Air Conditioning in Northampton.

What an air con service involves

• Recover and weigh the existing refrigerant
• Vacuum test the system to check it holds pressure
• Recharge with the correct gas type and weight
• Add the specified lubricating oil and UV leak dye
• Check compressor operation and cooling performance
• Inspect condenser, pipes and connections for damage

Regas or leak?

A system that has slowly got less cold over several summers usually just needs recharging. A system that went from cold to warm quickly has a leak, and recharging it without finding the leak simply vents the new gas. UV dye added during a recharge makes the leak visible at the next inspection.

R134a and R1234yf

Vehicles built before roughly 2017 generally use R134a. Newer vehicles use R1234yf, which is a different gas at a substantially different price, and the two systems cannot be mixed. Your registration identifies which one your car takes.

Smells, noises and weak airflow

A musty smell when the fan starts is bacteria on the evaporator, treated with an antibacterial cleanse. Weak airflow at every setting is usually a blocked pollen filter. Airflow that only works on the highest setting is typically a failed blower resistor. Rattling or grinding when the air con engages points at the compressor clutch and should be looked at before it fails completely.

Run it in winter too

Running the air conditioning for ten minutes a month year-round keeps the compressor seals lubricated. Systems that sit unused all winter are the ones that leak. It also clears a windscreen faster than heat alone, because it dries the air.

Frequently asked