6 Reasons Why Your Car Heater isn't Working Properly

During the winters, your car heater can be your best companion. The level of comfort a heated car delivers when the temperatures are cold outside is unparalleled. However, since the car heater is not used that often, it tends to experience problems every now and then. The bad news is that there are several reasons behind it not working but the good news is that we're going to make you aware of all of them so you can do the troubleshooting yourself.

Clogged heater core

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The heater core is where your car sends its coolant so that it can serve its dual purpose of defrosting and heating the car's air. However, this channel from where it enters the core could be clogged up and that could be affecting your heater's performance despite the coolant levels being optimum.

Low coolant level

One of the most common reasons why your car heater isn't working properly is the low coolant level. Contrary to what its name suggests, coolant is just meant for cooling your car. This fluid aims to maintain an optimum temperature inside the engine block. The coolant works to extract the heat from the engine and passes it to the heater core for distribution inside the car when you turn on the heater. This is why it's always necessary to have optimal coolant levels. You can check the coolant level yourself by opening the hood of the car.

Faulty heater control valve

Your car's heater valve is needed to control the temperature of the air blowing inside. That's because it controls the amount of coolant that flows inside the heater core based on the temperature that you have chosen. If something goes wrong with this valve, the heater core will not be able to work properly.

Broken thermostat

Leak in the coolant system

As we've already told you, the coolant is an extremely important component of the heating system in your car. Therefore, if there's a leak in it not only will it not heat your car but it may also bring several other problems with it. You must hence thoroughly check all your car's hoses, the radiator, and the water pump for any signs of leakage. If you do find that the coolant is leaking, you should immediately get that fixed.

Broken controls

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The buttons that you use to control the temperature inside your car should be checked as well. Over time, they can get jammed or start malfunctioning. This is the least common among the reasons why your car heater isn't working properly but there's no harm in checking it out.

So the next time you notice that your car's heater isn't working properly, just keep these 6 tips in the mind.