installed in front of the engine compartment in a block with the main engine cooling radiator;
- an evaporator in the cabin that directly removes excess heat from the air;
- control valve and low and high pressure lines;
- a control unit with sensors and a remote control with buttons on the dashboard;
- system of air ducts, dampers and deflectors.
The working fluid is a special gas with a regulated boiling point temperature - freon. Oil is added to it to lubricate the system from the inside and a service dye that shows leaks under ultraviolet illumination.
Freon is compressed by a compressor to a pressure of several atmospheres, heated, after which part of the energy is taken from it in the condenser.
After evaporation in the cabin radiator, the temperature drops below zero, the fan blows over the cold pipes, and the air in the cabin cools.
The temperature is regulated by the control unit according to the values \uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbspecified by the driver. For automatic climate control systems, maintenance is carried out according to feedback from temperature sensors. Air flows are distributed by air ducts and dampers according to the scheme set from the control panel.
The main mistakes of using air conditioning in a car
Some rules for using the climate system are not sufficiently spelled out in the instructions, apparently the manufacturers consider them obvious. This leads to incorrect actions, incomplete use of the air conditioner, as well as colds and other diseases.
Ventilation
It is not enough just to cool the air, it must be clean and with the right ratio of oxygen and carbon dioxide, so the cabin should be ventilated before starting the trip. Even hot outside air in the internal recirculation mode will be quickly brought to a comfortable temperature, while there will be enough oxygen in it for normal breathing.
Various unpleasant odors from upholstery materials and substances of bacterial origin can accumulate in the cabin. The air conditioner will not cope with them, and regular ventilation will solve the problem.
All kinds of suspensions from the outboard atmosphere will be removed by a cabin filter, which is now produced with activated carbon and even anti-allergic drugs. On some machines there are regular flavors.
Use only in hot weather
The climate control system is automatic, therefore, it implies the possibility of constant operation. It should not be used only in some extreme conditions.
It can easily cope with a decrease in humidity, condensation on the windows and independently adjust the comfortable parameters of the air environment. This application will eliminate harmful rapid temperature changes.
Air temperature too low
Turning on the air conditioner at full power will lead to an influx of icy air through the deflectors. Do not forget that the surface of the evaporator has a negative temperature, such flows are very dangerous, even if they are pleasant in the heat. So you can catch a cold earlier than find comfort.
It is enough to set the desired temperature value on the indicator, then the air conditioning system will quickly but smoothly enter the optimal mode.
Air flow on yourself
Everyone knows the harmful effects of drafts. When a part of the body is blown with cold air, and the rest are warm, the body ceases to understand what measures of protection are required from it. The result will be local hypothermia, loss of immunity and a cold.
Flows must be installed evenly over space, then there will be no local temperature drops. It is better if the movement of air masses is not felt at all. This is exactly how the most advanced climate systems of expensive cars work.
How to turn on the air conditioner if there is a child in the car
Any person requires some time to adapt if he regularly uses air conditioning in the summer. In children, this is especially pronounced, so they should be gradually accustomed to frequent appearances in refrigerated salons.
All the same rules for using the climate must be followed, but for children this requires an even more gradual approach and precise control over the flows:
- You can not start immediately with the temperature regime that is most preferable for adults. If there are children in the car, then the temperature is initially set a couple of degrees higher, lowering it as you get used to it;
- Low humidity, characteristic of a working cooler, is just as harmful to a child as high humidity, how a doctor can tell you how to deal with this by prescribing simple pharmacy products, amateur performance, like technical advice, is undesirable here;
- Not only should the deflectors not be directed at the child, but it is also advisable to set the fan speed to a minimum;
- The evaporator should be cleaned and disinfected more often.
It is advisable to work with children on the inadmissibility of their interference in the system control panel and independent change of settings.
Mistakes when servicing a car air conditioner
The air conditioner does not last forever and requires regular checks and, if necessary, repairs.
Irregular refrigerant pressure check
It is known from the laws of technology that all sealed joints leak. This is especially true of the air conditioner, since freon has a high penetrating power.
Even on new cars, the efficiency of the equipment is constantly deteriorating, and on those who have traveled, the annual need for refueling is a common thing. Working with a lack of freon overloads the compressor and reduces its life.
Unsuitable freon
As a rule, all modern systems use the same refrigerant composition. Outdated brands are not widely used. But you need to know yours exactly, and avoid erroneous mixing or replacement. This will quickly bring the system down.
As well as the use of cheap low-quality consumables, a dirty mixture of freon and oil and refueling in random places without the use of special stations.
Infrequent cabin filter replacement
Poorly cleaned air contains dust, diesel exhaust particles, bacteria, fungi and other unpleasant components. Most of them are caught by the cabin filter, but its capacity is not unlimited.
A clogged element ceases to perform its functions, at the same time, due to an increase in pressure drop, it disrupts the entire air flow distribution system. It is inexpensive, so it is better to change it more often than according to the regulations, not to mention the violation of deadlines upwards.
Too much freon during refueling
The required amount of refrigerant is determined by the maps of the filling station, which contains a large number of makes and models of cars.
If you try to avoid a visit to the professionals, it is easy to exceed the refillable amount. The system will be overloaded, and quick breakdowns are possible. Even worse, if at the same time an error occurs with the determination of the required amount of oil.
The evaporator is not antibacterial
The evaporator zone creates excellent conditions for the growth of bacterial colonies. They themselves can be hazardous to health, but most of all this is noticeable by the characteristic musty smell that makes you want to turn off the system altogether.
Meanwhile, there are several ways to quickly and with the use of specialized preparations to clean the airways and the structure of the radiator, destroy germs and eliminate odors. Such treatment should be carried out regularly, depending on the intensity of use of the machine.
Tips for proper operation of the air conditioner in the car
We can summarize the basic rules for using the air conditioner:
- the evaporator zone must be kept clean and dry, the latter is quite difficult, but if you spend a little time blowing the fan with the device turned off at the end of the trip, the equipment will corrode much less;
- in winter, it is necessary to turn on the installation with regularity once or twice a month in order to disperse the oil through the system, for this you will have to use a heated room, since the air conditioner will not turn on below zero;
- no matter how comfortable the mode of constant climate operation is, the car must be regularly ventilated by opening the windows;
- in extreme heat, you should not overload the system by supplying outside air, for this there is an internal circulation mode;
- air conditioning is convenient to use to reduce humidity and clean windows from condensate, it will do it faster than the interior heater.
If the system has failed, it is better to first figure out what exactly happened and only then continue moving.
For example, the constant operation of the compressor with a faulty clutch and lack of lubrication will quickly kill an expensive unit and can significantly harm even the engine, up to a fire.
The information provided on the device of the air conditioning system in the car will help not to get into such situations.
