If your car’s air conditioning system is not delivering the cold air that you need to be comfortable in hot weather, it is probably low on refrigerant. This could be because of a leak in the system, and when leaks occur, obviously the refrigerant level drops. Then, your air conditioning will shut down in order to prevent damage to the compressor. Vehicle owners often operate under the misapprehension that all they have to do is “top off” the refrigerant from time to time, but that is not actually how it works.
Any time that your AC becomes low on refrigerant, it should be flushed, and the refrigerant replaced. This ensures that you always have enough refrigerant in the system to keep your air conditioning working properly, ensuring your comfort and that of your passengers. So, how long does an AC recharge last? Your air conditioning is not something that runs constantly, so unless you live in a very hot climate, you can usually expect a recharge to last at least three years. Of course if you want to, you could take the proactive approach and plan for a recharge every three years as part of your routine maintenance, but as long as you’re staying cool, your air conditioner really doesn’t need a recharge.
Signs that your AC may need a recharge include:
- Not enough cool air
- AC blowing only warm air
- Defroster not working
If you suspect that your refrigerant is low, A mechanic can check out your air conditioning, and if necessary, do an AC recharge for you.
