In a damp climate it is a demisting system
Air conditioning gets filed under summer comfort, which is why it goes unused and unserviced in a part of the world where the air is damp for much of the year.
What the system actually does is remove moisture. On most vehicles the compressor runs whenever the defroster is selected, drying the air before it reaches the glass, which is the difference between a windshield that clears in seconds and one that clears in minutes.
A vehicle with a failed system does not just lose cooling in July. It loses the quick way of clearing fogged glass in November.
The smell is the evaporator
The complaint specific to damp climates is a musty smell when the system is switched on, usually strongest at startup.
That comes from moisture sitting on the evaporator, which is doing its job by condensing water out of the air. A clogged cabin air filter makes it worse by reducing airflow, and a blocked drain makes it worse again by leaving the water nowhere to go.
None of that is cosmetic. A system holding water is a system with something not draining as designed, and it is worth saying when you book rather than living with.
Why a top-up is not a repair
Air conditioning is a sealed system. If the refrigerant is low, it left through a leak, and recharging without finding the leak buys a season.
A proper service locates the loss, repairs it, and then restores the correct charge. Overcharging cools worse than a correct charge, which surprises people who assume more is better.
Use it, so it keeps working
Running the system for a few minutes a month, winter included, keeps the seals lubricated and the components exercised. In practice, using the defroster does this for you on most vehicles.
If the cooling has weakened, the airflow has dropped, or there is a noise when it engages, mention it at a visit you were making anyway. See scheduled maintenance.
About this store
The Monroe store is the only Purcell location in Washington offering air conditioning work, managed by JR Webster. Lacey and Renton are commercial stores covering tires, alignment and fleet work.
See the national A/C service page for all 33 locations.