When a Car May Need Heating and Air Conditioning Service in Longmont

Many people don’t know this, but a car’s heater system simply transfers heat from the engine to the inside of the car. In fact, the mechanism that heats the cabin is connected to the one that keeps the engine cool.

This is the general gist of it. So when the heater is blowing cold air, it’s possible that one of two things could be wrong.

Either the thermostat is worn out, or the coolant flow in the heater core may be blocked by build-up. An explanation of why these things happen as well as the right fixes are discussed below.

Stay Comfortable in the Car: All About Heating and Air Conditioning

How Do the Heating and Cooling Systems Work?

Coolant moves through the engine, absorbing its heat. The radiator exchanges this heat with outside air. A smaller radiator, the heater core, also uses the hot coolant from the engine, except this heat is used to warm up the cabin.

The Problem: Faulty Thermostat

The thermostat for the engine has a thermal valve that helps regulate temperature. This value stays open when the engine is hot to let the coolant flow and do its job. The valve stays closed when the engine is cold to restrict coolant flow to let everything get warmed up.

A worn-out thermostat might stay stuck in one position – open or closed, which can make the engine either too hot or run cold. In both cases, it may need to be replaced.

The Problem: Blocked Coolant

The coolant that flows through the heater core can get blocked by built-up sediment or gunk that results from coolant changes. When coolant flow is blocked, it can’t do its job – it can neither cool the engine nor transfer heat to the heater core.

Self-Service or a Professional?

For both problems above, these may be done by the car owner, but often it is less of a hassle simply to take it to the shop and get heating and Longmont air conditioning service done quickly by a professional.

In the case of the thermostat issue, this can either be fairly simple to replace or a huge headache, depending on where it’s located.

Meanwhile, flushing the heater core can be messy, and the flushed coolant needs to be captured and disposed of properly. A qualified repair shop is equipped to handle this, whereas a car owner attempting to do this in their own garage may run into a lot of trouble.

Don’t Wait Until Winter to Fix Heating Problems

Problems with a car heater are best taken care of long before the temperature drops. It can be a nasty surprise to get into a freezing car in the morning only to discover that the vents are blowing nothing but cold air. Avoid this inconvenient circumstance and take the car into a professional repair shop in Longmont. Air conditioning service and heating service are well worth it for both comfort and peace of mind.