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091 794115
Does my air con need recharging?
Manufacturers recommend that your air con is recharged every 2 years. As your car or van air conditioner is not checked as part of your NCT test and regassing is not typically included in your Service, it is important to make sure that you include recharging as part of your regular vehicle maintenance routine.
If your AC is blowing out warm air or only works intermittently, an AC recharge can bring back cold air when you need it most on hot days and can also improve your fuel efficiency as there is less strain on the system and engine. Unpleasant smells coming from the air vents also suggest that your air con needs some attention in the form of an air-con debug / sanitisation
Free Air Con Performance Test
If it’s been a few years since you had your air conditioning recharged and you’re not sure whether it’s working as effectively as it could be, why not book your vehicle in for a free air con check at Top Service to see if you need a recharge. An Air Con check is also included in a Full Service.
Did you know?
Air conditioning doesn’t just provide in-car comfort during the hot summer months; it can also be used in winter to demist your windscreen. Air con systems create dry warm air rather than the normal humid air from outside which can clear your windscreen much more quickly than your regular blowers.
Recharge at Top Service
The recharge process is quite simple and involves removing any old refrigerant gas and oil from your air con system before replacing this with the correct amount of new refrigerant and lubricant as per your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation. A vacuum test is also performed to ensure there are no cracks or damage in your vehicle air conditioning system that could cause the gas to leak out.
Within an hour the whole recharge process is completed and you will once again have refreshing cool air on demand. Our trained technicians will show you the difference in your AC before and after recharge. Vehicle air conditioners that are not recharged regularly will be less effective and have to work harder to produce cool air. This puts more strain on the engine and uses more fuel. If your air conditioning system has not been recharged in the past two years it will dramatically reduce efficiency.
Air Conditioning Cleaning
If you notice bad odours coming from your air vents when you turn on your car air con, then your car may benefit from an air con cleaning service, also known as a debug. Over time the humidity and moisture in your car's air con system can cause a build-up of bacteria, mould, and fungi, particularly if it is left unused for periods of time.
This build-up can be bad for your health, particularly if you suffer from allergies, as the bacterial spores are blown into the cabin of the vehicle and breathed in by passengers. Not only can this cause sickness, but also an unpleasant air con smell may be produced from the air vents when you turn your air conditioning on, making for an unpleasant driving experience.
Electric Vehicle Air Conditioning Recharge
Just like cars that run on petrol and diesel, both electric vehicles and hybrids will also require the air con system recharged when the refrigerant gas in the air con system needs replacing. Otherwise, the air con system in your vehicle will not operate effectively and will start to blow warm air. In fact, proactive maintenance of the air conditioning system is even more important here as the air con system in electric cars is also used to cool components including the batteries and electric motors, which can become very hot with extended use.
Electric vehicles use the same types of refrigerant gas as internal combustion engine vehicles with the majority requiring the newer R1234YF type of gas.
