Air Conditioning System and Service

When servicing automotive air-conditioning systems, vehicle owners generally have several options to recharge a/c systems with refrigerant. One option is to top-off your car's system with refrigerant, and another is to evacuate and recharge the system. Both of these options will provide cool air in the passenger compartment for some period of time. Neither service, however, involves permanently fixing the a/c system leaks that allowed refrigerant to escape resulting in a lack of cool air. You might therefore also choose to have any leaking components in your a/c system repaired or replaced.

• Compressor

This is a pump that pressurizes and circulates the refrigerant through the system..

• Condenser

As the refrigerant flows through the condenser, it gives off heat and converts from gas to liquid.

• Receiver/Dryer or Accumulator
  

This is where clean, dry refrigerant is stored as it circulates through the system.

• Orifice Tube or Expansion Valve
  

This is a metering device that controls the flow of refrigerant throughout the system.

• Evaporator Core
  

Refrigerant enters the evaporator core as a liquid. Heat from the air converts the liquid refrigerant back into a gas, which cools the air before it enters your car.