Free Air Con Performance Test

If it’s been a few years since you had your air conditioning recharged and you’re not sure whether it’s working as effectively as it could be, why not book your vehicle in for a free air con check at MKD Automotive to see if you need a recharge.

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How much is an air con recharge?

If your air conditioning system requires R134A gas the cost to recharge is £59.95inc vat.

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How do I know which air con gas I require?

R134A gas is common in vehicles manufactured before 2014. All vehicles with air conditioning manufactured since 1st January 2017 include the new R1234YF air con gas which is more environmentally friendly. Since this date, manufacturers are no longer allowed to use the older R134A air con gas in a bid to reduce global warming as the old gas is believed to be more damaging to the environment. R1234YF gas was phased in by vehicle manufacturers over time so vehicles rolling off the production line between 2014 and 2016 could require either gas. To find out which type of air conditioning gas your car needs and to start a booking to have your air con gas recharged, enter your registration in the field above.

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Does my air con need recharging? 

Manufacturers recommend that your air con is recharged every 2 years. As your car or van air conditioner is not checked as part of your MOT test and regassing is not typically included in your Service, it is important to make sure that you include recharging as part of your regular vehicle maintenance routine. 

 

If your AC is blowing out warm air or only works intermittently, an AC recharge can bring back cold air when you need it most on hot days and can also improve your fuel efficiency as there is less strain on the system and engine. Unpleasant smells coming from the air vents also suggest that your air con needs some attention.

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Did you know?

Air conditioning doesn’t just provide in-car comfort during the hot summer months; it can also be used in winter to demist your windscreen. Air con systems create dry warm air rather than the normal humid air from outside which can clear your windscreen much more quickly than your regular blowers.

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Recharge at MKD Automotive

The recharge process is quite simple and involves removing any old refrigerant gas and oil from your air con system before replacing this with the correct amount of new refrigerant and lubricant as per your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation. A vacuum test is also performed to ensure there are no cracks or damage in your vehicle air conditioning system that could cause the gas to leak out.
Within an hour the whole recharge process is completed and you will once again have refreshing cool air on demand. Our trained technicians will show you the difference in your AC before and after recharge. Vehicle air conditioners that are not recharged regularly will be less effective and have to work harder to produce cool air. This puts more strain on the engine and uses more fuel. If your air conditioning system has not been recharged in the past two years it will dramatically reduce efficiency.

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Recharge or No Charge

Let MKD Automotive recharge your air con while you wait. We will replace and recharge lubricant and refrigerant levels in line with your manufacturer’s recommendation. If we cannot improve the coolest vent temperature from your car by more than 10% when measured in degrees Celsius - then you pay nothing at all.*

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* Please note if the ambient temperature around the car is less than 9 degrees Celsius it may affect the results of the air con recharge test results. In these circumstances, it is at the manager’s discretion whether to offer a refund with results less than 10%.

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Air Conditioning Cleaning

If there are bad odours coming from your air vents when you turn on your car AC, then your car may also benefit from an air con clean, also known as a debug. Over time bacteria, mould and fungi can build up on the evaporator in your air con system which produces this unpleasant smell when switched on. In some cases this can cause sickness and respiratory problems as bacterial spores are blown into the cabin of the vehicle and breathed in by the passengers. 

 

MKD Automotive offer an air conditioning clean to decontaminate the system and kill the bacteria within. The process involves setting off a cleaning spray or 'bomb' in the vehicle cabin which is sucked into the air vents and kills off the unwanted bacteria within, leaving your vehicle air conditioning system clean and smelling fresh again.

 

An air con debug is available as an optional extra when you have your air conditioning recharged at MKD Automotive.