Air conditioning re-gas. From £84, cold again in 45 minutes.
Air-con loses about 10% of its gas every year, even when nothing's wrong. If yours is blowing cool rather than cold, or smells a bit musty, a re-gas and check puts it right — with a before-and-after reading so you can see the difference.
Two gases, two prices — we check which yours is
R134a re-gas
Older systems — most cars built before about 2017.
- Old gas recovered, system vacuum-tested for leaks
- Recharged to the exact weight your car specifies, with fresh lubricant
- Vent temperature before and after
R1234yf re-gas
The newer gas — most cars from around 2017 on. Costs more because the gas does.
- Same full recover, vacuum, leak-test and recharge process
- Correct weight and oil for your car
- Vent temperature before and after
Free air-con check
Not sure it needs a re-gas? We'll check the vent temperature, the compressor and the pressures, free.
- Leak detection with UV dye if the system is losing gas fast
- Anti-bacterial clean for musty smells
- Compressor, condenser and pipe repairs quoted per job
Not sure which gas your car uses? Book either — we check the label under the bonnet before we connect anything and only charge for the right one.
It's not just about summer
Air conditioning does more than cool the car. It dries the air, which is how it clears a fogged windscreen in seconds on a wet winter morning — a safety feature as much as a comfort one. It also filters pollen and dust, which anyone with hay fever will appreciate.
The catch is that the gas seeps slowly through the seals — around 10% a year — and the less gas there is, the harder the compressor works and the less cold you get. Manufacturers recommend a recharge at least every two years, and running it for ten minutes a week in winter keeps the seals lubricated and stops them drying out.
What happens in the 45 minutes
We connect the machine, recover whatever gas is left, pull a vacuum on the system and hold it — if the vacuum drops, there's a leak and we tell you before spending your money on gas. Then we recharge to the exact weight your car specifies, add the correct lubricant, and check the vent temperature. If it's cold, you're done. If it isn't, something else is wrong and we quote for it.
Air-con questions
How often should it be re-gassed?
Every two years. Systems lose around 10% of their gas a year through the seals even when nothing's wrong, so after two years it's working noticeably harder for less cold.
Which gas does my car use?
Most cars built before about 2017 use R134a (£84). Most from 2017 on use R1234yf (£144). We check the label before we start so you only pay for the right one.
Why does my air con smell?
Bacteria and mould on the evaporator behind the dashboard. An anti-bacterial clean kills it and clears the smell; a new pollen filter helps too.
It's blowing warm even after a re-gas — what then?
Then the gas wasn't the problem: it may be the compressor, a pressure switch, the condenser or an electrical fault. Our free check finds out before you spend anything on gas.