Although you can drive safely without the air conditioner, it’s important for you to be comfortable. Pollutants, airborne particles, and odors are filtered by the air conditioning system. This is particularly important for those suffering from respiratory allergies, as they provide some health benefits. Therefore, it’s important to have a functioning air conditioning system in a car. It’s inevitable that mechanical parts will fail at some point. This article explores the five most common causes of car A/C system failure.
Refrigerant Leakage or Depletion
Refrigerants are necessary for every air conditioner. In order to produce cool air, refrigerants absorb heat. There are compressors and coils in your air conditioning unit. The refrigerant is pumped under pressure by the compressor.
During circulation through the condenser or coils, the refrigerant condenses to a liquid. Heat is then absorbed from the air outside and converted into cool air. The cooling effect of your car is due to this cycle.
Refrigerant is necessary for an air conditioner to function properly. Air conditioners stop working effectively when the refrigerant malfunctions or leaks. It is possible for a heat pump to leak refrigerant due to a loose connection or corrosion.
Failure of the Coils and Condenser
Condensers cool highly pressurized refrigerant vapors coming from compressors. A fan and coil system makes up the condenser. It is possible for dust or grime to clog the air conditioner coils or condensing system. Additionally, they may leak if they become rusty. Due to this, the unit constantly tries to dispel hot air, which causes it to overheat.
Blower or Fan Malfunctioning
Air circulates through the coils of the condenser system through the fan. The airflow will remain warm if the condenser system fans fail.
Evaporator Freezing or Malfunctioning
Air conditioners may be failing if they start blowing hot or warm air, but then suddenly switch to cold air. Your air conditioner will repeatedly switch between warm and cool if you have a faulty evaporator. In the same way that the condenser creates cool air, the evaporator creates warm air. If you want a better understanding of how the air conditioner works in a car, please see our article on how car air conditioners work. Due to its direct contact with refrigerant, the evaporator can also freeze.
Evaporators cannot cool air properly if they are covered in ice. To circulate cold air again, the system must wait until the ice melts.
The Expansion Valve and Orifice Tube are Defective
An air conditioner expansion valve and orifice tubes are integral parts. Insufficient refrigerant flow can cause the evaporator to overheat, and too much refrigerant flow can cause the evaporator to freeze. Icy air coming from the vents is a sign of this.
Conclusion
Your vehicle’s air conditioning system is one of the most important components for making your ride more comfortable. Regular car maintenance is crucial to keeping your air conditioning system in good working order and preventing long-term and more severe damage. Ideally, your air conditioning system should be maintained and thoroughly checked once a year. Preventative measures are always better than repairs.