Longmont air conditioning service winters are tough for even the hardiest of folks and even tougher on cars which end up requiring extensive repairs, but a broken car heater, can cause a number of other key systems to stop functioning properly, and that will require a trip to the mechanic to have the HVAC system serviced. 

 

The heating system in a car is not like the air conditioning system. Although minor problems can and do go wrong with it, such as a leak from a blower hose, the heating system is actually tied into the engine coolant system, and if there is a malfunction there, it can indicate a serious problem that can cause major damage to the engine itself.

 

There are two major problems that can go wrong with heating system.

 

 

The first thing a cautious driver will want to check is the engine temperature. Each engine is equipped with a thermostat which regulates the flow of coolant into the system. It restricts the flow of coolant when the engine is cold in the winter to allow it to warm up faster. Heat to the cabin is drawn off the engine and then circulated into the cabin by way of a tiny radiator known as the heater core. If the thermostat is broken it can result in the engine either not heating up at all, or heating up too quickly. The coolant will never get hot and thus will not heat up the cabin. If the issue is with the thermostat then that will have to be replaced.

 

 

If the thermostat is working fine it can indicate a different problem. The flow of coolant in the heater core has likely become restricted causing it to turn to sludge and become stuck in the heater core. In this instance, the sludge will have to be drained and flushed out with compressed air, through all the hoses. 

 

A failure to keep on top of an issue like than can result in severe damage to the heater core, which is costly to replace. 

 

 

Checking the hoses, seals, belts, and keeping the coolant clean can save you a decent sum of money down the road. If the coolant system is malfunction it can cause engine damage and if it’s not able to vent properly you could end up blowing the heater core which can cost up to $900 to replace. Once the heater core goes, the engine can start running hot, burning up oil, and overheating. If this happens it can cause major damage to the engine itself, so if you sense that there something wrong with the heating system in your car, you should consider taking it directly to the shop.