How do I know which air con gas I require?
R134A gas is common in vehicles manufactured before 2014. All vehicles with air conditioning manufactured since 1st January 2017 include the new R1234YF air con gas which is more environmentally friendly. Since this date, manufacturers are no longer allowed to use the older R134A air con gas in a bid to reduce global warming as the old gas is believed to be more damaging to the environment. R1234YF gas was phased in by vehicle manufacturers over time so vehicles rolling off the production line between 2014 and 2016 could require either gas. To find out which type of air conditioning gas your car needs please give us a call or visit our Facebook page and quote your vehicles registration number.
Does my air con need recharging?
Manufacturers recommend that your air con is recharged every 2 years. As your car or van air conditioning is not checked as part of your MOT test and regassing is not 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.
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. 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.
