There are so many factors that go into determining the life of your battery. Some examples of these include age and quality of your battery, how often you drive your vehicle, where you live, and where you park your car. As a general rule of thumb, you can count on the average battery to last around three to five years.
If you want to extend the life of and protect your equipment, battery maintenance can help prevent sooner than necessary expiration. However, knowing the right time to perform this maintenance is key.
Fall
Fall is an ideal time to consider preparing your battery for the upcoming winter months. Unpredictable and harsh weather can be expected as the cold and wet months will be approaching. Prevention will always be the safest route, so consider replacing your battery at this time to avoid getting stuck in the cold down the road.
Considering the area you live in will help you determine the right kind of battery for your needs. You will want to pay attention to the Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) to ensure the right battery for your particular climate. The higher the ranking, the colder the temperatures the battery can handle.
At this time, we recommend you:
- Test your battery’s charge.
- Clean any corrosion that may have accumulated on the battery and its connections.
Winter
Heat can cause the fluid in car batteries to evaporate, which damages the internal structure of the battery. By wintertime, your car battery may be struggling to keep a charge, which is why most batteries die during this time of the year.
You will usually be using more battery power to keep your cabin at a comfortable temperature, and starting the vehicle itself takes more power in the winter.
At this time, we recommend you:
- Test your battery’s charge.
- Ensure all battery connections are tight and secure.
- Keep a battery charger nearby.
- Purchase jumper cables to keep for emergencies.
Spring
Spring can also bring unpredictable weather patterns and is undoubtedly the rainiest time of the year in Tennessee. With this uncertainty, it is a good time to ensure you have a safe, well-functioning battery and to prepare your vehicle for the warmer months ahead.
At this time, we recommend you:
- Test your battery’s charge.
- Replace your battery if the charge is low or near low.
Summer
In the same way you feel the life zapped out of you when you’re too hot, the heat has a similar effect on your battery. The heat causes your battery to drain at an extremely high rate, leading to increased corrosion, permanent cell damage (causing your battery not to charge), and other battery problems.
At this time, we recommend you:
- Test your battery’s charge.
- If the charge is low, check electrolyte fluid, and add distilled water, if necessary.
- Park indoors/in the shade whenever possible.
- Clean any corrosion that may have accumulated on the battery and its connections.
Keep Your Car Running Smoothly
If you’d like to keep things running and reliable, we recommend keeping up with your routine maintenance. Weather conditions that are too hot or too cold can really impact your battery life. Taking a “seasonal” approach to your battery’s health will help you avoid problems later on.
At Hermitage Hills Brake & Auto, we want to do our part in keeping you and your family safe on the roads. Call us whenever you’re ready!
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