4 signs of a malfunctioning air conditioner evaporator
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A faulty air conditioner can be the result of a faulty air conditioner evaporator. Symptoms include weak air, strange smells, and temperature fluctuations.
One of the most frustrating situations that any car owner can face is the breakdown of the air conditioner, especially on hot summer days. A modern air conditioning system consists of several independent components that must work together seamlessly to convert warm air into cold air. Of these parts, the AC evaporator is critical for the car air conditioner. Although this component can withstand continuous use for several years, problems can and often do occur without warning.
What is an AC evaporator?
The air conditioning system is designed to remove heat from the air. The job of an evaporator is to use the cold refrigerant in its liquid state. As warm air passes over the evaporator coils, it picks up heat from the air and cools it down. The cold air is then circulated through the temporary cabin.
The two specific components that make up an evaporator are the core and the coils. When problems occur, in most cases it is due to leaks between these two parts. Because an AC evaporator requires constant pressure to efficiently remove heat, leakage is usually the root cause of failure. Thus, if a serious leak is found in the air conditioner evaporator, replacement is the best course of action.
4 signs of a malfunctioning air conditioner evaporator
As with most air conditioner problems, the first sign of a damaged air conditioner evaporator is poor performance. Since the air conditioner evaporator is the main part that removes heat from the air, it is quite easy to determine the malfunction. However, there are 4 other warning signs of a damaged air conditioner evaporator:
1. Cold air is weak or does not blow cold air at all. If the AC evaporator coil or core leaks, the efficiency of the air conditioning system will be affected. Generally speaking, the larger the leakage, the lower the cooling capacity.
2. You notice a strange smell while using your air conditioning system. If your AC evaporator is leaking, a small amount of refrigerant (not coolant) will leak from the coil, core, or seals. This will create a sweet fragrance that may become more intense when the air conditioner is turned on.
3. The air conditioner compressor does not turn on. The compressor is designed to circulate the refrigerant through the evaporator. It depends on maintaining the set pressure for work. Thus, if there is a leak, the pressure in the system decreases and the compressor does not turn on.
4. AC temperature will change. If the air conditioner evaporator has a small leak, it may continue to cool the air. However, if the temperature is not constant, it may indicate damage to the air conditioner evaporator.
What are the main causes of an air conditioner evaporator leak?
There are several sources of air conditioner evaporator leaks. Some of them are easy to detect, while others require detailed diagnosis:
1. Damaged outer seal.Most leaks are due to damage to the outer seal on the evaporator core.
2. Corrosion. It is also quite common for corrosion within the evaporator core to cause seals to leak. Corrosion occurs when debris enters the air intake, such as dirt from damaged or clogged air filters.
3. Communication between the coil and the core.Another source of leakage is the connection between the AC evaporator coil and the core. If a leak is found, the correct solution is to replace the entire A/C evaporator.
Some shade tree mechanics try to use sealant to fix the leak, but this is always a temporary solution and usually creates additional problems with the air conditioning system, so we don't recommend this type of quick fix.
