Now that summer is officially here most people have started to use the air conditioning in their cars, however some will probably find that theirs isn’t working as it should. Like any component of your vehicle, over the years your air conditioning unit is subjected to wear and tear and therefore needs to be recharged at regular intervals. Unfortunately, this can often be expensive, which is why some people choose to do it themselves instead.
However, it has recently been suggested that recharging your vehicle’s air conditioning yourself can actually be detrimental to both the entire system and your vehicle. Travis Mock, supervisor for AAA Auto Repair, said that recharging your own air conditioner is not as easy as some people make out, which is why it is always best to go to a professional. He claims that people who buy cans of refrigerant are in danger of overcharging their air conditioning units as they don’t have the tools to gauge how full they are.
He added: “We see a ton of cars that come in that the cars are overcharged. If there’s too much refrigerant, it will blow hot, too. There has to be the proper amount.” Most mechanics that offer air conditioning recharging have numerous specialist tools at their disposal and will check all the components of your air conditioning units during its service. In fact, most mechanics completely remove the air conditioning system from a vehicle during a service in order to check the
condition of the belts, whether the fans are properly operating and the temperature coming from the vent.
Mock also warned that a number of DIY refrigerant cans come with an ingredient called ‘Stop Leak’ that can contaminate air conditioning units, which is why no reputable garage uses refrigerant products with this ingredient included. “Once that gets in the AC system, it could cause a lot of headache and damage,” Mock said. “Shops don’t want to reintroduce Stop Leak. It will contaminate all of their equipment, so they won’t service it. Basically, it’s not worth the hassle to possibly save a few bucks, and for most people, it ends up costing way more to make things right.”
If you have noticed that the air conditioning in your vehicle has stopped working it is advisable to visit a reputable company which specialises in air conditioning recharges instead of risking damaging your vehicle by doing it yourself.
Now that summer is officially here most people have started to use the air conditioning in their cars, however some will probably find that theirs isn’t working as it should. Like any component of your vehicle, over the years your air conditioning unit is subjected to wear and tear and therefore needs to be recharged at regular intervals. Unfortunately, this can often be expensive, which is why some people choose to do it themselves instead.
However, it has recently been suggested that recharging your vehicle’s air conditioning yourself can actually be detrimental to both the entire system and your vehicle. Travis Mock, supervisor for AAA Auto Repair, said that recharging your own air conditioner is not as easy as some people make out, which is why it is always best to go to a professional. He claims that people who buy cans of refrigerant are in danger of overcharging their air conditioning units as they don’t have the tools to gauge how full they are.
He added: “We see a ton of cars that come in that the cars are overcharged. If there’s too much refrigerant, it will blow hot, too. There has to be the proper amount.” Most mechanics that offer air conditioning recharging have numerous specialist tools at their disposal and will check all the components of your air conditioning units during its service. In fact, most mechanics completely remove the air conditioning system from a vehicle during a service in order to check the
condition of the belts, whether the fans are properly operating and the temperature coming from the vent.
Mock also warned that a number of DIY refrigerant cans come with an ingredient called ‘Stop Leak’ that can contaminate air conditioning units, which is why no reputable garage uses refrigerant products with this ingredient included. “Once that gets in the AC system, it could cause a lot of headache and damage,” Mock said. “Shops don’t want to reintroduce Stop Leak. It will contaminate all of their equipment, so they won’t service it. Basically, it’s not worth the hassle to possibly save a few bucks, and for most people, it ends up costing way more to make things right.”
If you have noticed that the air conditioning in your vehicle has stopped working it is advisable to visit a reputable company which specialises in air conditioning recharges instead of risking damaging your vehicle by doing it yourself.
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