Keeping your car cool during Bakersfield’s heat wave
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)— With ongoing triple-digit temperatures it is important to know how to keep your car cool.
Tanya Gacs said, “We do quite a bit of volume this time of year.”
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Gacs is the owner of 1-800-Radiator & AC with locations in Bakersfield, Fresno and Visalia. They supply a ton of auto repair shops in Bakersfield delivering up to 100 radiators and 50 AC compressors a day. Gacs has been the cooling car expert since the business was established in 2006. “A lot of times AC systems start to fail at a certain mileage,” said Gacs.
Gacs said vehicles that reach 80,000 to 100,000 miles are in the hot zone and in need of AC sevice. Fleet vehicles like cop cars wear out faster. “It could be either your AC condenser which is in front of your radiator or it could be your AC compressor that goes out,” said Gacs.
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Gacs said you need an AC service machine to check models for the correct pressure and a special license to handle the refrigerant because of environmental regulations. “You can’t just open your system and let it go out into the ozone. This machine actually evacuates that refrigerant and recycles it,” said Gacs.
Gacs said you should have your car’s AC serviced once a year, but if you’re not in the market for a check up here are some easy tips to keep you and your car cool.
Use a sunshade and park in the shade.
You can roll down the passenger-side window then open and close your driver-side door 5 times to force the excess heat out, according to AC Pro.
Turn the engine on, roll your windows down, and set the AC to its coldest setting, but not the max setting. Then select the external setting to draw air from outside instead of circulating hot air inside.
Then use the lower vents to push the hot air out before closing your windows.
Tinting your windows can reduce UV rays by up to 80% or use chilled car seat covers.
Gacs with both 1-800-Radiator & AC and Shaffer Automotive said to service the AC in your car. They have a $69 special service fee for a limited time. It can cost upwards of $2,000 in replacement costs if it breaks down.
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