Buying a Used Car: What Does "Air Conditioning Needs a Charge" Mean? If you're interested in buying a used car, you may have seen advertisements stating that the car's air conditioning needs a charge. This terminology can be confusing, so we decided to explain exactly what to expect when you see (or hear) this phrase.Needs a ChargeWhen sellers say that an air conditioning system needs a charge, what they mean is that the air conditioning is out of refrigerant fluid. Most likely, this means the system has a leak. The fluid in an air conditioning system simply does not get used up like gasoline. A home refrigerator works much like an air conditioning system. How often you need to "charge it up?" What Does It Really Need?Unfortunately, the simple explanation that the air conditioning "needs a charge" rarely tells the whole story. For one thing, air conditioning systems are supposed to be closed; they aren't designed to lose any fluid, and they shouldn't need replenishing. With that said, it's possible for air conditioning systems to lose some fluid over time, but even that likely means a small leak in the system.

So it is possible that "charging it up" will help the air conditioner blow cold air, but if the leak isn't properly fixed, you're running on borrowed time. We've seen A/C systems get a fresh shot of fluid and work well for several months, but there's really no way to be sure unless you take the car to a qualified air conditioning repair shop. More likely, however, the car's air conditioning system needs more than just some fluid. After all, if fixing the air conditioning were as easy as adding fluid, wouldn't the seller do that before listing the car for sale?How Can You Know for Sure?Unfortunately, it isn't always easy to find out exactly what a car needs to get its air conditioning system working again. Pouring additional fluid into a leaky system will cause the air conditioning to operate temporarily, until it drains out again from the leak.As a result, the only way to know with certainty what a car needs when it comes to air conditioning is to take it to a trusted mechanic, who can inspect the entire system for leaks or faults.

We suggest a mechanical inspection anyway when you're buying a used car. If air conditioning is important to you, a potentially faulty system is all the more reason to make sure to get an inspection before signing the papers. The implication of "just needs a charge" is that the problem is a simple one with a very inexpensive fix. lg ac repair customer careThe truth is that it's a lot more complicated than that. my window ac unit is icing upIf you're looking at a car from the 1990s, the system may have to be converted to a new kind of refrigerant that's better for the environment. air conditioner and heater filtersEven if you're looking at a newer car, a qualified shop will have to find and repair the leak, which could get expensive.

If you really want that specific car, ask a local shop for their hourly repair rate and then factor that into the price of the car you want to buy.There are many types of air filters on the market these days, but which one is best?  We are often asked the question, do electrostatic air filters work?  The real answer is, it depends.  Electrostatic air filters are washable furnace filters that can be very useful for certain uses, but whether or not they should be used in your house is a much broader question.  If someone in your home suffers from asthma or severe allergies then the answer will likely change.  As a general rule, electrostatic air filters cannot even come close to the filtration power of a high quality anti-allergen filter from 3M or Honeywell, but that doesn’t mean you should rule them out altogether.  Those of you who read our articles regularly, know that we are a small, U.S. Veteran-Owned HVAC company in Southern California, and pride ourselves in giving people honest, straight answers to their questions.  

In this article, we will discuss what an electrostatic air filter is, how it works, the pros and cons of using one and whether or not washable furnace filters would work for your home. Electrostatic air filters are washable air filters that theoretically never need to be replaced.  I say ‘theoretically’ because I have a hard time believing that something that is subjected to dirt and debris regularly will work indefinitely, but that is the standard claim.  The idea is that instead of replacing your electrostatic air filter at regular intervals like you would a conventional air filter, you take them out back and wash them off with a hose about once a month.  This is a handy trick if you are sick of spending money on conventional air filters, but do electrostatic air filters work?  They do work, but the question is do they work as well as a conventional air filter? For more information on conventional air filters and how often you should change them, take a look at: Air Conditioning Filter Change – How Often Should I Do It?

These washable furnace filters work by having multiple layers of vented metal which the air passes through.  As the air passes through the first layer of filtration, the air molecules are positively charged by the friction between the air and the filter.  The now positively charged air molecules attach themselves to the next few layers as they pass through the rest of the filter.  Think about it as working kind of like walking across the carpet with your socks on and then touching a door knob – the process of walking across the carpet charges you with static electricity which is then released when you touch a grounded surface like a door knob.  Only instead of your socks scooting across a carpet, it is the air scooting across your air filter that creates a charge and traps dust particles in the air filter.  For more information on electrostatics, try this short vintage physics video – it’s worth a look: Electrostatics – How Electrostatic Air Filters Filter Air. One of the most attractive parts of washable air filters is the fact that you never have to buy a new one.  

This is definitely a plus, I mean who wants to buy a new air filter every few months?  Even if you opt for the cheaper air filters that run you 50 cents each (which I do not recommend), you still have to go through the hassle of buying them and replacing them on a regular basis and who wants to deal with that? The other appealing part about using electrostatic air filters is the price.  If you are buying high quality air filters then you may be spending $15 every few months which adds up to around $60 each and every year.  Now even though this might not break the bank, it can add up over time.  Washable furnace filters cost around $50 to $60 each but never have to be replaced, meaning that they pay for themselves in the first year of their use.  You can’t argue with the cost of these filters, so it may be an option to keep in mind. I have to say that the cons of an electrostatic air filter far outweigh the pros, in my opinion.  There are several problems with a washable air filter, ranging from how effectively they filter your air to how often they have to be washed.  

Some of these problems are a matter of preference, but some can’t be argued with and should be kept in mind before making your decision: Electrostatic air filters can only filter so much.  One of the problems with electrostatic filtration is that it relies on static electricity to operate.  What I mean by this is that static electricity is powerful enough to filter small, lighter dust particles out of the air but what about larger dust and dirt particles?  Unfortunately, this is one of the areas that electrostatic filtration falls short in.  An electrostatic air filter will never be able to filter as well as a high quality HEPA filter or even a moderate 1200 MPR filter (micro particle performance rating).  These filters are designed to filter out everything down to a certain specification size and are good at what they do.  If you have someone in your house who suffers from asthma or bad allergies, then I’d definitely recommend you avoid washable furnace filters and instead opt for a high-filtration replaceable filter with at least a 1400 MPR.  

For more information on this, take a look at: How to Reduce Asthma Symptoms and How Your Air Conditioner Can Help. Other problems with electrostatic air filters include: Just food for thought before investing in a washable air filter.  For information on how to prevent mold and whether or not you need to have your air ducts cleaned, take a look at these helpful articles: Should I Have My Air Ducts Cleaned? How Do You Prevent Mold? It depends on what you mean by ‘work.’  They do remove some dust particles from your air, but overall I do not recommend electrostatic air filters for home use.  Electrostatic air filters are an interesting technology but they just won’t work as well as a 3M 1600 MPR and they never will.  The nasty stuff that is in your air needs to be removed for the health of you, your family and your air conditioner.  A disposable filter allows you to do this, then throw this nastiness into the garbage where it belongs.  In the end, although they are a great idea in principle they just won’t filter your air as well as a conventional air filter will.