Vent windows once gave drivers and passengers in some air on hot days. Cars generally don't have vent windows anymore now that almost all vehicles have AC. With summer approaching, it's time to have your AC checked.

You just don’t see many vent windows in the vehicles around McHenry anymore. That’s because air conditioning is standard equipment in virtually every vehicle sold today. Vent windows were made to scoop some air into the vehicle while you drive.

Think about a driver pulling out on the road on a really hot day in McHenry 60 years ago. Their car doesn’t have air conditioning. No doubt, they’ll roll the windows down. But as their vehicle slips through the air, only so much air will come into the car. This is where vent windows came in.

Vent windows were mounted at the front of windows for the driver and passenger in the front seat. They had a manual lock that pivoted down to hold them in place. Flipping the lock up, the vent windows then tipped out so they caught the air and directed it into the vehicle.

On a hot day, this gave people in the car a blast of air that, hopefully, had a cooling effect on the driver and passengers. Of course, if the temperature was too hot that day, it might have been a blast of hot air, in which case they would close the vent windows.

Another potential drawback to vent windows is that the blast of air was akin to having the top down on a convertible. If someone has a nice hairdo, it might be a little mussy by the time you get where you’re going.

As the popularity of air conditioning increased, the demand for vent windows dropped. They kept dropping until, as is the case today, you hardly see any vent windows on any vehicles.

With air conditioning, you simply roll up the windows and turn the air on. Then you adjust it to the temperature you want with the fan at the level you desire.

The drawback with air conditioning is when the AC fails or if it just isn’t quite up to the job. As summer approaches, this is the right time to make sure your car’s air conditioning will do the job. Remember, you don’t have vent windows to help on a hot day.

It’s possible the air conditioning is low on its charge; you simply need a qualified auto repair technician to recharge the system.

At other times, a compressor, condenser or another essential part will fail. You may find that your AC blows nothing but hot air into the car.

Summer is coming to McHenry. This is a great time to have your AC checked, even if you have an older car with vent windows.