Beat the heat. Simple tricks to prevent AC leaks and mold in cars

Fluid leaking from your vehicle doesn't always herald hefty repair bills. A prime example is water dripping from the air conditioning system. While seemingly harmless, this can signal water accumulation within the ventilation system, potentially fostering fungi growth. Thankfully, there's a straightforward fix for this issue.

With the advent of early May, sunnier days and climbing temperatures have led many drivers to crank up their air conditioning, even though neglecting it during winter is ill-advised. Our focus here is on the ramifications of its heightened usage during warmer periods.

But why is there water beneath the car after using the air conditioning? It concerns the significant temperature difference between the surrounding air and the air conditioning system components. When the vehicle is parked, and the evaporator near the fan stops receiving refrigerant, it stays cool and cannot draw in any more cold air. This temperature disparity leads to water condensing on the chilled evaporator, collecting within the system and creating the perfect breeding ground for fungi. This results in foul smells inside the car and can pose a risk to our health.

Preventing water accumulation is manageable by, for example, turning off the air conditioning around 5 minutes before reaching your destination. This strategy allows the fan to dry out the evaporator. Moreover, briefly increasing the temperature 1-2 minutes before exiting the car can also be beneficial.

This approach doesn't just help curb mold and fungi growth, thus banishing foul odors. Still, it also acclimatizes you to the outdoor temperature, softening the blow of stepping out into vastly different conditions. The health implications of sharp temperature changes can be significant, making it advisable to face the outside world, which has already somewhat adjusted.

Though regularly deactivating the air conditioning before stopping might seem inconvenient or diminish comfort for some, it could be worthwhile. The mold and the shock of sudden temperature shifts can negatively affect our well-being. In any case, maintaining a moisture-free environment inside a car is universally beneficial.