Emergency Auto Repairs - Roadside Fixes < Continued from page 1 Components of Automotive Air ConditioningYour air conditioning system is made up of a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator (or drier), refrigeration lines and a couple of sensors here and there. Compressor: This is the heart of your a/c system. The compressor is what takes the refrigerant (the gas) and pressurizes it so it will cool the air. It's run by an engine belt. The compressor also has an electrically operated clutch that turns the compressor on and off as you demand more cool air. Condenser: The condenser is like a miniature radiator, usually mounted at the front of the car right next to your big radiator. Sometimes the condenser will have its own electric cooling fan, too. The hot, compressed air passes through the condenser and gets lots cooler. As it cools, it becomes a liquid. Evaporator: The evaporator is another little radiator that does just the opposite task as the condenser. As the super-cool liquid is passed through its tubes, air is forced through and gets really cold, right before it hits your face.

As it warms up again, the refrigerant starts turning back into a gas. Thermal Expansion Valve: You don't always want to freeze your toes off, so the a/c system has a valve that controls the flow of super-cool refrigerant to the evaporator. This way you can regulate how cold the air blowing on you gets. There are a few types of valves in use these days, but they all do the same thing. room air conditioner reviews 2014Drier or Accumulator: The drier, also known as the receiver-drier, is sort of the safety catch for your system. what size ac unit do i need for my garageThe compressor is only supposed to compress the gas form of your refrigerant. mobile home central air conditioner unitsHowever, there's always a chance that some liquid could make it back that far.

The drier catches this liquid before it can damage your compressor. Since even the tiniest leak or careless installation can introduce water moisture to the system, the drier absorbs this chemically, using what's called a dessicant (similar to that packet of "DO NOT EAT" that comes with electronics). The drier also has a filter that catches any gunk that might be in there. That's pretty much the whole story! Different systems also have sensors here and there to tell it pressure and temperatures, but they are specific to a make and model of vehicle. If you need to do some work on your car or truck's AC system, be sure to have a repair manual specific to your vehicle. Recharge Your Car's AC Check Your Coolant Mixture What to Look For When You Just Can't Get Your Car to Start My Wipers are Miserable. How to Drain Your Car's Gas Tank Safely 5 Ways to Tell Your Car Is OverheatingDear Driving for Dollars, I moved earlier this year to the southwestern U.S. for a job.

It's the first time I've ever lived in a really hot climate, and so far this summer, my gas mileage has been just terrible. A co-worker said that it's because of my car's air conditioner.Indeed, I am frequently running my car's A/C on the maximum setting because I'm not used to the heat. Could using my air conditioner really be killing my fuel economy? -- AlbertaDear Alberta,It is true that running your car's air conditioning decreases your fuel economy. In fact, a gasoline-powered car can see a drop of more than 25 percent in gas mileage in very hot weather, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The agency says the air conditioning's effect on hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles can be even greater.To compensate, make sure you use a sunshade when you are parked outside, and try to park in the shade or in a garage whenever possible. This will also help keep your paint in good shape.When you get in the car, open the windows briefly to let the hot air out, then start driving with the air conditioner on because most systems will cool faster if the car is moving.

Once you start to feel cooler, set the temperature a little higher or take the system off the max setting.For tips on economizing on car fuel, see 4 ways to improve your car's fuel economy.Ask the adviserIf you have a car question, email it to us at Driving for Dollars. Read more Driving for Dollars columns and Bankrate auto stories. Follow her on Facebook here or on Twitter @SheDrives.Bankrate's content, including the guidance of its advice-and-expert columns and this website, is intended only to assist you with financial decisions. The content is broad in scope and does not consider your personal financial situation. Bankrate recommends that you seek the advice of advisers who are fully aware of your individual circumstances before making any final decisions or implementing any financial strategy. Please remember that your use of this website is governed by Bankrate's Terms of Use.Both home AC units and car AC units work on the same principle, they remove hot air from inside and deposit it outside.

An Arizona home AC unit consists of a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The compressor is the big boxy part you see outside your home. It’s called the compressor because its job is to compress the refrigerant, which increases its temperature and turns it into a vapor. The hot vapor then moves into the condenser coil where it is cooled while the heat is transferred outside. So as the refrigerant is changed from liquid to gas it absorbs heat and as it changes from gas to liquid it releases heat. When the refrigerant cools it changes from a vapor to a liquid. When the liquid refrigerant is forced through the opening in the expansion valve it is changed into a cool mist due to the fact that gas cools as it expands. As the refrigerant cools it changes to a liquid state, returns to the expansion area and continually repeats the cycle. The capability of the refrigerant to change forms as it is compressed and heated and expanded and cooled makes it the lifeblood of your air conditioner.

To put it simply, as air passes through the indoor coil it is cooled and blown through your home while hot air from your home is absorbed and released outside. Your vehicle AC unit works on the same principle, with a compressor to compress the refrigerant, a condenser containing coils that cool the refrigerant changing it into a cold liquid, and an expansion valve that forces the refrigerant to change into a mist. A blower motor then moves air over the cold evaporator tubes. Additionally a car air-conditioner contains a drier canister where moisture is absorbed from the air. Finally the cool air is blown inside your vehicle. When you are in need of South Chandler AC repair or air conditioner maintenance it’s best to call a professional, especially since older air conditioners use Freon as a refrigerant. Freon has been found to be dangerous to the ozone, so air conditioner technicians in Apache Junction use special machines to contain the Freon, preventing its release into the atmosphere.