What Will A Car Air Conditioning Recharge Cost Me?

If your car's air conditioning has lost its force, the previously cold temperatures have grown tepid, or it fails to work at all, then it needs to be regassed. Also known as "recharging the AC" or an "air con regas," this process is designed to refresh your car's air conditioning system. But what does a car air conditioning recharge cost?

Air Con Regas Prices

A recharge or regas can cost anywhere between around £30-£200. This depends on:

• Your system : Older cars are more difficult to regas than newer ones, and some may require specialist parts or refrigerant gas to suit their build
• How much cleaning is required in the system: Less time spent cleaning out the system will translate to fewer hours charged for labour
• If any repairs are needed: Fixing a worn seal will cost less than replacing hoses or entire filters
• Where you get it done: Some garages will charge more than others based on their rates and the availability of necessary parts

In a routine servicing, the main deciding factors on cost will be the refrigerant gas and labour. Most cars in the U.K. use one of two kinds of refrigerant gas in their air con systems:

• R134A
• R1234YF

To find out which type of refrigerant your car uses, prior to going to the shop, check your manual or the car's manufacturing date. As a rule of thumb, vehicles manufactured before 2014 will use R134A, while vehicles manufactured after January 2017 will use the more eco-friendly R1234YF.

The pricing depends on the refrigerant. In general, R134A gas will cost around £60 to recharge, while R1234YF gas may cost upward of £130. However, the price may go up or down based on the garage you choose for servicing.

What Does An AC Recharge Involve?

An AC recharge should be done every 1-2 years, depending on the age of your car, and any wear and tear it's experienced. At the least, experts recommend a regas no later than 2 years after the last servicing. Unlike refrigerators, a car's AC cannot work indefinitely without a recharge. Over time, the air conditioning will decline because of:

• Worn or broken seals
• Leaks in the refrigeration lines
• Clogged filters
• Old or expended refrigerant gas

During a regas, an expert mechanic from shops like Autofusion will assess the condition of your air con, repair any damage, clean out the system, and then replace the old refrigerant gas with new gas. This essentially renews your air con and allows it to return to peak performance.

As a bonus, the cleaning process also removes any bad odours, bacteria, fungi, or mould that may have built up in the system over time.

How Do I Know if My Air Con Needs Regassing?

If you run the air con often, you may need to have it regassed earlier than the 1-2 year period. To tell when it needs servicing, look for:

• Inconsistent or fluctuating temperatures
• Long waiting times before cold air finally blows
• Failure to blow cold air at all
• Bad smells

These are signs that it needs regassed. As a bonus, getting it refilled may also help you to save on fuel costs, as the system won't need to work as hard to blow cold air.

Can I Regas My Own Air Con?

While some people may try to regas their air con personally, this is not recommended. Doing so incorrectly may lead to poor results (or no results), as well as damage to your air conditioning system overall. It may then need repairs from a professional, in addition to the original regas.

Luckily, places like Autofusion can regas your system in as little as an hour at a competitive rate that suits your budget. This ensures better results and a faster return to cool air.