How do my car's air conditioning and heating systems work?
We take advantage of the fact that we can stay warm in our cars during Sandpoint winters and cool during Sagle summers, but our vehicles' air conditioning and heating systems are fairly complex. To heat up your car, hot engine coolant is circulated through a small radiator, which is often called a heater core. There is a fan in front of the heater core to blow cool air to blow cold outside air over the fins. As this air travels through the heater core, it heats up and this is the warm air that blows out of your heater vents.
Your vehicle's air conditioning system includes the condenser, compressor, expansion valve, and evaporator. Refrigerant or coolant is compressed in the compressor and turns into a hot gas. This hot gas is cooled into a liquid state in the condenser, then travels to the expansion valve. In the expansion valve, the refrigerant turns back into a gas and rapidly cools in the evaporator. A fan blows over the evaporator and cools the air that blows out of your vents. If any parts of your vehicle's heating or air conditioning systems are damaged, it can affect the entire system. If you sense a problem, feel free to bring your car or truck to Six Star Automotive in Bonner County today.
The Problem with R12
In order for refrigerant to work effectively, the liquid needs to have a low boiling point and should be in a gaseous state at room temperature and easily pressurized as a liquid, so it can boil at room temperature and then cool in the evaporator. In the early 1930s, a refrigerant called chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) was developed and was given the name R12 or Freon. Although R12 met all the requirements for a refrigerant as stated earlier, it was found to be significantly reducing the Earth's ozone layer. Starting in 1987, the use of R12 began to be phased out and was completely gone by 1994.
Welcoming R134a
Automotive manufacturers started using tetrafluoromethane, or R134a (which also went by the name Freon), a refrigerant that does not have the ozone-destroying properties of R12. However, with this transition there came a lubricant issue. Air conditioning compressors require oil because they are consistently moving. The oil has to dissolve into the refrigerant, and therefore must be compatible with the refrigerant. Because of this, R134a manufacturers began selling Polyalkylene Glycol, or PAG Oil. Today, R134a is used in many vehicles' air conditioning systems, including in Toyota, Honda, Acura, and Ford vehicles.
Your Quality Shop for R134a Freon AC Repair
Here at Six Star Automotive in Sandpoint, ID, 83864, we are experts in all things auto repair and can repair your R134a Freon AC efficiently and cost-effectively. Reasons You Should Do Business With Us:
We've been fixing cars since 2001 and we prioritize top-quality customer service above all else. Our mission is to exceed your expectations by earning your trust and providing the most reliable, honest, and courteous service available in the market today. We have a review score of 100 based on reviews from 229 satisfied customers. If you are in Sandpoint, Sagle, Bonners Ferry, Spirit Lake, Ponderay or surrounding areas, feel free to call us at 208-255-2955 or go online to schedule an appointment! Six Star Automotive - Quality you Can Trust, at a Fair Price!.