How often should a new car's air conditioning be cleaned?
2 Answers
Car air conditioning should generally be cleaned every six months or so. The cleaning method for car air conditioning is as follows: 1. Air conditioning duct cleaning: Before formal cleaning, shake the air conditioning cleaner well and attach the soft tube from the packaging. Then, set the air conditioning to the maximum air volume and adjust it to the external circulation mode. However, do not turn on the air conditioning compressor (the A/C button should be in the off state). Aim the well-shaken cleaner at the position of the air filter and spray it. The suction inside will draw the cleaner in, thereby cleaning the air conditioning ducts. 2. Precautions: Special attention should be paid to not placing the soft tube on the cleaner too close to the blower. After the cleaner is sprayed, the owner can let the air conditioning system run for about 10 more minutes in the external circulation mode. After turning off the engine, the cleaner will defoam and turn into a liquid, flowing out of the car through the drain after cleaning the evaporator and air ducts.
I basically don't clean the AC system for the first two years with a new car, mainly because the pipelines are quite clean when it comes from the factory. Starting from the third year, I make it a routine to clean it once every year before the season changes, especially before switching to cooling mode between spring and summer. Doing it myself is also very simple: buy a can of AC cleaner, spray it into the air intake, and let the blower run for 10 minutes to get it done. Usually, before parking, I turn off the AC in advance and just let the fan run to dry the pipes and prevent mold. I change the filter frequently, every six months to ensure clean air intake. The car dealership always urges me to clean it every three months, but for a new car, such frequency is really unnecessary. Over-maintenance can easily damage the seals. Of course, if I smell a musty odor or the cooling slows down, no matter how long it's been, I have to deal with it immediately.
