Comfort while operating any vehicle is very important. For bucket truck operators, it helps retain focus on the job being done rather than individual comfort needs. When the A/C unit fails, it causes physical discomfort for the driver. It causes time and money to be spent: time for the repairs of the cooling system to be done and money in the form of not only the repair cost but the value of the time lost while the bucket truck is being repaired.
Since the owners and operators of bucket trucks most likely do not know how to fix such problems, the best solution is to avoid the problem completely by regular preventive maintenance to the A/C unit of the truck. Following are some helpful ideas and tips on how to properly maintain the bucket truck cab's cooling system.
Problem Detection
It should not be difficult to detect the symptoms of a failing cooling system inside a bucket truck. A clogged A/C drain could cause wet carpeting inside the cab during hot, humid days. It is important to check if the drain is working correctly by looking underneath the vehicle. Also, it is actually very normal for there to be some fluid underneath the vehicle when it is initially parked and turned off. The time to be concerned is when there is NO dripped water underneath the truck when not operating; that could indicate that the cooling system is not working properly. Below are some other air conditioning problem indicators.
Sound- When the fan is turned on and unusual sounds are heard, it may indicate some debris in the fan blower.Smell- When the A/C system is turned on, if it smells musty or unpleasant, this may indicated that mold or mildew is growing inside of the evaporator.
No A/C- When there is no cooled air coming out of the vents, it could indicate a frozen evaporator in the Air Conditioning system.
Problem Resolution
Once the difficulty has been identified, there are certain trouble-shooting items that can be done to correct the problems that are listed below.
Condenser - The air conditioning condenser resembles the radiator and is actually located just in front of it. The hot refrigerant circulates through the condenser; the air flows through the condenser's cooling fins to cool the heated air. Check the condenser regularly to make sure that it is free from debris and properly working. Due to its location at the front of the vehicle, debris can restrict the air flow and prevent the refrigerant from cooling the heated air.Preventing Mold and Mildew - When the bucket truck is parked, switching the A/C recirculation off can prevent or reduce mold and mildew from building up. If a recirculation switch is not available, when the engine is shut off turning the cooling system away from the maximum air cooling (Max Air) position can be helpful. If this problem continues in spite of the prior attempts and there still remains an unpleasant odor during A/C operations, the only remedy to eliminate the smell is taking the truck to the service department for evaporator cleaning.
Drive Belt - The drive belt is located under the hood; this is one of the very important components of the truck's cooling system. This simple belt causes the compressor to turn every time the engine is turned on. The compressor maintains the circulation of the refrigerant through the system. It is recommended that the belt should be checked periodically to make sure that it is in good shape and free from any obvious wear or cracking. The drive belt should be replaced with a new one when any damage is detected. If the belt becomes too worn or damaged, it could cause the belt to slip or break which would stop the compressor from turning and shut down the air conditioning system.
Severe failures and costly repairs for the truck's air conditioning unit can be prevented by some simple maintenance mentioned above. Don't let problems happen that could be avoided by some basic upkeep on that important A/C unit and avoid being left out in the heat on a hot summer day!
Christopher M. Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. Click here to find out more about Bucket Trucks.
