{"id":13586,"date":"2020-07-30T19:49:42","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T02:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=13586"},"modified":"2025-05-10T04:15:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T11:15:20","slug":"difference-between-car-airconditioner-heater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/difference-between-car-airconditioner-heater\/","title":{"rendered":"What&#8217;s the Difference Between Your Car\u2019s Air Conditioner &#038; Heater?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column13586_7f719a-6d inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-12c1ac  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-eb8778\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading13586_ef4db3-43\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The air conditioner is responsible for cooling the cabin while the heater acts like a built-in furnace to increase temperature.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The heater uses hot engine coolant flowing through its core to warm your car&rsquo;s interior.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The air management system is the primary connection between the cooling and heating systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overall, the heater is more important than the A\/C system because of its link to the engine via the coolant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Most people understand that their home&rsquo;s heating and air conditioning (A\/C) are basically two distinct systems (usually) tied together by ductwork. There&rsquo;s the A\/C unit, which does the cooling, and the furnace, which does the heating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, the two units&mdash;and everything that goes along with them&mdash;are known as the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your car&rsquo;s HVAC system is very similar in that the A\/C and heater are mostly separate from one another. The A\/C uses refrigerant, while the heater uses hot engine coolant. Select parts of the air management system tie both sides of the climate control together.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To clarify further, we&rsquo;re going to discuss how both the heating and A\/C systems work, and what they have in common.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Your Car&rsquo;s A\/C Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your car&rsquo;s A\/C system uses refrigerant to remove heat from the cabin. In the past, R12 refrigerant (also known as Freon) was the industry standard. Today, however, most vehicles use R134a. There are also a few applications that employ a new type of refrigerant called R1234yf.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/car-airconditioning-system-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"diagram of how car ac airconditioning system works\" class=\"wp-image-13626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/car-airconditioning-system-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/car-airconditioning-system-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/car-airconditioning-system-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/car-airconditioning-system-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/car-airconditioning-system-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/car-airconditioning-system.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A typical automotive A\/C system <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A\/C operation is more complex than you might think. Everything starts with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/a-c-compressor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"compressor\">compressor<\/a>&mdash;an engine-driven device that pressurizes the refrigerant and forces it through the system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is how the A\/C refrigerant cycle works:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The refrigerant leaves the compressor as a high-pressure vapor.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Next, the refrigerant travels to a radiator-type device called the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/a-c-condenser\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"condenser\">condenser<\/a>. The condenser dissipates some of the system heat into the atmosphere, causing the refrigerant to change from a vapor to a liquid.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From there, the refrigerant enters a metering device (either an orifice tube or an expansion valve). The metering device reduces system pressure and regulates the flow of refrigerant into another radiator-type component, called the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/a-c-evaporator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"evaporator\">evaporator<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blower-motor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"blower motor\">blower motor<\/a> blows warm air across the evaporator, causing the refrigerant to boil, evaporate, and absorb heat. Then the air, which is now cool from transferring heat to the refrigerant, is directed into the cabin.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After leaving the evaporator, the refrigerant heads back to the compressor.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>All A\/C systems also have either an accumulator\/drier or a receiver\/drier to remove moisture from the A\/C system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&rsquo;s a video describing how the A\/C system works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How a Car AC System Works - For Beginners\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-INZ2sRrsuo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Your Car&rsquo;s Heater Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To warm your car&rsquo;s interior, the heater uses hot engine coolant flowing through a device called the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/heater-core\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"heater core\">heater core<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&rsquo;s how it works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The engine thermostat controls the temperature of the coolant.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The water pump causes the hot coolant to circulate from the engine to the heater core.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When the driver turns on the heater, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-car-blower-motor-purpose-symptoms-and-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"blower motor\">blower motor<\/a> forces air across the heater core, transferring warmth from the coolant into the cabin.&nbsp;<br><strong><em>Note:<\/em><\/strong><em> Some vehicles also have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-a-heater-control-valve-works-with-diagram\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"heater control valve\">heater control valve<\/a> that controls coolant flow into the heater core.&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The coolant then leaves the heater core and returns to the engine.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"736\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/heater-1024x736.jpg\" alt=\"heater core\" class=\"wp-image-13628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/heater-1024x736.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/heater-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/heater-768x552.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/heater-150x108.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/heater.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A heater core <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the heater core is part of the coolant circuit, it&rsquo;s also part of the engine cooling system. As such, for the heater to work properly, the rest of the cooling system must be in good condition. Issues, such as a low coolant level, stuck-open thermostat, or faulty water pump, can prevent the heater from working as it should.