Aircon Regas and Lubrication
There are several parts to the air conditioning supply and each will need to be serviced or at least regularly checked. Considering a cars age and use throughout its life, in this instance, every two years is a good check-in point.
The easiest part of the bi-annual check is the servicing, to offset any future air conditioning repair requirements, taking the right steps to ensure the air con in the car doesn’t fail in the first place. A typical MOT Test does not check for problems with air conditioning, only whether your car is safe to drive, so air con servicing must be carried out separately.
The air conditioning recharge service usually takes less than an hour. A faulty or damaged air con system will create a noisy engine and use more fuel, costing you more money in the process, so it is best to get ahead of the air conditioning problem.
While it doesn’t seem a lot, approximately 10% of air con gas escapes annually. This gas helps cool the incoming air and keep the internal system clean and dirt-free, once the pressure begins to fall, then all number of things can start to go wrong, so check up every two years before air con repair becomes a necessity. As with most repairs with cars, they’re usually more expensive than the maintenance, no matter how costly you feel it is to maintain, a full repair typically ends up being a lot more.
What is an Aircon Regas?
An air con regas is the process of removing the old refrigerant gas in your car’s AC system and replacing it with new refrigerant, allowing it to run cold air again. Air con systems can falter for a variety of reasons – your system may have a leak or the refrigerant gas may have become clogged up with dirt, moisture and other particles, hampering its effectiveness.
If you find your car’s AC system isn’t blowing cold air as it should – either it has stopped producing cool air completely or you’ve noticed a drop-off in performance – your first port of call should be to look for an air con recharge. Our engineers can assess and identify the problem and offer a quick, great-value fix, whether that’s a simple air con top-up or a full air conditioning repair.
Buy Aircon Regas at Protyre
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.
Which Gas does my car need?
There are currently two types of air con gas available on the market. R134A gas is common in vehicles manufactured before 2014. All vehicles with air conditioning manufactured since 1st January 2014 include the new R1234YF air con gas which is more environmentally friendly. Speak to one of our experts at Protyre if you are unsure which air con gas you require.
In an attempt to fight global warming, vehicle manufacturers have not been allowed to use the older R134A gas since 2014 as it is believed to be more damaging to the environment. You can find out which gas you require and book your air conditioning re-gas today by entering your registration number into the search box above/below.
Our air-conditioning engineers have been trained to undertake air-conditioning re-gassing and are fully certified with a Safe Handling of Refrigerants Certificate. We recommend you recharge every 2 years.
Is a car air conditioning recharge part of a normal service?
Although air conditioning maintenance can be considered a part of regular servicing, you won’t find it included in your typical car service.
An aircon regas covers a few key areas beyond replacing the old refrigerant gas, such as topping up the lubricant in the system and checking for any structural faults. It’s a specialist process that sits outside of a standard annual check-up, and that’s why it carries an individual service cost.
Frequently Asked Questions about Air Con Regas:
Air-con regassing is the process of removing the old refrigerant gas from your air-conditioning system and replacing it with new refrigerant, so your air con can run cold again. It should be the first thing you explore if your air-con system isn’t blowing as cold as it should. The process should take a specialist no longer than an hour to do. There could be other reasons why your air-con isn't blowing cold anymore, but a reputable mechanic will be able to advise if the issue is the result of anything other than the need for regassing.
We wouldn’t advise it. Specialists will have a better idea of how to check for leaks and other problems with the air-con system, and there are safety factors to be considered, too. If the refrigerant gas comes into contact with your skin or eyes, it could cause painful freeze burns.
The first sign that your air-con needs regassing is that the air being blown from the vents is not as cool as it used to be, or it doesn’t feel any different when the AC is switched off.
If you can’t remember the last time the system was regassed, it’s probably worth doing. At Protyre we are happy to offer a free air con check.
Most manufacturers recommend you service your car’s air-con every two years or so, but many people wait until it’s not blowing cold air. This is unlikely to cause any harm, but bear in mind that poorly-functioning air-con will make it more difficult to demist windows in winter and could work the engine harder, thus using more fuel, so it’s not worth putting off a system check.
If you don’t regas the air-con system, it will gradually become less efficient, making the car uncomfortable in hot weather, and take longer to demist the windows in winter. Not regassing your air-con system will be bad for it in the long run, too, with pipes likely to crack and parts likely to seize up if it isn’t used.
You can find out the exact cost for air conditioning regas by using our online tool—just enter your vehicle registration, and we'll provide the price. You can also book your aircon service online at a time that suits you best. If you have any other questions or need assistance, please give a call to your local garage.
An air con regas typically takes about 30 to 45 minutes. At Protyre Autocare, we make the process efficient and convenient, so you can get back to enjoying a comfortable drive. Book your air con regas online with us for a quick and hassle-free service!
You can regas your car's air con at Protyre Autocare, where we offer professional air con regas services at our local garages. Simply book online for a convenient appointment and let our experts handle the rest. Keep your car cool and comfortable with our efficient service!
To prolong the life of your air conditioning system, regularly use it to keep the components lubricated, have it serviced annually, and ensure the cabin air filter is replaced as needed. At Protyre Autocare, we offer expert air con maintenance to help keep your system running smoothly. Book your service online to keep your air conditioning in top shape!