It’s hard to even imagine the days when most cars didn’t have air conditioning. They have become a must have item, especially during the hot summer months. Since you never want to have a broken car air conditioner, here are some tips to follow:

1. Buy a charging kit

When an air conditioner stops working, sometimes it just needs to be “recharged.” If you’re handy enough, a recharge kit allows you to fix the problem yourself and can be found at auto shops or most department stores.

2. Remember eye safety

If you are going to attempt to repair an air conditioner yourself, always wear protective eyewear. When it comes to car fluids, you never know what might end up going where, and you don’t want any dangerous fluids getting into your eyes because it could cause serious damage.

3. Check for refrigerant

This should be the first thing to check when the air conditioning is not working properly. If there is no refrigerant, it does not cool.

4. Check for leaks

There is no point in recharging an air conditioning system if there is a leak. Depending on the size of the leak, you may not even notice it for months until the system stops cooling.

5. Look at the AC capacitor

If the AC condenser is dirty on the outside or clogged on the inside, it will have a hard time keeping the refrigerant cold on a hot day.

6. Have it checked by a trusted mechanic

You should always keep up with your car’s scheduled maintenance, but it’s a good idea to have your air conditioner checked by a mechanic at the start of summer just to be safe. Some mechanics will offer this service for free, so ask.

7. Be careful with water

The water should drain out of the car after it is parked when using an air conditioner. If there is water inside the vehicle, it means that the drain is clogged.

8. Listen to the noise

You should not hear any rattle or vibration when using an air conditioner. Something could be obstructing the fan, causing the air conditioner to malfunction.

9. Use your nose

The air conditioner should not smell moldy. If you do, mold could be growing inside the system and it’s unhealthy to breathe that air. An auto repair shop can clean it to eliminate the problem.

Some car air conditioning problems are too complicated to fix. For security reasons, don’t try to fix something yourself if you’re not exactly sure what you’re doing. You may end up causing more harm than good.