UK flash heatwaves sparks rise in AC services

Our online workshop application reported a 76% rise in air conditioning (AC) services since the UK’s weather warmed up in May.

The UK is infamous for rainy days, grey skies and fleeting summers. So it’s not surprising that air conditioning is not at the top of our priority list, but maybe it should be!

The first 6 months of 2016 have been the hottest on record globally and the UK is no exception, and July reported highs of 30°C. Immediately following the UK’s first ‘flash heatwave’ this year, UK workshops reported and an influx of customers requesting AC servicing and repairs.

UK drivers tend to only associate air conditioning with warm weather and therefore don’t use or check their vehicles’ AC system, only to find that it’s not working properly because of irregular maintenance when they need it the most. This is a great opportunity to be proactive and encourage your customers to add air conditioning service to their annual services to avoid being caught up in a hot traffic jam without a working AC system.

Autodata’s ‘hot’ tips

• If an air conditioning system is completely empty, then it highly likely that there is a leak. Add a small amount of dye to the gas when re-gassing to find the leak.
• Too little or too much gas (R134a) will cause the AC refrigerant pressure sensor to stop the AC compressor from working to protect the system. Autodata’s service air conditioning module provides the correct air conditioning refrigerant quantity for each vehicle and illustrates how and where to find the low and high AC service connectors to connect a gas test gauge.