Is
the
air-conditioning
in
cars
responsible
for
the
hole
in
the
Ozone?
Only
to a
small
extent.
Up
to
approximately
ten
years
ago
only
top
of
the
range
models
had
air-conditioning.
The
list
included
some
Lorries,
Tractors
and
Combine
Harvesters.
All
over
the
world,
all
the
above
vehicles
and
including
domestic
appliances
such
as
fridges,
freezers,
aerosol
cans
etc.,
all
used
R12
(a
refrigerant)
or
'CFCs'.
These
all
belong
to
the
same
family.
Up
until
the
80's
it
was
maintained
that
R12
was
safe
to
release
into
the
atmosphere.
This
refrigerant
R12
is
only
found
in
cars
manufactured
until
approx
'1993'.
There
are
other
types
of
refrigerant
to
replace
R12
but
these
are
slightly
more
expensive.
Nearly
all
modern
cars
use
R134a,
a
refrigerant
which
is
Ozone
friendly.
R134a
can
affect
global
warming
if
released
into
the
atmosphere,
which
is
why
a
safe
handling
licence
is
required
to
use
this
refrigerant.
Why
should
I
have
my
air-conditioning
serviced
if
it's
working
ok?
Your
air-conditioning
system
needs
servicing
the
same
as
your
car
engine.
It
needs
oil
for
the
compressor
or
it
will
seize
up.
There
is a
filter
that
collects
debris
and
moisture
from
the
coolant,
eventually
the
filter
gets
blocked,
this
will
lessen
the
performance
of
the
system
and
consequently
the
unit
will
stop
working.
You
can
guarantee
it
will
be
at
the
hottest
time
of
the
year.
Preventative
maintenance
and
Regular
servicing
will
SAVE
YOU
MONEY
How
do I
know
when
its
time
for
my
air
conditioning
to
be
charged?
Questions
to
ask
yourself
-
How old is my car?
Normally you would not need to recharge your system for approximately 4 years from new. After that, every 2 to3 years depending on usage.
-
When was it last recharged?
Are there any stickers under the bonnet, giving you dates of when it was last recharged? If you cannot see any it is better to have it checked out. It will save you money in the long run especially if you have just purchased the vehicle. Better to be safe than sorry.