Major DIY retailer offering free car air con checks as temperatures set to reach 34C
A MAJOR DIY retailer is offering motorists free car air con checks as temperatures are set to reach 34C.
Halfords customers can get gas and refrigerant levels on their vehicle air conditioning units checked to make sure they're in working order.
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It comes as temperatures are expected to reach as high as 34C in parts of the UK by Monday.
Halfords lets shoppers book their free air con check on its website via www.halfords.com.
You enter your postcode and vehicle registration and it tells you the nearest branch you can get it done.
However, you may be charged based on where you live and the type of vehicle.
The retailer hasn't said if the free appointments are available all the time, but we checked based on a North-East London location and there were slots until as far away as July 6.
Halfords says if the check reveals you need to top up your car air conditioning unit's gas or refrigerant levels, you can buy the products to do this yourself in its stores.
However, the RAC says this is usually a job for the specialists.
You can also book in for an air con recharge service at Halfords from £65.
Checkatrade says having this service done normally costs between £65 and £130, so Halfords is at the cheaper end of the scale.
Halfords is not the only place you can have a free air con check carried out though - Kwik Fit also offers a free checking service.
Urgent warning over easy nighttime driving mistake that could see you fined £5,000 - but the fix is free
You can find out more via www.kwik-fit.com/air-conditioning/free-aircon-check.
However, the cost of getting your air con unit recharged at Kwik Fit is £72.95 or more - more expensive than Halfords.
Hot weather car mistakes that can cost you £1,000s
Driving in the wrong footwear
Swapping trainers for flip flops while driving during bouts of hot weather might seem practical, but it can land you with a big fine.
Any shoes which could limit your ability to put pressure on the pedals breaks the Highway Code.
If you are found to be ' driving without due care and attention ', you face a £100 fine and three points added to your licence.
If the matter escalates to court, you could face fines of up to £5,000.
Drinking water while driving
If you get distracted and are not considered to be in proper control of your car while drinking water, you could face a fine.
If you're involved in an accident as a result of a lapse in concentration, it could see you slapped with a £2,500 bill.
The same rules apply to eating behind the wheel, so think again if you're considering diving into an ice cream while driving.
Keeping your windows closed and A/C off
It might be tempting to save some pennies by closing windows and keeping the AC off during hotter weather.
But this can breach Highway Code rule 237, which states that a car must be kept 'well ventilated' in hot weather to reduce drowsiness.
Not doing this and being caught could result in a £5,000 fine.
How to save money on summer essentials
SUNNIER days and warmer weather will leave many of us wanting to kit out gardens and outdoor areas.
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to get a great deal on summer essentials…
It pays to know how to bag big savings on the likes of hot tubs paddling pools, egg chairs and outside bars.
Many retailers have flash sales across entire ranges – often this ties into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends.
Sign up to the mailing lists of your favourite brands and you'll be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.
Keep a close eye on the specialbuys at Aldi and middle of Lidl drops which drop a couple of times a week and usually mean great value seasonal items such as beach gear and paddling pools.
If you are not in a hurry to buy an item, try adding it to the shopping cart and leaving it for a couple of days.
Sometimes big brands will try to tempt you into the sale by offering you a discount.
Always check if you can get cashback before paying. It's especially worth using sites such as Topcashback, Quidco and app Jamdoughnut when buying bigger ticket items such as garden furniture as you'll get a nice kickback.
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