For many of us, as long as our car is running well, we may not think about the hundreds of parts working together under the hood to bring us our creature comforts. The air conditioning compressor is one of those parts that typically gets a lot of usage and provides that critical cool air on hot summer days. The air-conditioning compressor does exactly what its name says -- it compresses refrigerant and sends it to your car's air condenser. The entire process is powered by your engine's drive belt (or belts). The highly pressurized liquid refrigerant converts to a gas and is circulated into tubes where the heat from the gas is quickly released, causing it to cool. The cooled gas then reverts back into liquid form as it returns to the compressor. The cooled gas is used to chill the car's cabin air. As with any other part on a car, it's difficult to determine exactly how long any one specific component will ultimately last, but there are some factors that help determine how long a compressor will be able to do its job.

The first is the age of the car. Most modern cars have air-conditioning systems that are considered reliable, so major issues are rare. But similar to other car parts, as a car's age and mileage begin to add up, you can expect that the wear and tear over the years will cause parts to fail or malfunction. ac units for mobile homeIn the case of the A/C compressor, this can mean little or no cool air coming from the system.can you use a window ac unit indoors Top 10 Everyday Car Technologies That Came From Racinghow to find ac unit size Can you assemble your own car? How long do alternators last? Should auto tires have a sell-by date? What is an oil life indicator? To keep your car's compressor in shape throughout the year, it's recommended that you run the A/C compressor regularly, to keep the system working properly and to extend its longevity.

Many cars use the A/C compressor for functions of heating and ventilation in the defrost cycle, too. But if your car doesn't, you should run the compressor for at least 10 minutes each month, even during the winter months. One last point to note: If the compressor has already been replaced in your vehicle, the lifecycle may not be quite as long as the factory original part. Many aftermarket auto parts websites will quote a one- or two-year warranty on the part -- but, of course, they can certainly last much longer with the proper care. So, if you notice that your car's air conditioning system isn't putting out any cold air, or minimal cold air, a dysfunctional or broken compressor could be the culprit (among several other possibilities). Just remember that compressors function at high pressures, involve liquid refrigerant and require special tools to service -- it may be best to leave changing the compressor to an expert mechanic. For more information about car A/C compressors and other related topics, follow the links on the next page.

The requested URL /vbb/showthread.php?275072-Package-Unit-Life-Spans was not found on this server.It’s the 111th anniversary of modern air conditioning. Las Vegas was founded three years later. Actually, our first air-conditioned building was the El Portal Theater at 310 Fremont Street, which debuted its coolness on June 21, 1928. If we were to have a citywide holiday, that should be it. About 65 percent of the average power bill in Las Vegas during summer months is a direct result of AC use. The recommended thermostat setting is 78 degrees, according to Pam Hilts, manager of residential programs at NV Energy. (She keeps her home at 83.) Every degree you lower the thermostat increases your bill by 2.5 percent. So, by going from 76 degrees to 78, you can save 5 percent. Ceiling fans don’t really cool off a room—just the people in it. In other words, a fan blowing in an empty room doesn’t directly add any efficiency, but it may keep you from lowering your AC to be comfortable.

Run major appliances in the evening, so as to not make your AC work any harder than it has to in the daytime. The mPowered program is a pretty cool deal. Pick a technician, who comes to your home and installs a smart thermostat, which you’ll be able to adjust remotely via smartphone or online. It’s all free, and you’ll save money on your power bill by not cooling your home as often. The thermostats allow you to reduce the electric load at a time when energy costs are higher, allowing NV Energy to more cost-effectively meet peak demand. The credits you earn from saving the energy company energy are applied to your account at the end of the year. Hardware stores also have smart thermostats, which are likely better than the ones that came with your house. They let you schedule times for higher set points when no one is home and then cool off before you arrive. Some can even tell when filters need to be replaced. The average AC unit lasts 15-20 years. The condensing fan motor goes out every five to 10 years, thanks to our intense heat.

And it’s expensive to replace (more than $400, for an average-size unit). It can last twice as long if it’s in the shade, though. You can get your units inspected every year, but that may be overkill if you’re taking good care of them. The best way to take care of your units is to change the air filters (they reside in the air-return vents in your house) every 30 days—or 90 days, if they’re high-quality, pleated filters. Also: Hose off your outdoor condensing units once a year to get rid of the dust and debris, which can hamper efficiency. While you’re at it, make sure there is nothing (such as bushes and weeds) within about 2 feet of the condenser that might impede the airflow. The air-filter debate: One AC contractor we talked to said there really aren’t any residential units that can handle the high-quality, pleated variety because they’re denser than the standard fiberglass filters. Since they cost more and force your units to work harder, he says to use them only if you have bad allergies or breathing problems.