Air Con 'recharge'

Ainat

Two days ago I took my car for an air con recharge at Kwik Fit not really knowing much about how it works...

I initially walked out of the garage feeling very happy - car was far cooler than it had been previously. Yesterday I got stuck in traffic in the glorious sunshine, really hot... and air con not working, making an uncomfortable couple of hours.

From what I understand this could mean there is a leak in the system somewhere (after asking Google - I am no mechanic!). Do garages have to check for leaks when recharging the system? I (naively I guess) assumed that if there are any problems with something a garage is doing they would tell the owner of the car. Also I believe air con gas is regulated as it's a damaging gas - shouldn't it be a legal requirement for the garage to check it's not going to just leak straight out into the environment if they are putting it in?

If there is a leak, fair enough. I get that I would have to get it repaired and would pay to do so and I'm not suggesting that repairing the system should be part of the air con recharge service. But I feel like I've completely wasted my money on the gas recharge and that a leak in the system should be a requirement to check, especially considering the gas they are using. Or at least something that should be mentioned to customers, and with an option like 'we'll check your system with dye for leaks for an extra tenner' or something. It has to be irresponsible of them to not do something like that surely?

Where do I stand in terms of getting any of my money back? Am I entitled to get anything back?

Ainat

This is also a direct quote from the direct.gov website...

"If you’re a technician that services a mobile conditioner, you share responsibility for stopping leaks with the owner of the vehicle."

Does that mean they have a legal responsibility to check for leaks if they are putting gas in to the air con system?

molerat

They do check. The machine empties the system and holds a vacuum which checks for leaks. The problem is that the system works under pressure, not leaking under vacuum is not the same as not leaking under pressure.

Ainat

Why do they test it under a vacuum when the system works under pressure? Shouldn't they have to test it under the conditions its going to be used in?

Is it something I can complain about/get money back (or money off of a repair?)

Iceweasel

Lots of people have the idea that an AC needs a re-charge every couple of years or so - not true.

An air-con system should not need a re-charge as a matter of routine. How often do you recharge your fridge or freezer?

Needing a re-charge tells you only one thing - that the gas/liquid has escaped somehow.

Perhaps the most common reason is stone damage to the condenser.

Next up - especially for those who only use AC in the summer is leaking from the compressor due to seals drying out from lack of use and / or the oil in the system eventually migrating to the lowest point.

Stone damage is pretty much unavoidable - but regular use prevents any problems with seals - mine is never switched off - summer or winter.

The main thing though is that re-charging the system is only a short term fix - perhaps very short.

facade

Ainat wrote: »

Why do they test it under a vacuum when the system works under pressure? Shouldn't they have to test it under the conditions its going to be used in?

Is it something I can complain about/get money back (or money off of a repair?)

The machine is automated, what it does is put the system under vacuum so as to remove any water. The vacuum is maintained for a while, to encourage all the water to vapourise, If the vacuum falls by more than a set amount, then the machine won't carry on because of a major leak, or I suppose loads of water.

This process doesn't find very small leaks. You would need to take it to a specialist for that. They are set up to find leaks, Kwik-Fit aren't.

Try going back to Kwik-Fit and see what they say.

You might even find that Kwik-Fit added an ultraviolet dye, and can now locate the leak by waving a UV torch over the system.

fred246

I had my car topped up by an aircon specialist. He actually knew what he was doing which seems uncommon in the auto industry. He said he added a fluorescent dye so any leaks could be seen.
It would be good if you could find such a specialist. The auto industry has no regulation whatsoever. I could set up a garage tomorrow and write aircon specialist across the front even though I have no knowledge or training.
Years ago I took my car to a 'tuning specialist'. I watched from the viewing gallery. Why they had a viewing gallery I will never know. They were clueless. A complete pantomime. Like watching the Chuckle Brothers.

BeenThroughItAll

fred246 wrote: »

It would be good if you could find such a specialist. The auto industry has no regulation whatsoever. I could set up a garage tomorrow and write aircon specialist across the front even though I have no knowledge or training.

A/C work does require training, specialist knowledge, and certification; and it IS audited; from the perspectives of COSHH, and the EPA of 1990.

jbainbridge

I had a recharge at Kwikfit a few years ago ... it stopped working on the same day! I spoke to them the next day and they were happy to refund. Go back and see them as soon as you can.

marlot

fred246 wrote: »

The auto industry has no regulation whatsoever. I could set up a garage tomorrow and write aircon specialist across the front even though I have no knowledge or training.

Not true (well you could put the sign up, but you'd breaking the law if you actually did any aircon work).

Mobile air conditioning systems

You must hold a qualifications to recover refrigerant from mobile air conditioning systems.
You can hold a City & Guilds mobile air conditioning certificate
You can also hold any of the following certificates from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme:

• air conditioning refrigerant handler
• service technician
• diagnostic technician

Or you can hold any of these level 3 awards or certificates from IMI Awards:

• automotive refrigerant handling
• air conditioning and climate control
• vehicle accident repair competence
• vehicle accident repair principles
• cargo refrigerant handling

Alternatively you can hold a qualification to recover refrigerants from mobile air conditioning systems that’s recognised by another EU member state.


https://www.gov.uk/qualifications-required-to-work-on-equipment-containing-f-gas

DaveF327

I've experienced all of the above.

When my air conditioning starts to be warmer than the outside air, it's time to change my car.

That worked a treat.