An automotive air conditioner system could be seen as having four basic parts - the compressor, a belt driven pump to compress and circulate gas, a condenser, which behaves similarly to a radiator to remove heat and condense gas to a liquid, the evaporator (a type of heat exchanger) to exhaust the heat from the car and remove moisture from refrigerant and an expansion device usually a thermal expansion valve (TXV) or an orifice tube, (dependent on the kind of air-con system used).

A car air conditioning system is designed to take the excess heat from the air in the inside of the car and expell it to the outside, leaving only cooled or 'conditioned' air behind to be redistributed. As hot air is passed across the fins of the evaporator the heat is easily absorbed by the refrigerant (in gas form), effectively removing the heat from the air in the car and taking it outside.

The now heated gas is pulled through the compressor where it is further heated (via compression) to a very high temperature. The refrigerant is then literally forced through the condenser, allowing the cooler outside air to quickly extract the heat from the refrigerant as it is condensed to a liquid. The refrigerant then moves through the expansion device (either a TXV or Orifice tube), which regulates the flow of refrigerant going to the evaporator. At this point the refrigerant expands back into a gas form and the entire process begins all over again.

 

A typical air conditioner service may include

• Check air vent temperature

• condenser temperature check
  
  
• Suction line temperature assessment
  
  
• Check operation of drive belt & pulley ok
  
  
• Ensure that thermostats and valves are operating correctly
  
  
• Confirm condenser fins are clean
  
  
• Confirm adequate condition of of hoses and components
  
  
• Evacuation and recharge of refrigerant (where required)
  
  
• System line and component assesment with electronic tester

The compressor needs the right amount of oil in the refrigerant to prevent it from seizing up. When the air filters become plugged with dirt and bacteria it will affect the performance of the entire system and it can even cause it to quit working altogether. On top of reducing air conditioner efficiency, dirty air filters can cause all kinds of health problems too.

Your automotive air conditioning system should be examined once a year for any signs of decay of the connections, hoses and seals and ensure refrigerant is not leaking over time. Regularly servicing your vehicle air conditioning system keeps refrigerant at optimum levels meaning the system does not need to work as hard and this in turn protects the system from damage and reduces the amount of fuel you use.

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A car air conditioning system is designed to take the excess heat from the air in the inside of the car and sending it to the outside, leaving only cooled or 'conditioned' air behind to be redistributed. This is achieved using a special compound called refrigerant, capable of readily absorbing heat as a gas and quickly losing heat as a liquid.

Although it functions in a way like a domestic refrigerator, there are still a couple of significant differences. Because it is mounted on your car, the air conditioner is subjected to a considerable amount of movement and vibration as well as having to operate outdoors.

Being exposed to the mercy of the elements and very stressful operating temperatures and being expected to operate intermittently rather than being 'Always On' can cause failure of the hoses, connections and seals. A vehicle air conditioning system should be examined annually as well as being fully serviced every two years to ensure there are no problems or refrigerant loss due to failure or leakage from these points.

Simply by cooling the air in your car under normal running conditions, the filters of the air con get dirty. If the system is run infrequently, seals may dry and crack allowing them to leak and the air conditioning system can lose as much as 15% of its refrigerant in a single year. Even without leaks, the gas in a car air conditioning system will eventually degrade or evaporate over time and should be recharged regularly to keep the air con system in peak running condition

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Under Australian law, only qualified mechanics with the appropriate licences are able to service or repair car air conditioning systems, especially where regas (recharging of the refrigerant) is concerned. Strict guidelines and procedures must be adhered to when handling refrigerant, which must always be fully recovered and not allowed to escape into the atmosphere during servicing.

Refrigerant can also pose serious health risks if handled incorrectly. Specialist equipment is also required as the air conditioning system is under extreme pressure and must be pulled into a deep vacuum to remove any moisture, which can seriously damage the system.

You can find out more about licensing on the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) Website.

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The core of the evaporator can be the perfect breeding ground for microbes, bacteria and even fungus due to the damp conditions found there. This can lead to nasty smells and possibly even be bad for the health of any vehicle occupants. Although modern evaporator units tend to be more efficient, the addition of extra fins leads to an increased ability to trap moisture, allowing micro-organism development.

Woodward's Auto Repairs mechanics have the capability to use specialised ultrasonic technology to eradicate any micro-organisms that may cause bad odours or health issues.

Just ask about our MIST service, which will kill any bacteria that may be lurking in your Car’s Air system. These bacteria can cause odours and even make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma. A MIST service doesn’t just make your car smell better - it makes it healthier for you and your family.