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A/C Blowing Hot Air

Some drivers may get an unpleasant surprise when they jump into their car during a sunny day. When your car is left under direct sunlight, the cabin and windows of the car can create a greenhouse effect. Energy from the sun can seep in through your car’s windows and may also be absorbed by the metal roof. Simply put, heat is trapped and has no way of escaping. That’s why your vehicle’s interior can get uncomfortably hot on sunny days.

When you have already paid a premium to have quality air conditioning in your car, it is normal to expect to quickly feel comfortable when you hop in. Of course, you should wait for a few seconds to start feeling cool. But what if you waited for more than a minute and you have still got your car’s A/C blowing hot air in your face?

Is There a Quick Fix?

Some drivers may mitigate this effect by using a windshield sunshade, choosing light color paint, or even tinting their windows. They may refuse to get to the bottom of the matter. You should know that these are not solutions. They only slightly reduce the ‘burn marks’ that you are going to get on your leather seats or perhaps on your legs.

Before you rush down to the dealership and fork out a sum for a vehicle inspection, check out these potential issues that may be causing your system to malfunction:

There may be a Clogged Orifice Tube

You can locate the orifice tube between the evaporator in the passenger compartment and the condenser in the front of the radiator. A/C blowing hot air could indicate that there is an obstruction in the tube. Refrigerant is halted in its tracks before it ever reaches the evaporator.

There may be a Faulty Compressor

Compressors are located at the heart of the car’s A/C. They are designed to pressurize the refrigerant and then pump it throughout the system’s necessary components. Basically, everything revolves around the compressor. Your A/C is unable to function properly without replacement or repair of a faulty compressor. You will know that you are experiencing a bad compressor when you hear a loud noise upon engaging your A/C.

There may be a Leaking or Depleting Refrigerant

Just like a residential air conditioning system, car A/Cs also utilize refrigerant. If your car falls low on refrigerant, there may be a leak in your car’s A/C. Since there is a leak in the evaporator, hose, or condenser, refilling with a new supply of refrigerant won’t work or even last. You need to work with a professional to identify the source of the leak and settle on the best repair options. This will save you the hassle of recharging your car’s A/C repeatedly.

It is a good practice to repair leaks promptly because it helps to prevent any moisture and air from getting trapped in your A/C. Those two factors can lead to a buildup of acid sludge (corrosive), which harms not only the orifice tube, but condenser, evaporator and compressor as well.

What can you do to fix hot air issues? One option is to recharge your A/C system. The other is to remember to replace lost refrigerant gas. However, repairing the leaks in your system is the permanent solution you should be looking at.