The arrangement of hoses connects the functional components of the cooling cycle, including the compressor, the capacitor, and the evaporator. This is where the refrigerant flows. The hoses act like the veins of a human.

In automotive air conditioners the compressor is fixed to the engine and driven by a belt. The hoses must be able to absorb vibrations since the engine side and the body side of the car that they connect have different vibration patterns.