6 things to check when your air con blows hot air

It happens when you least expect it. You are driving and enjoying the ride, music, and company. Suddenly it hits you—a wall of hot air. You check your windows but they’re rolled up. Then you realise that your air con is blowing hot air. In this tropical country, that can only mean suffering in the heat. There could be a variety of issues, but here are the most common.

Refrigerant leak

The refrigerant removes heat and humidity from the cabin by evaporating and drawing heat away in the cooling unit. The same process occurs when you rub hand sanitiser on your hand. The alcohol evaporates, taking heat with it, so your hand feels cool.

So if there is a leak, the refrigerant will escape and evaporate into the atmosphere. This results in your air con not working. A leak can appear in old hoses, cracked or even rusty parts, but good luck finding it! You will need to be very lucky to notice an oily residue at the exact location of the leak. Not easy, in the dark cramped interior of the car. That is why technicians insert a dye to identify the source of the leak before they start repairs.

Read more: How does rust damage your car

Condenser trouble

The condenser is where the refrigerant cools and condenses into a liquid ready to restart the cycle. When the condenser is damaged, it cannot cool the refrigerant, resulting in hot air being blown into your face. If you recently had an accident in the front of the car, you should probably pop open your hood to check if your condenser is damaged. If you spot any damage, head straight to a trusted mechanic.

Compressor woes

The compressor is the beating heart of your air conditioner. Its sole function is to pump the refrigerant throughout the system. As your compressor ages, the moving parts wear out, so the refrigerant is pumped less efficiently. This leads to a warm, humid cabin.

Before it gets that bad, you should keep an eye out for inconsistent performance. If your air con is working well then it suddenly stops only to start working well again, it is a surefire sign you need to get to a workshop to get your air con serviced.

Fan damage

Another part that could be damaged in an accident is the fan. The fan’s job is to pull cool outside air over the condenser to cool the refrigerant. If the fan is damaged, the refrigerant cannot cool, which means no cold air from your air con. Simply pop the hood and take a look if you had a frontal accident recently.

If there is no damage or you didn’t get into an accident recently, you could have…

Clogged air filters

The cold air that comes out of your air con starts out as warm air inside your car. This air is sucked in and then cooled before being blown back into the cabin. This air has to be filtered first so that no debris or other unwanted objects get mixed in.

Your filter will slowly get clogged with dust and other small debris over time. This will stop the airflow and result in warm or musty air entering the car cabin. One clue that this has occurred is a musty smell from your air con.

To get around this, you can clean your car’s air filters on your own. Rise the filter with water until all the dirt and debris are gone. Alternatively, you can use a cleaner approved by a professional to thoroughly remove the offending material. Then shake the filter and leave the filter out to dry. Once it is completely dry, oil it (if you use an oiled filter) and place it back in the car.

Sometimes, a filter is too far gone to be saved and no amount of cleaning will help. In that case, you should head to a reliable workshop to get it replaced.

Power issues

Your air conditioner is nothing without power to make it work. So if everything else is functioning well, it could be an electrical issue. A trained technician will need to inspect your car’s fuse box and wiring to ensure everything is functioning properly. All it takes is a blown fuse or a frayed wire for the system to become underpowered.

If you notice any frayed wires, head to a trusted workshop immediately! You don’t know what kind of damage a short circuit can cause.

Your air conditioner is an essential part of your car; it keeps you cool in this hot and humid climate. So if you are experiencing any air con trouble, it’s best to pay a trusted mechanic like Carro a visit and get your air con serviced thoroughly! You can also give your car a full routine service while there! Alternatively, you can get a quote online.