Auto Air Conditioning Compressor Runs Entire System

When considering how air is cooled in your home or in your car, the auto air conditioning compressor works exactly the same as the one in your house or office. Its job is to move hot air and humidity from an evaporator inside your vehicle to a condenser outside the vehicle by compressing gas inside the system. Without a properly functioning auto air conditioning compressor the cooling effects of the system is nullified.

Since the 1940's people have been able to ride in comfort the same as they have had the comfort of air conditioning in their homes and in extremely hot and humid climates have been able to enjoy the effects of air conditioning seamlessly, except for short walks between their home and car, and from their car to work. However, if something goes wrong with the auto air conditioning compressor the transit will be much warmer.

The auto air conditioning compressor is essentially a pump with an intake side and a discharge side. On the intake side, refrigerant is pulled from the output of the evaporator coils located inside the vehicle. Inside the auto air conditioning compressor the gas is compressed and sent to the condenser on the outside of the vehicle, along with the heat and humidity drawn from the vehicle.

Newer Requirements Help Protect Environment

In the early days of air conditioning, the gases used in the system were considered dangerous and some, like propane had explosive potential. A gas referred to as R-12, known by its trade name of Freon, has been determined to cause damage to the Earth's ozone atmosphere. As a result, technicians have to be certified to work with it, or even buy it and in all cases when an air conditioning system is opened the gas must be captured through specialized equipment.

Whenever work is done on an auto air conditioning compressor it must be done by a certified technician and in cases where the compressor must be replaced, a newer upgraded model may be required. A newer gas R-134a is being required in all vehicles after 2010, and if the vehicle is going to have its system filled with the new gas it will also have to be retrofitted with a new auto air conditioning compressor that can produce the higher pressure needed for this gas.

Since the technician has to pay more for the expensive equipment and the gas repair costs are going to be higher as well. Car owners will need to make the decision about paying the cost to replace their auto air conditioning compressor, driving in the heat or perhaps replacing the vehicle.