How Should I Maintain My Car's Air Conditioning System?

The recommended advice is that the air conditioning system should be left on all of the time, even when it is not actually being used for cooling the car. It should also be switched on to run completely cold for at least 10 minutes every week to circulate the refrigerant. This helps stop leaks as it lubricates the system and its seals.

Straight after this, it is a good idea to switch to full heat as this will then dry the pipes out and will blow out any moisture that could encourage the growth of mould or bacteria. The last thing you want when you turn on the air conditioning or heating is for the incoming air to contain potentially dangerous microorganisms or spores.

At some point, the system will need to be professionally service and regassed, as some gas is always going to be lost from the system. This may need doing about once a year, or maybe once every two years, depending on the age of the car.