Running A/C in winter to keep HVAC system working properly?

[GIjoe]

Is it necessary to run it year round to keep everything working properly? I always heard this growing up. On my last truck, f250, I turned it off and didn’t use it for like 6 months and it never worked again. Dealer said moisture collected and corroded the inside and at $2k to fix, I never did. I ran with no A/C for 6 yrs and don’t want to do that again! Any thoughts?

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[parkerdog]

Sounds like the dealer wanted to make money or your drain was plugged?

I thought the a/c came on with the defroster for many years now?

 

[tsloms]

Yes with the defroster the AC comes on automatically and has been for decades now. Don't worry it will be working periodically even during winter.

For the defroster the AC is on to provide dry air to clear off the windshield.

 

[GIjoe]

Turns out it was a known or common problem with the super duties. I took it to 4 shops. A dealership and a private shop both quoted me $2k. 2 other private shops agreed with the other guys and said they weren’t interested in doing the work because it involved a day and pulling off the interior dash to get to it. So I just sucked it up. I didn’t plan on keeping it for that long but it just ran so good so I kept it until I needed more room.

 

[sbi]

Use Auto, it will turn a/c on when needed, based on humidity.

 

[GIjoe]

Use Auto, it will turn a/c on when needed, based on humidity.

Thanks I’ll try that out ? I’ll add that I didn’t buy the extended warranty on my f250 and it broke just outside of the factory coverage. I made sure to buy it on this new truck, I’m just trying to avoid having to use it.

 

[Tomatoboy]

as others have noted, it’ll come on with the defroster. No need to exercise the compressor periodically during winter anymore.

 

[dhrandy]

Not necessary. I’ve never done it on any of my vehicles ever.

 

[Calson]

Is it necessary to run it year round to keep everything working properly? I always heard this growing up. On my last truck, f250, I turned it off and didn’t use it for like 6 months and it never worked again. Dealer said moisture collected and corroded the inside and at $2k to fix, I never did. I ran with no A/C for 6 yrs and don’t want to do that again! Any thoughts?

The idea behind running the AC compressor at least once a month is to protect the seals. Where I live the AC is not needed for months at a time for any reason, including defrosting the windows. Run it for a few minutes and the seals are taken care of so not a big deal.

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