Q: When is the best time of year to book a service? 

Without doubt, January - February - March as we are not as busy as the summer months. During June - July - August it is best to book a few days in advance, and at least 2 weeks if you are going on holiday. We hate letting customers down, but as specialists, we don't like to rush jobs - that's when things go wrong!

Q: There is a pool of liquid under my car.  Is the A/C leaking?

No the air conditioning isn't leaking this is quite normal as the evaporator is cold and condensation is forming and running down the evaporator and out of the drain tray.

Q: Why do I need to have my A/C system serviced?

All vehicle air conditioning systems will leak to some degree usually by 10% to 15% per year. 

The losses occur through refrigerant escaping through the pipe joints as a result of vibration and the ageing of rubber hoses and ‘O’ ring seals, as well as through the seal on the front of the compressor shaft.

Q: How often should the A/C system be serviced?

Every 2 years or 24,000 miles but we do recommend our free check yearly.

Q: Why does my fridge at home not need servicing every twelve months?

A domestic fridge has no rubber pipes and no seal on the front of the compressor shaft; all piping is solid therefore there is no leaking through pipe walls.  

Q: Why is looking after the compressor so critical?

This is the main component in the A/C system, replacements typically cost £250 - £700, plus labour costs to remove and replace. Also it usually follows that a seized compressor will result in other components getting damaged in the process.

Q: Why can't I service the system myself?

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 refrigerants themselves have a very low boiling point and will cause freeze burns if they come into contact with skin or eye tissue.

Q: I've noticed that some car accessory shops are selling 'top up kits’, will they do the same as a service?

As stated elsewhere on the web site, these cans of refrigerant are at best a con and at worst illegal. They can never work properly as you need to vacuum the system before recharging. There are a lot of other things to do on a service as well, which, if neglected can cause problems that are costly to repair. 

Q: Why should my gas be analysed?

Our gas analyser can reveal whether or not your gas is the correct type for your vehicle system and whether or not it is contaminated. 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.

Q: What is the difference between air-conditioning and climate control?

Climate control is a more sophisticated form of air-conditioning, which allows the temperature of a car's interior to be accurately controlled. Users can set the required temperature and the system automatically adjusts the speed and amount of cold air introduced into the cabin. This is different to air-conditioning, which has its speed and amount of cold air controlled by the driver