How long does an AC compressor run?

As long as your car is running the way it should, you probably don't even think about all the details that work under the hood. Your air conditioner (AC) compressor is one such piece that is used every day and you probably…

As long as your car is running the way it should, you probably don't even think about all the details that work under the hood. Your air conditioner (AC) compressor is one such piece that gets used every day and you probably don't even think about it until your air conditioner stops working. As the name suggests, an A/C compressor compresses cooled air and sends it to a condenser where it is converted into a refrigerant gas that cools the air inside the car. It then converts the cooled gas back to liquid and returns it to the compressor plant.

As with many accessories in your car, it's hard to say exactly how long an A/C compressor will last. It depends on the age of your car and how often you use the air conditioner. As your vehicle ages and the A/C compressor can handle more stress, parts will inevitably begin to fail. Then there is little or no cool air in your cabin (or even no cool air). However, you can usually expect an A/C compressor to last 8-10 years, and for many drivers, that essentially means the life of the car.

So, what can lead to the failure of the air conditioning compressor? There is a small paradox here. Excessive use can lead to failure of the AC compressor, but, for the same reason, too little use. For your A/C compressor to work properly, you should run your air conditioner for about ten minutes a month, even in winter.

Signs that your A/C compressor is failing include:

• Coolant leaks
• Noise when turning on the air conditioner
• sporadic cooling

If you think your A/C compressor has seen better days, you should have it checked and replaced if necessary. A professional mechanic can replace your A/C compressor so you can enjoy efficient climate control in your car, no matter how old it is.