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Some A/C Tips
The role of a condensate drain in an a/c system is to carry away the water that has condensed on the evaporator to the outside of the vehicle. If the condensate drain tube gets blocked then this can result in water spilling into the inside of the vehicle. If you notice wet carpet in the footwell, misting windscreen, particularly on one side only, in the mornings or a musty smell in the vehicle then ask your service department to check the condensate drain tube.
Using the a/c in the winter is great for de-misting the windscreen and windows. As air is drawn into the system it is cooled and moisture from the air will condense in the evaporator. The dried air is then heated by the heater. This warm dry air is much better than the warm moisture saturated air for absorbing moisture.
Run the a/c system at least once a week all year round. If the system is not used then the refrigerant oil that helps to form the compressor drive shaft seal will dry out and the refrigerant gas that is held in under pressure can escape. See your vehicle handbook regarding this.
The service valve caps that are fitted to your a/c are not just to prevent dust entering the valves. They are the primary seals on the service ports and should be kept screwed tight at all times except during service. The valves in the service ports often leak slightly and they are commonly the source of the loss of refrigerant in an otherwise gas tight system.
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