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a video that demonstrates how the entire cooling system, including the heater core, works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Engine Cooling System Works | Autotechlabs\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y5p31F_dVJU?start=8&amp;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the Cooling &amp; Heating Systems Have in Common&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By now you understand how your car&rsquo;s heater and A\/C are separate from one another in most ways&mdash;what links the two together is the air management system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, the air management system includes everything that controls the hot and cold airflow into the cabin. A molded plastic housing (often referred to as a plenum) is the heart of the system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The housing usually contains the A\/C evaporator, heater core, blower motor, and most of the air distribution doors. A molded plastic distribution section and inlet section connect to either end of the housing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Airflow through the system is controlled by three or more doors, including the air inlet door, blend door, and mode door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you might guess:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The air inlet door is used to select outside or recirculation air.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The blend door adjusts the air temperature by routing air through the evaporator core, heater core, or both. As was mentioned, on some vehicles, a heater control valve is also used to regulate temperature.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The mode door controls the air discharge location (floor, upper body, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The doors may be operated by cables, engine vacuum, or electric actuators, depending on the year\/make\/model of the vehicle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And let&rsquo;s not forget the blower motor; it drives the fan (squirrel cage) that circulates the air inside the passenger compartment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which is More Important: The Heater or the A\/C System?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your car&rsquo;s A\/C system stops working, you&rsquo;re going to be extremely uncomfortable in hot weather. The good news is, a failure within the system is unlikely to cause damage to other parts of your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same thing cannot be said for the heater, though. Because the heater relies on engine coolant, it&rsquo;s possible for a failure within the system, such as a leaking heater core, to cause engine damage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words: a failure of either system can cause discomfort in extreme temperatures. But an issue with the heater is far more pressing than a problem with the A\/C system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Run the Heater and A\/C at the Same Time?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Running the heater and air conditioning unit is usually done to prevent window fogging in cold weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some manufacturers recommend blasting the heat to the max while the A\/C unit is on and the vents are directed to the windshield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most A\/C systems are designed in such a way that prevents the compressor from getting damaged when refrigerant is pumped back to the chambers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By running the heater and A\/C at the same time, moisture is directed to the evaporator coil where it will condense and eventually get ejected from the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Get Quality Replacement Parts For Your HVAC System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Both the A\/C and heater systems are made up of different parts that come together under the HVAC system. As a whole, the HVAC system works to keep your cabin temperature comfortable no matter what the season. You can imagine the discomfort that can come from the HVAC system malfunctioning due to broken or faulty parts. That&rsquo;s why CarParts.com is here to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a> catalog offers parts for many different systems, the A\/C and heater systems included. You can browse our easy-to-navigate website from the comforts of home, and order what you need in a few easy clicks. Our 60-day return policy and price match guarantee are in place so you can order with confidence. Don&rsquo;t forget to use our built-in vehicle selector to guarantee your parts&rsquo; fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Place your order for a new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/heater-core\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"heater core\">heater core<\/a> and other parts for your HVAC system at CarParts.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Products Mentioned in this Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"reusable-productlink\">\n\n<!-- start of editable content -->\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/a-c-compressor\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"a\/c compressor\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/d_noimage.jpg,h_200,w_200,c_pad,f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto,e_sharpen\/images\/repf191119_1\">\n<strong>A\/C Compressor<\/strong>\n<\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/a-c-condenser\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"a\/c condenser\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/d_noimage.jpg,h_200,w_200,c_pad,f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto,e_sharpen\/images\/kvac4848_1\">\n<strong>A\/C Condenser<\/strong>\n<\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/a-c-evaporator\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"a\/c evaporator\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/d_noimage.jpg,h_200,w_200,c_pad,f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto,e_sharpen\/images\/repf191716_1\">\n<strong>A\/C Evaporator<\/strong>\n<\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blower-motor\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"blower motor\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/d_noimage.jpg,h_200,w_200,c_pad,f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto,e_sharpen\/images\/rbd191505_1\">\n<strong>Blower Motor<\/strong>\n<\/a>\n\n<!-- end of editable content -->\n\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Most people understand that their home&rsquo;s heating and air conditioning (A\/C) are basically two distinct systems (usually) tied together by&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/difference-between-car-airconditioner-heater\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1643,"featured_media":13625,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3754,52,4044,4038],"tags":[1076,1780,1175,1176,1077,1599,334],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-13586","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-air-conditioning-and-heating","8":"category-diy","9":"category-feel-finer","10":"category-performance-articles","11":"tag-a-c-accumulator","12":"tag-a-c-and-heater-control","13":"tag-a-c-compressor-2","14":"tag-a-c-condenser-2","15":"tag-a-c-evaporator","16":"tag-blower-motor","17":"tag-heater-core","18":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What&#039;s the Difference Between Your Car\u2019s Air Conditioner &amp; Heater? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The air conditioner and heater are two distinct units that play an important role in regulating your vehicle\u2019s temperature. Read on to find out more about them.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/difference-between-car-airconditioner-heater\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What&#039;s the Difference Between Your Car\u2019s Air Conditioner &amp; Heater? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The air conditioner and heater are two distinct units that play an important role in regulating your vehicle\u2019s temperature. 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