For most people, winter is usually the time of year when the A/C in their cars is kept at bay. Others think it is the period of the year when they have to stop running the A/C to increase its lifespan. But is this a good idea?
Not running your car’s air conditioning system for a long time will actually decrease its lifespan. It is advisable that you let the A/C run for a few minutes every week. Each time you turn the air conditioner on, it allows the coolant to circulate through the system correctly. Usually, the coolant is incorporated with a lubricant that helps to maintain the pipe works and seals in good conditions.
Not using your air conditioner means the lubricant isn’t going to act on the parts or seals, and this puts the lives of the A/C components in danger, causing issues like leaks and breakage. When the seals are broken, the system starts to leak, and the coolant begins to ebb away. It becomes necessary to refill the coolant often. In a more severe case, the system will not hold the gas at all, and therefore require you to change the leaking seals.
This is not the only reason you should run the car A/C during winter. Just like the human body, the air conditioning system is built with parts that are meant to move. When the human body sits for a while, parts of the body begin to ache, and blood circulation is deterred. This is not healthy for your body or for the air conditioning system. If the A/C is not used for months, some parts of the system, such as the A/C compressor, may become jammed and will only take the service of an expert technician to get it running.
The A/C is also used during defrost mode to help in removing moisture that is trapped in the passenger compartment. If your vehicle seldom sets out of the garage, thus not requiring the use of defrost, then it is a good idea to occasionally turn on the air conditioner to help extend the longevity of A/C system components.