We all know when the heat is roasting out of your vehicle at the peak of summer, and we bless that little button called “A/C”. But have you ever wondered how it works? We, at Callahan Automotive, thought that we would break it down for you a little.
How Does a Car’s A/C Work?
Thank goodness technology and engine development have move past when they used to put ice in cars to help cool it down. The system is one that is a little complicated since the same component both cools and heats the air going into your cabin. The refreshing air you feel on a hot day started as hot air but has had the heat removed from it during a process with multiple steps. To start, it is good to know which common parts make up your car’s air conditioning system and work to put the refrigerant to use.
- HVAC Control Panel
- Compressor
- Condenser
- Accumulator
- Expansion Valve
- Evaporator
- Blower Motor
Those parts all whirl into action when you turn on your car’s A/C unit through the HVAC control panel. The compressor constricts the refrigerant, and it begins to lose heat as it passes through the condenser. The receiver and dryer remove contaminants and moisture, then the refrigerant enters the expansion valve or accumulator.
All of this is happening while the refrigerant is depressurizing and becoming cooler. Finally, refrigerant makes its way to your evaporator, which removes any remaining moisture and cools the temperature even further. From there, the ventilation system’s motor blows air over the evaporator, making it cold before pushing it out of your car’s vents.
In addition, your heater interacts with the coolant, thermostat, radiator, and water pump in your vehicle’s cooling system. The heat that is generated by the engine needs somewhere to go so that the engine does not get too hot. This makes your car’s heating system somewhat of a win-win situation. Most of the heat generated from your engine goes out of through the exhaust system. Then the rest is transferred into the coolant inside your HVAC system. This coolant is transferred much in the same way refrigerant moves to create cool air when the air conditioner is on. All of this might seem like a lot to comprehend but this is a basic layout on how your HVAC system works.