Air conditioning and exhaust
Car Air Conditioning Regas
A regas puts the correct weight of refrigerant back into your air conditioning system after we have established the system can hold it. The leak test comes first, every time, because a car aircon is sealed and an empty one has leaked. Done properly you get cold air that is still cold next summer, rather than in three weeks.
The honest version
Why we test before we charge
Refrigerant is not a consumable. It does not burn off, wear out or get used up by running the aircon. In a system with no faults, the charge put in at the factory is still doing its job many years later.
So a car that needs gas is a car that has lost gas. Somewhere there is a perished O-ring, a stone chip in the condenser, a chafed hose or a leaking seal, and gas has been finding its way out of it.
Charge that system without repairing it and two things happen. The refrigerant you paid for vents into the atmosphere over the following weeks, and you end up warm again and out of pocket. It is also why the cheapest regas advertised around Brisbane is cheap. Skipping the test is the fastest part of the job to skip.
The process
What a proper regas involves
Recover and weigh
Whatever refrigerant remains comes out first and gets weighed. Comparing that against the manufacturer's specified charge tells us straight away whether this is a slow seep or a serious leak.
Leak test
We pressure test the system and hold it under vacuum to see whether it holds steady. An electronic detector and dye trace anything that is escaping.
Evacuate properly
Pulling a deep vacuum removes air and, more importantly, moisture. Moisture inside an aircon system combines with the oil and turns acidic, corroding the components from the inside.
Recharge by weight
The system gets the exact weight your manufacturer specifies, not an approximation off a gauge reading. Correct oil goes in with it.
Performance check
Vent temperature, pressures at idle and at revs, and compressor operation get checked before the car goes back to you.
The right amount
Why the weight matters
Undercharging is the obvious problem, because there is not enough refrigerant to carry heat out of the cabin. Overcharging is the less obvious one and it is just as bad. Too much refrigerant raises system pressures, cools worse rather than better, and puts the compressor under load it was never designed to carry. Guessing at the charge is an expensive habit.
When the drier gets replaced
Replacing the receiver drier
If the system has been opened to the atmosphere, whether by a failed component or by a repair, the receiver drier or accumulator should be replaced as part of putting it back together. Its job is to absorb moisture, and once it has been exposed it has already done that job. Leaving an old drier in a freshly charged system is one of those shortcuts that does not show up until the following year.
Frequency
How often does a car actually need this?
There is no service interval for a regas the way there is for oil. A very slow permeation loss through hoses and seals is normal across many years, so a vehicle around a decade old that has never had aircon attention is a reasonable candidate.
A car that needed gas last summer and needs it again this summer does not need another regas. It needs the leak found. Aircon bookings in Brisbane pile up the moment the first hot week lands — spring is the better move.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does an aircon regas cost in Brisbane?
It depends on the refrigerant type and the capacity of your system. [CONFIRM: typical price range] You get the figure before we start.
How long does a regas take?
Allow a couple of hours. The vacuum stage has to be given time or the test result means nothing.
Do I need a leak test if I only want a regas?
Yes, and it is included. Putting gas into a system without checking it holds is guesswork, and it vents refrigerant into the atmosphere when it fails.
How often should I regas my car aircon?
There is no schedule. A sound system holds its charge for years, so repeat regassing means there is a leak to find.
Will a regas fix aircon that blows warm?
Only if low refrigerant was the cause. A failed compressor, a blocked condenser or an electrical fault will still be there afterwards.
Can you regas any car?
We work on all makes and models, including European, diesel, 4WD, fleet, commercial, hybrid and electric vehicles.
Why is your regas not the cheapest?
Because the test is part of it. A cheap regas is usually a fast one, and the corner that gets cut is the one that decides whether the gas is still in there next month.
Can too much gas damage my aircon?
Yes. Overcharging raises pressures, cools poorly and loads up the compressor, which is the priciest component in the system.
My aircon is cold but not as cold as it used to be. Regas?
Maybe, but a blocked cabin filter or a dirty condenser produces the same complaint. We check before we charge.
Do you replace the drier when you regas?
If the system has been open to atmosphere, yes. A drier that has been exposed has already used up its capacity to absorb moisture.
Is regassing bad for the environment?
Venting refrigerant is. That is exactly why we recover what is in the system rather than releasing it, and why we will not charge a system we know is leaking.
Book an aircon regas
Leak test first.
Cold air that lasts.
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm. After-hours key drop available. All major cards and cash.