What is an AC Condenser?

The air conditioning (AC) condenser is part of your car’s AC system. Hopefully, that much is obvious. The condenser has the important job of removing heat from the refrigerant circulating throughout the system, thereby converting the refrigerant from a vapor to a liquid. You’ll find it located behind your car’s grille, in front of the radiator.

Just how does the condenser work its magic to keep you cool? It’s actually pretty straightforward – no engineering degree needed.

You see, the condenser is a heat exchanger, much like your car’s radiator. When your car is moving down the road, cool air passes across the condenser, removing heat from the refrigerant inside. At lower speeds, a fan located in the engine compartment takes care of airflow duties.

Because, inside the condenser, the refrigerant’s temperature drops, the refrigerant also transitions from a vapor into a liquid. Once the refrigerant is a liquid, it can be metered into another AC component, called the evaporator, to cool the cabin.