Signs that your air conditioner needs to be recharged

If you feel that the air conditioner is not cooling as much as it usually does, do not hear the A/C clutch engage, and see refrigerant leaks, you may need to recharge the air conditioner.

Virtually all modern air conditioning systems operate using a compressor to pressurize and circulate refrigerant and oil through the system to produce cold air. AC systems operate using two different sides: high and low. The refrigerant starts as a gas on the low pressure side of the system and turns into a liquid on the high pressure side. The constant circulation of refrigerant through the high and low pressure sides of the system keeps the vehicle cool.

Because air conditioning systems are pressurized, they must be completely sealed to function properly. Over time, these pressurized systems can develop leaks. Once any leaks have started, they will eventually cause enough refrigerant to leak to the point that the air conditioner can no longer produce cold air. Once the refrigerant level and pressure in the air conditioning system become too low, it must be charged with pressurized refrigerant before it will function properly. Usually an AC system will start to show a few symptoms when it needs to be recharged.

1. Loss of cooling capacity

The most obvious sign that a vehicle needs to be recharged is a noticeable decrease in the overall cooling capacity of the AC system. The AC system works by circulating pressurized refrigerant, so if the amount drops too low it will eventually start to affect the system. You may notice that the air isn't blowing as cold as it used to, or it doesn't blow cold air at all.

2. AC clutch does not turn on

With the AC regulator set to the coldest setting, you should hear the familiar clicking sound of the AC clutch engaging. The clutch is actuated by an AC pressure switch that reads the pressure level in the system. When the level drops too low, the pressure switch fails and therefore the clutch does not engage. Without the AC clutch engaged, the system will not be able to circulate even with the small amount of refrigerant that may be in it, and the system will not work at all.

3. Visible signs of a refrigerant leak

A more serious sign that the car needs topping up the A/C is visible signs of a refrigerant leak. If you find any signs of a greasy film on any of the A/C components or fittings, or any puddles of coolant under the vehicle, then this is a sign that a leak has occurred and coolant is being lost. Refrigerant will continue to flow until the system stops functioning.

Since the need for top-up indicates a loss of refrigerant, there is probably a leak somewhere in the system that may need to be repaired before contacting this service. For this reason, if you suspect that your system may need to be recharged, test the AC system first to make sure that AC recharge solves the problem properly.