People usually get their cars checked and repaired before planning a road trip. Imagine yourself in a situation where you are all set for a weekend trip. You get your car checked and the AC recharged. A comfortable drive awaits you. You step inside your car and off you go but wait, the AC is blowing hot air! It’s so disappointing and embarrassing. The air conditioner unit of your car can act faulty and blow out hot air. However, a recharge doesn’t really make a difference if any component of the AC is damaged. Therefore, components like the condenser or the compressor might be the reason behind your car AC blowing hot air after recharge too.
The AC of your car functions after a cumulative effort of different components. However, its general purpose is to blow out cool air which upgrades the comfort standards of the drive. An AC unit failing this basic function must be diagnosed for potential damage or malfunction.
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Why Is My Car AC Blowing Hot Air After Recharge?
A refrigerant refill is not the only thing that needs to be checked for a functioning AC. The AC might blow out hot air as a result of dirty and faulty components too. Additionally, a leaking refrigerant tank might be a reason for this problem but if the AC acts faulty just after a refill, the problem is mechanical in nature. Therefore, you must seek reliable professional help for diagnosing the actual problem.
1. Faulty Compressor
The compressor acts as an engine to your car AC. The system is powered by the compressor of the AC. A faulty compressor is unable to generate cool air for your car even if the coolant level is accurate. Furthermore, a damaged compressor can shut down the entire AC unit of your car. However, sometimes, a lack of oil in the compressor might be a reason behind this malfunction. Therefore, a compressor must be checked for faulty connections and damage.
2. Dust In Condenser
The condenser is an important component of your AC system. It is positioned in front of the radiator before the car’s grille. It is responsible to use the refrigerant sheds to produce cool air for your car. Condensers are prone to dust and debris. Any dust which comes out of the compressor unit is trapped by the condenser fins. Additionally, a dirty condenser is unable to produce cool air, even after a freon refill. Therefore, a dirty condenser might be the reason behind your car’s AC blowing hot air.
3. Bad Condenser Fan
A condenser requires a constant flow of air over its outer surface. The condenser fans function automatically when the car AC is turned on. A faulty condenser fan amplifies heat in the complete system. Consequently, the AC is unable to generate cool air and blows out this hot air. A damaged condenser fan is unable to eliminate the heat from the freon hence, overheating is observed.
4. Leaking Refrigerant
There might be a situation where every mechanical fault is ruled out. A leak in the refrigerant tank might be the cause of the problem in such a case. The AC continues to blow out hot air even after a refill if the coolant leaks out. Diagnosing a leak of such sort is an easy process. A considerable amount of leaks is visible easily and a smaller leak can be diagnosed with the help of a vacuum.
How To Fix An AC That Blows Out Hot Air After Recharge?
Once the faulty component is identified, repairing it is easier. Sometimes, cleaning the system might prove as an effective solution for the problem. However, some fixes might need a replacement of a specific component of the AC unit of your car.
1. Cleaning The Condensor
A condenser is exposed to dirt and debris. If your condenser is dirty, cleaning it will improve the quality of the air which your AC throws out and help in generating cooler air for your car. A clean condenser not only ensures that cool air is produced but also provides healthy air which is less harmful to breathe. Condenser fins are easily cleanable and this can prove to be a simple solution to your complex problem. Evidently, the condenser is the most vital element of the AC unit, therefore, it must be checked regularly for damage or dust.
2. Repairing The Compressor
The compressor powers the AC. Repairing the compressor ensures that the condenser receives the required amount of electric energy to function efficiently. Furthermore, a proper compressor system prevents the AC unit from a complete shutdown during any malfunction or fault.
3. Repairing Condenser Fans
If the problem diagnosed, lies in the condenser fans, repairing or replacing them will improve the functionality of your car’s AC unit. Condenser fans run to generate cool air for your car. Additionally, these fans eliminate the excessive heat from the freon in your car’s air-cooling mechanism. A fully functional condenser fan helps the AC system in producing cool air.
4. Fixing Leaks
The most common reason behind a car AC blowing hot air after recharge is a leak. If you are facing this problem frequently and are forced to refill freon, again and again, there might be a refrigerant leak. Leaking refrigerant is a big problem as it increases the maintenance cost of your car. Therefore, inspecting and fixing a leak would be a long-term solution to this problem.
What Is The Approximate Cost Of Repair/Replacement?
Installing a new condenser for the air conditioning system will cost you something between $500 to $900. Sometimes, simply cleaning the condenser might be the solution you need. A labor cost of around $100 is incurred to get the condenser cleaned. Therefore, a car AC blowing hot air after recharge can be repaired easily by replacing a faulty condenser with a new one.
A new condenser fan will cost you around $250 to $300. Furthermore, a labor cost of around $75 to $100 is to be considered. The cost of the condenser fans varies between different car brands.
Conclusion
A comfortable driving experience is something that every driver deserves. A car AC blowing hot air after recharge hampers the comfort level of your drive. Furthermore, it initiates an unhealthy environment inside the vehicle. A perfect AC unit not only provides a cool environment inside the car but also ensures that the maintenance cost of the car is lowered.
Stay safe and keep driving
Thank you