Air con, do l need to run it regularly?

[lightning]

My Z3 is not in use over the Winter, but l read that air con needs to be used regularly or the seals dry out and the gas leaks out.
How often do l need to run it? The car is on SORN so l can’t actually drive it anywhere, and running the engine on the drive is not the best thing either.
New cars can sit for months with no air con use. What will happen if l just leave it until April?

 

[5harp3y]

Potentially nothing will happen.

But instead, go out and drive the car

 

[Nodzed]

It is recommended that you run your Aircon approx 10 min every month, but I think this is aimed at people that never use it on a regular basis and over years where it can become an issue. I am guessing a winter storage isn't going to affect it too much unless regular winter SORNers know different.

 

[mwpe]

I have only ever seriously used my air con twice, I very occasionally (once or twice a year) run it for a couple of minutes to excercise it and it is always OK. I have had the car for 9 years.

 

[Ianmc]

I run the aircon every time the car goes out. The MC has never been regassed and runs cold as you like.

 

[Redcon1]

Wont the AC compressor kick in while on the defrost setting? I hope so, because that's the only work I see my compressor getting.

 

[lightning]

I rarely use the air conditioning but took it to be topped up earlier this year, it had not been done for at least four years.
It was still at 85% and they said it didn’t really need doing.

 

[Jack Ratt]

I rarely use my aircon. I don't really see the point of it in an open top roadster in the UK. If we were in a hot country then OK I can see the benefits.

On the odd occasion that it's been too hot to drive with the top down due to my bald head, I just drop the windows and drive a bit quicker

 

[DavidM]

I never run mine - fresh air always!