A/C Evaporators & Components

The evaporator is where A/C happens, the part of the system that actually cools the vehicle. The A/C system cools by absorbing and removing heat, and that takes place in the evaporator. Warm air blown through the evaporator by the fan causes the liquid refrigerant to boil and change into a vapor. A lot of energy is required to change a liquid to a vapor, and this energy, in the form of heat, is absorbed from the air in the cabin, keeping you cool.

The evaporator is located under the dash, usually in a case along with the heater core. Similar to the condenser, it is made of aluminum and consists of a series of tubes surrounded by fins. However, unlike the condenser the fins do not transfer heat to the air but rather transfer heat from the air to the refrigerant. The warm air from the blower fan becomes cool as the heat is transferred to the cool evaporator fins.

Along with removing heat and cooling the air, the evaporator also functions as a dehumidifier and removes moisture from the air. As the warm air passes across the evaporator's surface, moisture in the air condenses and collects in the bottom of the evaporator case, and then drains through a tube onto the ground. This is why you usually see a puddle of water on the ground underneath a car on a hot summer day when the A/C is on.

Evaporators are usually replaced because of leaks. Age and repeated temperature cycling can cause a crack to form or corrosion can be the cause. Debris like leaves often collects in the evaporator case from the air intake and the process of decomposition can have a corrosive effect. If the drain tube becomes clogged, this can also cause moisture to remain in the evaporator case and lead to corrosion. Such moisture can also cause an odor problem. No matter the cause of the failure, we have the replacement evaporator cores that will have you feeling cool and comfortable again, from top manufacturers like Denso, TYC, Auto 7, Spectra Premium, and Vista-Pro. Our evaporator cores are made to OE specs and are completely compatible with your refrigerant.