Q.Are you certified?
A. Yes. Certification is required by law for all personnel servicing air conditioners, handling or storing refrigerants. See About Us
Q. What areas do you cover?
At-Home service available in the following locations - A, Aldridge, B, Bentley Heath, Bilston, Blackheath, West Midlands, Bloxwich, Brierley Hill, Brownhills, C, Coalpool, Coseley, Cradley Heath, D, Darlaston, Dorridge, Dudley, H, Halesowen, Hateley Heath, K, Knowle, L, Lye, West Midlands, M, Moxley, N, Netherton, West Midlands, Nuneaton, O, Oldbury, West Midlands, P, Pelsall, Q, Quarry Bank, R, Rowley Regis, S, Sedgley, Smethwick, Solihull, Stourbridge, Straits Estate, Sutton Coldfield, T, Tipton, Tividale, W, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wednesbury, Wednesfield, West Bromwich, Willenhall, City of Birmingham,City of Coventry, City of Wolverhampton.Alcester, Atherstone, Bedworth, Binley Woods, Claverdon, Coleshill, Dunchurch, Gaydon, Hockley Heath, Kenilworth, Kineton, Ladbroke, Lapworth, Leamington Spa, Long Itchington, Market Bosworth, Nuneaton, Polesworth, Rugby, Shipston on Stour, Southam, Stratford-upon-Avon, Studley, Warwick, Wellesbourne, Whitnash, Wishaw, Wolston, Wootton Wawen,
Q. How often should my vehicle's air conditioning systems be serviced?
A. Unlike their humble cousins, the domestic fridge, automotive air conditioning systems operate in a harsh environment subject to moisture, vibration, extremes of temperature and mechanical shock. Service intervals can vary depending on the conditions of use and the annual mileage of the vehicle. For average use and 12,000 miles a year intervals of every 18 months to 2 years should be sufficient to ensure the air-conditioning and all components operate at maximum efficiency. Vehicles that are used off-road or have annual mileages of over 24,000 miles should be serviced every 12 months.
Q. What's involved in a service?
A. We measure the pressures in the system, check the quality of refrigerant present to make sure that it is not contaminated and check all functions. Then we recover the contents of the system separating the refrigerant and oil. The process involves subjecting the entire system to a near vacuum which causes any moisture in the system to actually boil away. We then re-charge the system with the require weight of refrigerate (Re-Gas) and replenish the lubricant. We also install a UV indicator that will show up any future leaks under ultra violet light.
Q. How long does it take to service the air conditioning system on an average car?
A. A straightforward service where there are no faults to rectify will take about one hour, anything less means that the service is not being performed correctly.
Q. I have my car regularly serviced, surely the air conditioning system is part of the service and can be performed by the garage?
A. Most garages and many main dealers do not service air conditioning systems in-house. They employ specialist air conditioning engineers like ourselves as and when required. It is not cost effective for them to train and have certified staff who may only occasionally work on a system. Also it is not cost effective for the garage to purchase and maintain specialised equipment that is not in constant use.
Q. Why does my car aircon system run low on refrigerant ?
A. A/C systems will tend to lose refrigerant over time as refrigerant permeates through the physical joints between components. In normal working conditions all automotive air conditioning systems will lose about 10% to 15% of refrigerant each year which is considered natural leakage. Letting the system run low on refrigerant and the compressor lubricating oil that is suspended in the gas can lead to wear and even serious component failure.
Q. How much refrigerant (gas) does an average car's air conditioning system take?
A. It varies with make and model. The amount of refrigerant required is specified by the manufacturer and is metered by weight and not pressure which is a common misconception. A small family car may take half a kilo; a large executive saloon's air conditioning system with climate control may take one and a half kilos.
Q. How often should I run the air conditioning in my car?
A. ideally, all the time. It is false economy to turn the system off in the winter. This can lead to deterioration of the seals and gaskets in your system and, even more rapid refrigerant loss. On the coldest of days turn the system on to ensure that the windows are demisted and the interior of the car is comfortable. Contrary to popular belief this does not greatly reduce your mpg. It is only on the hottest of days when the system is working the hardest does you're air-conditioning noticeably effect fuel consumption.
