3 Reasons Your Car's Air Conditioner Is Blowing Hot Air

When your car's air conditioner is blowing hot, it can really start your day off on the wrong foot. No one wants to arrive at work with hair that looks like it melted, sweat stains or a not-so-cheerful attitude. If your A/C is blowing warm or hot air, it's not a problem you can ignore. 

The Compressor

 The compressor is the part that circulates refrigerant, which ultimately cools off the interior of your vehicle. Think of it as the heart of your air conditioning system. It has be in tip top shape to pump coolant properly. Just like every other part in your vehicle, the compressor can wear out over the years. It's fairly common for the air compressor to fail due to other system failures. A seized compressor is a common occurrence, which is generally caused by a fluid leak. Often, this causes the belt to make a squealing sound. 

Refrigerant Leak

If the compressor is the heart of your A/C system, think of the refrigerant as the blood. If there isn't enough, nothing else is going to work correctly. Many people think that their car's air conditioning system needs more refrigerant when the A/C is blowing hot air. This simply isn't true. The refrigerant in your vehicle's cooling system is enclosed, which means that a low level indicates a leak that must be addressed. When refrigerant leaks, you won't see a puddle under the car because it evaporates. A professional auto air conditioning service such as Redlands Auto Electric can find the cause of the leak for you. 

The Electrical System

The electrical system in your car is like the brain behind everything. When something goes wrong with the electrical system it shuts down, much like the fuse box in your home. It shuts down in order to prevent damage to the vehicle or danger to you. The electrical system is composed of switches, wiring, and relays. When something goes wrong in this system, it's best to have a professional access the cause of the problem. Attempting to rewire or replace fuses in your car's electrical system yourself could lead to further problems.

Now that you know the possible causes of your not so cool air conditioning, make an appointment with an auto air conditioning specialist today. Some fairly simple diagnostic testing often points to the problem, which can easily be taken care of.  You can be on the road in cool comfort in no time.