Why Flushing Should Be Part of Your Regular Service Procedures

You know that not all A/C jobs are simple recharges.  There are times when you need to flush a vehicle's air conditioning system to ensure that it operates satisfactorily.  Basically these circumstances fall into three categories:

1. Routine Maintenance:  Typically the older a system is, the more problems may occur.  As an air conditioning system ages, oil, sludge, and particulates can build up, plugging screens, expansion valves and capillary tubes.  Periodically, you should flush the system to remove these contaminants to keep the system operating efficiently.

2. Repairs:  To be sure the system will operate properly, you should flush whenever you repair or replace components.  Failed components may contain metal shavings, sludge, and other debris that can damage the system.

3. R-134a Retrofits:  In many cases, conversion procedures call for complete removal of existing oil in an A/C system before recharging with R-134a.  Flushing is the most thorough means of removing the oil and it will also pick up any refrigerant residue in the system.  Flushing combined with pulling a deep vacuum is your assurance the system is ready for the new refrigerant.