When summer hits Sacramento, it hits fast. Don't wait until that first 90-degree day to get your air conditioning serviced. Quality Tune-Up technicians check for apparent faults during regular service like drive belt tension, signs of refrigerant leaks and loose or faulty compressor, etc. However, it is still good practice to have a comprehensive air conditioning service to ensure your vehicle is in peak operating condition when needed.

If you are worrying that your A/C may be setting you up for a sweaty ride, here are the Top 5 Signs Your Car Air Conditioning Needs a Checkup

Top 5 Signs Your Car Air Conditioning Needs a Checkup

You're smelling a stinky or musty air

Take a whiff when you turn on your A/C. Does it smell musty like sweaty feet or worse? The stench you smell is an obvious sign of bacteria building up in the vents and A/C evaporator. So while you may be tempted to cover that smell with an air freshener, think again. You may have temporarily eliminated the stench, but you're still breathing air from a tunnel of bacteria.

Your car A/C is not blowing cold.

Once your A/C is running, hold your hand up to the nearest vent. Does it blow warm and weak air? How long does it take the air to get cold? If your A/C is taking longer than normal to get cold, you may be dealing with a faulty air duct system or a refrigerant leak. Time to take your vehicle for an A/C checkup!

Do you hear a buzzing, clicking, or squeaking noise after turning your A/C?

These disturbing sounds are tell-tale signs of a faulty serpentine belt (squealing), an overcharged system (buzzing), and/or loose mounting bolts (clicking). Once you start hearing these sounds, stop by at Quality-Tune Up shop near you for a checkup.

Is that a leak?

If you see a leak under the hood around the compressor, inside the cabin, or leaking under your vehicle, this is a serious symptom of a low freon level. If you notice the leaking, you should head over to a Quality Tune-Up shop to diagnose the issue and take care of your vehicle's A/C issues.

You smell a burning odor

When you smell a burning odor once you turn your air conditioning on, chances are the wirings of your compressor may be burnt or overheated. The air conditioning system fails to work properly if you have damaged compressor wirings. When you smell this odor, you need to immediately replace or repair the wirings.

Prevention is always better than cure. Getting a regular car maintenance checkup is essential to keep your A/C system in its best condition to prevent long-term and more serious damage. At Quality Tune-Up, we inspect the drive belt for wear, visually inspect the system components for any obvious leaks or damage, check the operation of the compressor and advise you if any further repairs are needed.

Our qualified technicians use special equipment to evacuate the old refrigerant, vacuum test the system for leaks, and recharge the system using the amount and type of refrigerant specified by the car manufacturer.

So don't melt in your car this summer. Instead, book in for an air conditioning service today.