If you haven't used the car's air-conditioner since last summer, chances are it might need some attention before the next hot spell. But by preparing now, you can help ensure you and your passengers stay cool when summer arrives.

Ideally the air-conditioner should be run for about ten minutes every week, even during winter, to keep the seals lubricated. When the air-conditioner hasn't been used for a long time, the seals can become dry and crack, resulting in leaking refrigerant.

Switch on your car's air-conditioner; if the air doesn't feel cold on your hands within a few minutes, there could be something wrong with the system, and you should see a TACC Air-conditioning Specialist to have the system checked.

If the system is leaking gas, it will require more refrigerant. The gas must be totally recovered from the system so that the leak can be fixed. The system is then re-gassed.

There could be other reasons why your air-conditioning system is not working effectively. Perhaps the heating and ventilation controls aren't functioning properly, or there is a problem with the compressor drive belt which helps circulate refrigerant through the system. Either way, an air-conditioning specialist can fix the problem for you.

Most car air-conditioning systems which are more than a few years old contain CFC refrigerant gases, and since the production and importation of CFCs (which are ozone depleting substances) has been banned since the end of last year, your system might require a complete overhaul, known in the industry as a retrofit.

Retrofitting involves the removal of CFC refrigerant and modifying your system so that it can be recharged with a new 'ozone friendly' refrigerant. Various air-conditioning components might also need to be replaced.

The extent to which an air-conditioning system needs modifying will depend on its age and condition. Discuss your options with a VACC Accredited Air-conditioning Specialist. If the air-conditioning system in your vehicle is functioning correctly and no refrigerant leaks are present, retrofitting is not necessary at the moment.

However, if your air-conditioning system uses R12 refrigerant, keep in mind that you will eventually need to have it retrofitted to a new type of refrigerant. If you are having a major service on the system, it might be more economical in the long run to convert it at the same time.