The winters are mild here in Florida, which is why we get so many snowbirds. Some days are warm enough that you might want to run your car’s air conditioner. LP & Sons Auto Care advises that if you end up with warm or hot air flowing through the vents rather than the refreshing refrigerated air, one or more of the following problems below might be the cause. Don’t worry, we can fix your AC no matter the time of year. In fact, we can fix any problem your car, truck, or utility vehicle might have.
1. Damaged Condenser
The condenser has the unfortunate engine position of being located directly behind the front grille. This means this AC system part gets abused by the road debris that is small enough to make it through the slats or holes. Naturally, this road debris can damage the condenser and render it useless; it can also clog it. If the condenser is damaged or clogged, it cannot cool down the hot refrigerant. Clogs are a huge problem in particular because the condenser relies on airflow through it to cool off the refrigerant.
2. Dead Compressor
The compressor takes the refrigerant in its gas form and converts it to liquid so it can circulate it through the AC system. The compressor works better when it works a lot. The quickest way to kill the compressor is to leave your car’s air conditioning off for months at a time. This can cause the compressor to malfunction. If the compressor is not working, the refrigerant will not be converted to a cold liquid that circulates through the system to cool off the air that flows through the vents.
3. Low Refrigerant
It’s only natural that if your refrigerant levels are low, the air flowing through the vents will be warmer. As we mentioned above, the refrigerant takes two forms: gas and liquid. When it is in its liquid form, it can leak out of the system. Specifically, it leaks out of the hose connectors. When the refrigerant is in its gas form, it can evaporate naturally over time. It’s a good idea to have your AC system charged annually to make sure that there is plenty of refrigerant in the system to keep the air cool.
4. Malfunctioning Fan
Finally, the condenser relies on a fan to help cool off the hot refrigerant. If this fan has failed, the refrigerant will remain warm and you will end up with hot air blowing through the vents. The fan itself might have a problem, or the air conditioning system’s electrical system might have a problem.
Call LP & Sons Auto Care in DeLand, FL, today if your car’s AC is blowing hot air.