Is your vehicle’s AC system blowing warm air? Or even worse, is it not blowing air at all? If so, you may want to get a jump on warmer summer weather and get your AC system inspected by a service professional today. It is always advisable to be proactive with AC maintenance, so you can ensure that you address small problems before they lead to bigger ones.
In this month’s blog, we look at the air conditioning system and how it works. We also consider some issues that you may encounter when it is not working properly.
How does the AC system work?
In principle, your vehicle’s AC system works like any other cooling mechanism, such as the HVAC system in your home. A refrigerant, or chlorofluorocarbon, is used as the primary cooling agent within the system. The process of the refrigerant changing its form from liquid to gas is what creates the ability to cool and dry the air that passes through the system.
Let’s briefly explain how the cooling process takes place in the AC system. This explanation is a highly simplified version of what takes place but gives you a better idea of how it works and where things can go wrong in your AC system.
- First, pressurized refrigerant that is in your system, enters the compressor, which converts the gas from low pressure to high pressure. The compressor is a type of power unit within the system.
- The refrigerant (in the form of gas) moves to the condenser, where it is cooled and the gas changes to liquid.
- The system dries the refrigerant by removing the moisture (water) from it with a dryer. Think of the desiccant tables that you find in vitamin bottles, that extract moisture from the bottle to preserve the pills.
- The refrigerant (in the form of liquid) is then pressurized to reduce its temperature and convert it back to a gas. The conversion of refrigerant from liquid to gas is what creates the lower temperature to cool the air.
- The evaporator uses the gaseous refrigerant as a means of cooling air that passes over the evaporator device. This air passes over, is cooled and dried, and then enters the vehicle cabin through the vents with the assistance of a fan.
AC System Issues
Your vehicle’s AC system is a closed system because it depends on maintaining the proper pressurization of the refrigerant. The AC system most often fails when something affects the ability to keep the pressure at the necessary level.
Leaks
The primary issue you will experience with your AC system is a leak. If there is a leak somewhere along this closed-system, and refrigerant is emitted, then the system will not work properly. It is important to address leaks before they result in further damage of your system components.
Typically, a service professional will test the level of refrigerant in your system to diagnose a problem, especially if you are experiencing “warm” air when using the air conditioner. If they determine the refrigerant level is low, it is important to check for a leak. They can do a pressure check to see if there is a loss of pressure, and then there are a variety of ways to find the source of the leak. This may include using dyes that are injected into the system. It is not easy to detect where a leak may exist, so it’s important to have your AC system checked at least annually.
Component Failure
If your AC system has experienced a leak, it may impact other components of the vehicle such as the compressor. The compressor cannot run long without the proper amount of refrigerant before it begins to fail.
Your vehicle’s’ condenser may also present a problem with a blockage. The condenser is positioned in the engine in a spot where it is more susceptible to roadway dirt and dust. Blockages can prevent it from working properly and affect the operation of our AC system.
If you think you have a developing issue with your AC system, or just want to have it checked out before summer, give the professionals at Car Kings a call. We can schedule an appointment with you for a full AC system inspection and make recommendations on any issues that need to be addressed before they grow into major problems.
Stay cool this summer and contact us today!