Q. When I switch my air conditioning system on I get an unpleasant damp smell which eventually clears, what causes it and how do I get rid of it?
A. The smell is the result of bacteria/algae breeding in the condensation that collects in the system. The by-products produced by the bacteria are what cause the unpleasant odours and often cause allergic reactions, coughs, sneezes and sore throats. As part of any service we recommend that the pollen filter is inspected and changed if necessary and the system treated with an anti bacterial spray.
Q. There are air conditioning refrigerant 'top-up' kits for sale in motorist's shops, how good are they and should I consider using them?
A. European law now prohibits the sale of refrigerants to unlicensed persons. Once the current stocks of these kits have been exhausted they will no longer be available. We strongly recommend against using them because they are potentially harmful to your vehicle and will certainly void any manufacturers warranty on the compressor. . If you suspect that your system is not functioning correctly simply adding more refrigerant could actually do more harm. Also, be aware that many of the kits contain a leak inhibitor. These inhibitors have not proved ineffective in sealing leaky air-conditioning systems and will contaminate any gas that is left in your system which you will have to pay for its disposal. Also, having inexperience in handling high pressure gases could lead to an accident where you could easily injure yourself and others.
Q. How do I check that the air conditioning system is working when I buy a second hand car?
A. As with the vehicle itself, first check the service records and any available receipts. If the vehicle is more than two years old it should have had the air-conditioning system serviced. Start the engine turn the heater setting to the coldest setting and maximum fan blower speed. The air from the heater vents should be almost freezing cold within a minute or so. Also, you should be able to hear slight rise and fall in engine tone as the compressor clutch clicks in and out. In addition, most air conditioning systems have fans that are sited in front of the radiator and can been viewed through the vehicles front grill. These should also be turning. These are separate to the engine cooling fan that typically sits behind the radiator and can be seen by lifting the bonnet.
Q. If the gas leaks into the passenger compartment of my car can it be dangerous?
A. No, the modern refrigerant, is not poisonous, harmful to health or an explosive gas. It is also environmentally friendly unlike the old refrigerant gas which was phased out from 1993.
Q. Why put Ultra Violet (UV) dye in the system?
A. The UV dye shows up under a bright UV light source. So any leaks present in the system can be easily identified either during fault finding or if future leaks were to develop.
Q. Why can't I service the system myself?
A. This is difficult not only because specialist equipment is needed but most importantly the refrigerant present in the system must be recovered. It is ILLEGAL to vent the refrigerant into the environment. The system is also under high pressure and needs pulling down to a near total vacuum to remove any moisture. The refrigerants themselves have a very low boiling point and will cause freeze burns if they come into contact with skin or eye tissue.
Q. Why should my gas in my air conditioning system be analysed?
A. Our gas analyser can reveal whether or not your gas is the correct type for your vehicle air conditioning system and whether or not it is contaminated which would strongly suggest a leak in the system. The wrong type of refrigerant could also bring about the premature failure of the compressor as it may not be able to carry the essential lubrication around the system. It is also important to check for moisture and air in the system.
Q. I drive an older vehicle that is equipped with air-conditioning and it uses the R-12 type of refrigerant. Can I still get it repaired if I need to this summer?
A. Due to environmental legislation it is now impossible to offer R12 refrigerant. For older vehicles (pre 1992) fitted with R12 systems we offer a number of service options.
These include;
- R12 refrigerant replacement known as RS24. RS24 uses compatible mineral oils and therefore requires no changes to compressor, dryer or pipe work. RS 24 is more expensive than R134a but assuming your AC system is sound it can be a more cost effective solution to retrofitting with R134a.
- Retrofitting Air Conditioning systems with R134a refrigerant. Your system will need any R12 removing or if empty pressure testing to ensure the system is not leaking. Re-charge with RS24 and add 6 oz of SG5 compressor oil. This also involves changing the system oil, gas and service port connectors to the modern equivalents.
