Service Tip: Quick Ways to Keep Your Truck's A/C System Happy
Summer means your drivers will be uncomfortably hot while moving your load. It’s important that your drivers stay cool in the summer. Driver retention is a priority and loss of driver comfort may decrease your retention rate while increasing your recruitment costs. There are a few ways you can prepare for the upcoming heat wave and keep a happy and healthy fleet.
Wash out condenser coils with water. It is recommended to do this before the summer heat arrives. To keep your A/C operating with maximum effect, continue to clean them out on a consistent schedule. Your work environment will also determine how often it needs to be cleaned. If your truck is working near a corn drier, the dust will require a more constant cleaning of the condenser than if you regularly drive over the highway.
The condenser is also the most likely location for your A/C system to be damaged by external forces. Look it over for dents and bends. While performing your inspection look for any hoses or lines that indicate a freon leak. You will not normally see an actual drip but instead look for any spot on the A/C system that is damp or has dust sticking to it. This indicates that there is a leak present and should be fixed as soon as possible because a loss of freon may prevent your A/C from operating at peak efficiency.
Make sure to check for leaks at the service ports as well. There is a propensity for A/C systems to leak in this area. A great indicator that there may be an issue is if there are no caps on the ports as the caps keep dirt and debris from the schroeder valves and help ensure they’re operating correctly.
Clean/replace cabin air filters. Cabin air filters can save your evaporator. Although it is an unseen part of the air conditioning system, it does tend to gather all the dust inside the cab. Additionally, our furry friends are great companions on the road, however they tend to shed and then that debris can gather in the evaporator. A plugged evaporator can be just as unhealthy for the overall A/C system as a plugged condenser.
Make sure to operate the A/C system intermittently throughout the year. This includes during the winter season as well because extended periods of no use can be one of the biggest causes of compressor seal failures.
Inspect all electrical components in the A/C system. You will want to be checking to see if they have connector locks on them, if the locks are loose, if there is any frayed wiring and if all wires are either secure or flopping around waiting to be torn off by a belt.
If the A/C system must be opened, make sure to replace the receiver drier at the same time. The less moisture in the system, the more effectively it can operate. NEVER replace the compressor without also replacing the receiver drier.
Rihm Kenworth has certified technicians and parts personnel to assist you with repairing your A/C system. These technicians have received the training available and have the equipment to correct your A/C issues in an efficient and environmentally safe manner. The use of OEM parts also ensures that your trucks have the best products available to keep your drivers happy, healthy and on the road.