Receiver Drier with Blockage - May be caused by rust/corrosion, desiccant breakdown, or contamination from other failed components such as compressors. Receiver Drier installed Incorrectly - Receiver-driers can be installed in reverse.
``Unless you use the air conditioner in your vehicle a great deal, the receiver dryer will last a long time -- about three years. At that point, the desiccant pellets will have deteriorated to the point that they will actually break down, clog up the expansion valve, and possibly even damage the compressor.''
Paul DeGuisseppi of MACS provides a simple test for checking whether or not the receiver drier may be restricted. Using a contact thermometer, check the temperature of the inlet and outlet pipes; if the difference is 10 degrees Fahrenheit or more, the A/C unit is probably clogged and needs to be replaced.
If the filter drier is partially clogged, there may be a few degree temp drop across it. However, if the filter drier is completely clogged, there will be a large temperature drop across it and likely frost due to the low temp of the refrigerant exiting the clogged filter drier.
All filter driers should be replaced every 2 years or by manufacturer's recommendation.
The receiver drier also referred to as a filter-drier or receiver-dehydrator, is a filtering unit located on the high-pressure side of an A/C loop, normally between the condenser and expansion valve.
It's worth noting that if you don't replace the drier when you change a compressor you will invalidate your warranty protection.
The average cost for an Air Conditioning Receiver Drier Assembly Replacement is between $333 and $417.
The average life expectancy of a dryer is around 10-13 years. And no matter how great your clothes dryer is, all appliances will wear down eventually.
A receiver drier is designed to prevent vapor from flowing out of it into the liquid line that runs to the expansion valve. An accumulator is designed to allow only vapor to flow from it into the suction line that runs to the compressor.
If the suction line drier is left in long enough, it may become fully saturated if there's a lot of moisture present. Then the drier begins to disintegrate, resulting in abrasive materials running through a system. Big mess. Don't let it happen.
The filter drier is responsible for preventing moisture and contaminants from entering the refrigerant. If it's faulty, it could lead to refrigerant leaks, which are often noticeable as a pool of liquid near the unit. Finally, if the filter drier is blocked, it could lead to ice forming on the coil.
Receiver driers contain a material called desiccant. The desiccant is used to absorb moisture that may have gotten inside the A/C system during manufacture, assembly, or service. Moisture can get into the A/C components from humidity in the air. This is the “drier” function of the receiver drier.
The receiver drier is a component that protects all the other parts of the A/C loop. It is located between the condenser outlet and the expansion valve inlet, on the high-pressure side of the car A/C loop.
In between professional cleanings, we recommend cleaning your dryer's lint trap after every load of laundry.