Chill with Confidence: Ace the 2025 ASE Air Conditioner Exam and Keep Cool Under the Hood!

The compressor is the key component responsible for compressing the refrigerant in an A/C system. Its primary function is to take the low-pressure refrigerant gas, compress it, and convert it into a high-pressure gas. This process is essential for the refrigeration cycle, as it enables the refrigerant to flow through the system, starting from the compressor and moving to the condenser.

When the refrigerant is compressed, its temperature increases significantly. This high-pressure, high-temperature gas then moves to the condenser, where it dissipates heat and changes state from gas to liquid. Understanding the role of the compressor is crucial because it sets the pressure dynamics of the entire A/C system, affecting efficiency and performance.

In contrast, the evaporator serves to absorb heat from the cabin air, the expansion valve regulates the flow and pressure of the refrigerant entering the evaporator, and the condenser cools the high-pressure gas. Each component has its specific function, but the compressor is the one that initiates the refrigeration cycle by compressing the refrigerant.