When should you charge your car air conditioner?

The air conditioner in your car runs on gas, which needs to be recharged regularly. V recharging your air conditioner held on average every 3 years at a cost of about 70 euros. Without regular recharging, the air conditioner can no longer produce cold air properly.

?? How does a car air conditioner work?

One air conditioner which is not functioning properly does not need to be recharged. It is of course important to understand how this works.

Le gaseous refrigerant, or the refrigerant present in your system performs a cycle during which it contracts, cools and expands. Here's a quick rundown of how air conditioning works in your car:

• Driven by a motor through a pulley connected to strap for accessoriesthen compressor increases gas pressure;
• Le air conditioner condenser then takes care of cooling and liquefying the gas using the ambient air coming from the front of your vehicle;
• Gas flows through water separator equipped with a filter to remove water and impurities;
• Thenevaporator the air conditioner causes expansion (liquid to gas), which leads to a further drop in temperature;
• The cold air is then directed into the vehicle interior;
• For its part, the gas starts up again by one revolution!

❄️ Why charge the air conditioner in the car?

The first reason to charge the air conditioner in the car is, of course, freshen up your interior when it's too hot. You also need to recharge the air conditioner, because if it is empty, you are not using it.

Or an air conditioning system that never works risk of damage... Then you may have leaks in the air conditioner that need to be repaired.

Moreover, most defrosters request an air conditioner. Therefore, due to a breakdown of the air conditioner or an empty gas station, you may have fogged up windows, which, of course, is dangerous when driving.

🚗 What are the signs that you need to recharge the air conditioner?

There are many symptoms that indicate it is time to recharge the car air conditioner:

• Theno cold this is the most striking manifestation that you can encounter. If the gas level is too low, the pressure generated by the air conditioning system will be too low and will not create cold. This problem will also lead to excessive fuel consumption: your engine will continue to generate the energy needed for your air conditioning system to reach the set temperature, which will never happen because you don't have enough gas.
• One loss of ventilation power may be another symptom, less certain, as it could also indicate a problem with the compressor.
• Le defrost does not work well.

Good to know: recharging the air conditioner is a delicate operation because the gas is under high pressure and very cold. If mishandled and unprotected, it can cause severe frostbite or severely damage your eyesight if it touches your eyes. If you don't have the necessary skills, play it safe and entrust this task to a mechanic.

️ How long does it take to charge the air conditioner?

The life of the replacement cartridge depends on your use. If you run the air conditioner at full power for several hours a day during extended heat periods, it is obvious that your refrigerant gas will be used up faster than if you used it very rarely and in the mountains.

In general, the charge of the air conditioner is enough on average. 3 years... But it is advisable to check the level during the annual service, so as not to be surprised at a breakdown during the summer holidays.

Here are some tips on how to extend the life of your car's air conditioner:

• Turn on the air conditioner regularly... Even in winter or cold weather, activate the system for at least 10 minutes once or twice a month to clean it and prevent mold.
• Change it Cabin Filter Every yearor every 10-15 km to keep your system running at peak performance.

👨‍🔧 How do I charge the car air conditioner myself?

The auto air conditioner recharge kit allows you to recharge the car air conditioner yourself. However, troubleshooting a car air conditioner is reserved for experienced mechanics. Here is the procedure for recharging a car air conditioner.

Material:

• Air conditioner charging kit
• Tools
• Protective gear

Step 1. Connect the charging kit to the air conditioner.

Your air conditioning kit includes pressure gauge which should be attached to the coiled tubing ends if not already done. Tighten fittings included in the coolant and hose refill kit. Then turn on the ignition and turn on the air conditioner in the car. Plug in connector from the set for refueling in low pressure valve air conditioning systems.

Step 2: charge the air conditioner

Start pierce the jar... Turn the valve on the fitting clockwise until it stops. The needle is inside the fitting and pierces the can. Hold the jar upside down and turn on the tap... Monitor recharging with a pressure gauge. Air conditioner charging is complete when the pressure reaches 25 to 45 psi.

Step 3: unplug the kit and make sure charging is complete.

Let air conditioner A couple of minutes. Make sure it produces cold air at normal power. If not, add more freon from a can of liquid. If the air conditioner is properly charged, you can turn off the system and unplug the can... Close the valve, disconnect the fitting and reinstall the low pressure valve cap.

If liquid remains in the can, do not remove the fitting. The jar can be stored in a suitable ventilated place away from heat sources.

💶 How much is the car air conditioner fee?

The cost of recharging the air conditioner depends on the technician you are talking to. Average cost of recharging the air conditioner 70 €... The air conditioning package includes recharging and labor.

In order not to overpay for air conditioning, prefer separate garages to dealers, which are often cheaper. Garages often do shares on air conditioning with summer approaching.

As you already understood, recharging the air conditioner requires professional intervention. On the other hand, if your air conditioner just needs maintenance or cleaning, feel free to refer to our dedicated articles for how to proceed.