Aircon service and recharge

[hsyben]

Does anyone know of a good garage to get my aircon serviced and recharged around Droitwich/ Worcester?

[Rockhopper]

They all use the same automatic machine these days. Use whoever is cheapest.

[jock156]

What sort of cost are we looking at?

[Jembo]

ATS did mine for £62 the weekend b4 last

- clean system
- test for leaks
-add lubricant
- fill with new gas

As above, machine does all the work

[Pondrew]

They all use the same automatic machine these days. Use whoever is cheapest.

Unfortunately this is completely correct.
If there is a problem with the system though; ie a leak or any electrical issues, none of them know anything and won't be able to help.
That would need a qualified car a/c engineer which are few and far between due to the above!

[Pondrew]

ATS did mine for £62 the weekend b4 last

- clean system
- test for leaks
-add lubricant
- fill with new gas

As above, machine does all the work

Sorry but being a life-long refrigeration engineer who used to work on car a/c years ago, two of the above items are impossible to do (for a garage with a machine). You cannot 'clean' an a/c system and they can't 'add lubricant'.
The 'test for leaks' is slightly tenuous also. They will pump the system up with Nitrogen and see if the pressure drops for about 5 minutes. That is not testing for leaks. That is a LOT more involved.
Having said the above £62 is bloody cheap to re-gas a system. I used to charge more than that 30 years ago!

[Jembo]

ATS did mine for £62 the weekend b4 last

- clean system
- test for leaks
-add lubricant
- fill with new gas

As above, machine does all the work

Sorry but being a life-long refrigeration engineer who used to work on car a/c years ago, two of the above items are impossible to do (for a garage with a machine). You cannot 'clean' an a/c system and they can't 'add lubricant'.
The 'test for leaks' is slightly tenuous also. They will pump the system up with Nitrogen and see if the pressure drops for about 5 minutes. That is not testing for leaks. That is a LOT more involved.
Having said the above £62 is bloody cheap to re-gas a system. I used to charge more than that 30 years ago!

From my layman’s position standing (probably against H&S) the machine first sucked out all the old stuff, pressure tested & then injected a small amount of oil lubricant before the measured amount of gas went in.

I don’t think it washed its innards, just removed the old gas.

As for the £62, was a May Bank Holiday special.

[Pondrew]

From my layman’s position standing (probably against H&S) the machine first sucked out all the old stuff, pressure tested & then injected a small amount of oil lubricant before the measured amount of gas went in.

I don’t think it washed its innards, just removed the old gas.

Fair enough. I am 30 years out of date with this and didn't know the 'machines' were so sophisticated. The machines have taken over another part of my industry!

[j3nks79]

Yes the machines do add PAG oil which is crucial for the system. Also the machine will hold a vacuum for 30 mins or so before to make sure you don’t have a leak. If a leak is found it will not add the refrigerant. This isn’t always fool proof though as a very minor leak won’t always show up.
A separate nitrogen test will highlight if it does.
With a lot of these cheaper AC regas deals such as Kiwkfit etc is that they do not add the correct amount of refrigerant.

[hsyben]

So I shopped around and got prices varying from £90 to £60. I have gone with Wychway Garage - an indie with good reviews and the best price. They all say that they plug the machine in and it removes the gas, does the recharge and adds lubricant but this guy says he will also check the system. He gets good reviews and talked a good game so I'll give him a go.

[Jembo]

J3nks79 seems to confirm what I saw about the PAG oil.

Only way to be sure is be nosey & stand by the machine, as needs manual confirmation… though is 35-40 min into the cycle before the measured amount of gas gets inserted.

[j3nks79]

J3nks79 seems to confirm what I saw about the PAG oil.

Only way to be sure is be nosey & stand by the machine, as needs manual confirmation… though is 35-40 min into the cycle before the measured amount of gas gets inserted.

My machine does a print out that I give to the customer. Shows exactly how much pag and refrigerant I’ve put in.

[Pondrew]

My machine does a print out that I give to the customer. Shows exactly how much pag and refrigerant I’ve put in.

Just out of interest, do you have to have F-Gas qualifications to use these "all in one" machines? Do you have to keep records of refrigerant?

I have a commercial F-gas qualification (as well as many other 'proper' a/c and fridge qualifications) but I am not allowed to work on vehicles anymore. Never really worked out why TBH. It doesn't bother me as not in that part of the industry anymore.

[j3nks79]

My machine does a print out that I give to the customer. Shows exactly how much pag and refrigerant I’ve put in.

Just out of interest, do you have to have F-Gas qualifications to use these "all in one" machines? Do you have to keep records of refrigerant?

I have a commercial F-gas qualification (as well as many other 'proper' a/c and fridge qualifications) but I am not allowed to work on vehicles anymore. Never really worked out why TBH. It doesn't bother me as not in that part of the industry anymore.

Yes you need have the F Gas certificate to legally use the machine.

[mmm-five]

I don't know what my colleagues at work are certified for, but their R134A comes in 20 tonne ISO tanks from Koura