At peak performance air con should not only cool the air to around 5 degrees C but also help to de-mist the screen as the system reduces humidity in the cabin. Every two years or so the gas which circulates around the system needs to be replenished to maintain performance.
Believe it or not, the more you use the air con in your car, the less often you will need to re-gas the system. This is because the gas has lubrication properties which when circulated through the system keeps the rubber pipe seals moist, reducing the chance of them leaking gas due to dry seals.
Often with air con systems that have not been used for a while, condensation in the pipe work combined with heat generated by the engine creates the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and mould to grow. When the air con is switched on, it will pump bacteria filled air into the driver/passenger’s compartment. This can sometimes make the air smell bad as well as having a negative affect on the occupants’ health i.e. sore throats, sneezing and eye irritations. When the technicians at Brian Robson re-gas an air con system we always use an anti-bacterial agent to kill the potential germs that could be lurking in the air con pipes.
Air con re-gas procedures are also an essential part of diagnosing possible system leaks; an ultra violet dye can be injected into the system so that if it leaks after use in the future then the leak can be easily spotted using UV light.
