Maintaining your car heater!
It’s winter, turn on the heat… or not!
It’s -20, even -30. January is firmly established, and you are cold. Like everyone else, we hate shivering. There’s nothing better than warming up nicely behind the wheel of a warm car.
Except, are you really sure your car will be warm? Because if the battery is suffering from the cold, the heating system isn’t much better. In fact, sometimes it’s even worse. If you haven’t done the necessary maintenance (and we don’t want to brag, but Groupe Touchette is actually pretty good at it), you may find yourself shivering until your next stop.
Why? Because the system needs to be in shape to keep you warm.
ATTENTION TECHNICAL CONTENT (well, not so technical actually…)
It’s simple. Your engine, when it’s running, gets warm. Sometimes too much. So we have to cool it down, with the help of a liquid that circulates in the pipes. It absorbs the excess heat, and returns, through other pipes, to the radiator to cool down with the outside air.
Some of these pipes make a detour to a ventilation system, which then pushes the warm air directly through the nozzles. The more you turn the knob or buttons towards the red of the heat, the more warm air will enter the cabin. Simple, we told you.
But if the hoses are clogged, the fan is malfunctioning, or the pump is not doing its job properly, the fluid will not circulate, and you will be cold.
As an added detail, if you use the RECIRC button (or the one with the donated arrow that no one really understands), the air will heat up faster, because it’s the already warm air in the cabin that will be circulating. It sounds great, but it’s also the best way to get condensation and fog on your windows.
What to do?
Want to stay warm in your vehicle in the winter? There are just a few things to watch out for:
– Place the system as warm as possible, and wait for the air to come out. In just a few seconds, you should already feel the heat.
– Check the coolant regularly. Make sure it’s at the right level, but more importantly, replace it occasionally. Dirty coolant will circulate waste and may clog your pipes.
– Check the pump. Poor circulation will prevent you from getting the temperature you want.
– Have the thermostats checked. Many systems are automatic in their temperature management. If the thermostat is defective, you will never reach the right temperature.
– Check the cabin air filter. A clogged filter means cold weather!
What about the others?
There are other things to watch out for. Electric cars, and some gasoline-powered cars, also use an electric heating system. So make sure you always have a fully charged battery to avoid freezing!
Sound complicated? Not really, but don’t go there. Instead, trust the technicians at Groupe Touchette. We’ll make sure you stay warm all winter long!
Don’t hesitate to come and see us directly at one of our workshops. ICIPneu Touchette has a team ready to help you make the right choice. Our experts know their products inside and out and can tell you if your tires comply with Transport Quebec regulations and if they are safe for winter driving.