If your car’s air conditioner is blowing out hot air then it’s likely that the evaporator coils are frozen. When this happens the air conditioner will struggle to cool the air and the coils will eventually thaw and form ice. This ice can build up and block the air conditioner’s ability to circulate air causing the air conditioner to blow out hot air.
One potential cause of frozen evaporator coils is a lack of refrigerant. Refrigerant is what helps the air conditioner cool the air and if there’s not enough of it the coils can freeze. There are a few ways to tell if your car is low on refrigerant including if the air conditioner is blowing out hot air or if there’s a refrigerant leak.
If your car is low on refrigerant you’ll need to add more in order to thaw the coils and get the air conditioner blowing cold air again. Make sure to check for leaks before adding more refrigerant as a leaking air conditioner will just lose the refrigerant you add.
Another potential cause of frozen evaporator coils is a dirty air filter. A dirty air filter can restrict air flow to the coils causing them to freeze. Replacing the air filter is an easy and inexpensive fix that can help prevent the coils from freezing.
If your car’s air conditioner is blowing out hot air and you can’t figure out why bring it to a mechanic to have it checked out. It’s possible that the coils are frozen and will need to be thawed or that there’s a refrigerant leak that needs to be fixed. Replacing a dirty air filter is also a good idea.
What causes my car’s air conditioner to smell like vinegar?
Answer: The most likely cause is that your air conditioner is low on refrigerant.
