Get These Parts For Icy Cold Auto Air Conditioning

A/C Pipes

Quality A/C pipes are designed to withstand extreme pressures, and utilize Schrader valves for testing, filling and draining. If the pipes are low in quality, they will corrode rapidly, especially when the driver isn’t properly maintaining their vehicle. Each end of the pipe also has a seal that if poorly designed can lead to leaks, and whatever brand you purchase, it is essential to make sure it comes with a fresh o-ring.

The Accumulator

After the liquid is cooled down, compressed and transferred from the condenser, its next destination is the accumulator, which is also called a receiver dryer. The two components will usually be adjacent to one another, and the accumulator will act as a reservoir which gathers the refrigerant. An essential subcomponent is a filter (or desiccant) which will eliminate moisture from the oil and the refrigerant itself. If the accumulator is low in quality, water vapor can seep inside the system which will stay and corrode multiple parts, so you want to make sure your accumulator is the best you can afford.

A/C Compressor

The compressor is the device responsible for compressing refrigerant, and it works harder than all the other A/C parts. As such, no compromises should be made when it comes to its quality. As refrigerant vapor leaves the evaporator, the compressor will compress it into a gas which is high in pressure and hot. This requires multiple sub-components which are intricate, such as the seals, clutches and bearings. If a single one fails, so will the A/C. Low-cost compressors almost always have issues with poor seals, leaking, grinding sounds (due to internal bearings) and clutches which are seized.

Expansion Valve

Also known as the orifice tube, this device can usually be found near the evaporator, in front. It plays a key role in making the refrigerant colder. The laws of physics dictate that compression will always result in heat, and in contrast, expansion causes cooling. Whereas the compressor compresses the refrigerant through elevated pressure to make it hotter, the expansion valve will move it into a small hole and then into a larger space that allows the substance to expand and cool, becoming partially vaporous. A good expansion valve is resistant to becoming stuck or clogged, and when you replace the evaporator, the expansion tube should usually follow.

The Refrigerant

Even if all the other A/C parts are premium in quality, the air conditioning will not provide the highest quality air unless it has excellent refrigerant. Many overlook this substance, but it along with the oil is essential. Refrigerant readily transforms from liquid to gas (and vice versa) and can do so within a strict temperature range, and the best variety has outstanding density. While R12A was the standard in the past, it was phased out due to toxicity and replaced with R134a, which is found in most modern vehicles, but a newer substance called R1234YF has recently been developed.