How often should you regas your car’s air-con?

Your car’s air conditioning won’t stay ice-cold forever. Here’s how often you should regas your air-con and signs to watch out for.

Air conditioning in your car is an absolute godsend, especially during the summer months. But when warm air starts coming out of the vents on a scorching day and doesn’t get any cooler, it could be a sign that your air-con system needs attention, including a possible regas.

Regularly regassing your car’s air conditioning can help keep it working efficiently and blowing cool air when you need it. In this handy guide, we explain how often you should regas your air-con, the signs that the system needs looking at and what can happen if you leave it too long.

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What does an air-con regas do?

A refrigerant is a special chemical liquid or gas that flows through your vehicle’s air conditioning system to absorb heat and create cool air. An air-con regas removes the old refrigerant from your car’s system and replaces it with the correct amount of new refrigerant, so your air-con can run cold again.

A professional air-con service will typically:

• Recover the remaining refrigerant from the system.
• Remove air and moisture from the system.
• Check the system for leaks.
• Regas it with the correct refrigerant.
• Add lubricant where required.
• Check that the system is operating properly.

Some garages also use UV dye to help identify leaks that may become apparent later.

Modern cars can use different types of refrigerant, so it’s important that the correct gas is used for your vehicle. Common types include R134a and R1234yf.

How often should you regas your air-con?

Most manufacturers recommend having your car’s air conditioning system regassed around every two years.

That doesn’t mean every car will suddenly stop working after two years. Some systems can continue working effectively for longer, while others may need attention sooner if they have a leak or are losing refrigerant more quickly.

Air-con refrigerants can naturally permeate through the system over time. Kwik Fit estimates that around 10% of the gas can be lost each year. As the refrigerant level falls, the system gradually becomes less effective at cooling the cabin.

Signs your car need an air-con regas

Here are five keys signs that it’s time to regas your air-con system:

1. Warm air: The vents blow lukewarm or ambient-temperature air rather than cold air.
2. Weak cooling: The air-con still works, but it takes much longer than usual to cool down the cabin.
3. Weak airflow: The air coming from the vents feels weaker than usual. This can, however, have other causes, such as a blocked cabin filter, so it doesn’t necessarily mean you need a regas.
4. Cold air comes and goes: The system may produce bursts of cold air followed by warmer air.
5. It’s been a while since the last regas: If it’s been around two years and more since the system was checked, it’s worth having it inspected.

Bad smells from the vents can also mean your air-con needs attention, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that it needs a regas. Musty smells are commonly associated with bacteria, mould build-up or a dirty cabin filter, so it might need an air-con clean or purification service instead.

What happens if you don’t regas your air-con?

If a car’s refrigerant level gradually falls, the air-con will become less effective at cooling the cabin. It could also mean that the system has to work harder to produce the desired cooling effect, placing additional load on the engine and may increase fuel consumption.

How much does an air-con regas cost?

The price depends on your car, the type of refrigerant it uses and the garage you choose.
As a rough guide, the RAC says an air-con regas typically costs around £50 to £150, although prices can vary.

If your car has a leak or another fault with the air-con system, the cost can be considerably higher because you’ll need a repair as well as the refrigerant regassing. Repair costs for leaks or replacing small components can cost from £100 to £300, according to the RAC.

Air-con regassing FAQs

Is an air-con regassing part of a car service?

Usually not.

Air conditioning isn’t normally included as part of a standard or interim car service, and it isn’t something checked as part of the MOT in the same way as safety-related components. That means you’ll generally need to book an air-con regas separately if your car needs one.

How long does regassing the air-con take?

Regassing a car’s air-con system typically takes 45 to 60 minutes to remove the old gas and refill with a fresh refrigerant.

Can I regas the air-con myself?

Technically yes, you can regas your car’s air-con yourself using DIY kits, but we strongly advise against it. That’s because you can’t evacuate or dry the system yourself, meaning you run the risk of inhaling concentrated refrigerant fumes

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