Mechanical · Hackbridge, South London

Air conditioning regassed by weight, not by guesswork

A regas is not a top-up. The only way to know what a system has lost is to take out what is left and weigh it, and the only way to know whether a refill will stay in is to pull the circuit down to a vacuum and watch it. Both are part of every air conditioning job at our Hackbridge workshop, on R134a and R1234yf cars alike. Prices start from £49, and if the system fails the vacuum test we stop and quote the repair rather than pumping refrigerant into a circuit that cannot hold it.

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From £49 · 45–60 minutes
Mon–Sat 8am–8pm

Range Rover Velar in for cooling system work at KITH Cars Garage & Bodyworks, Hackbridge

From £49Written quote before we start

45–60 minutesTypical time in the workshop

3 monthsWorkmanship warranty

17 areasCollection across South London

Fan and condenser checked first

Weak cooling in a queue is not always refrigerant. We look at airflow before we look at the gas, so you are not paying for the wrong fix.

Vacuum held, not just pulled

The system is left under vacuum and the gauge is read again afterwards. A ten-second pull-down proves nothing about whether the circuit is sealed.

Price confirmed for your refrigerant

We read the label on your car and give you the figure before anything is connected, because the two refrigerants are a long way apart on cost.

No sealants in your system

Stop-leak additives are refused here. They contaminate the circuit and the equipment used to service it, and they make the eventual repair harder and dearer.

In the workshop

How we handle air conditioning regas at Hackbridge

Before the machine is connected we spend a few minutes with the engine running. Vent temperature is measured at the centre outlet, the compressor is watched to see whether it actually engages and stays engaged, and the condenser fan is checked. That order matters, because plenty of cars booked in for weak cooling in traffic turn out to have a healthy charge and a fan that never switches on, or a condenser face packed solid with grit and flies. Recharging either of those changes nothing at all.

The machine then does the measuring for us. The old charge is recovered and weighed against the figure on the under-bonnet label, and that number on its own usually settles whether you are looking at years of normal seepage or at a leak. Next comes the vacuum, and the part that separates a proper job from a quick fill is how long it is held. We pull the system down, close the valves and leave it while we get on with something else, then come back and read the gauge. A system that has crept back up is leaking, however slowly.

What happens next depends on that gauge. If it holds, the system is charged to the manufacturer's weight and the vents are checked again before the car moves. If it does not hold, we stop there and you get a written quote for the leak repair instead. We do not put stop-leak or sealant products into air conditioning at any price: they set inside condensers, driers and recovery equipment, and they turn a repairable leak into a far larger bill. We also will not fill a system without recovering first, because without a starting weight nobody knows what the car has lost.

Mechanical

Air Conditioning Regas: what’s involved

Car air conditioning works by pumping refrigerant round a sealed circuit. The compressor, driven by the engine or, on hybrids and electric cars, an electric motor, squeezes the refrigerant into a hot, high-pressure gas. It cools and condenses in the condenser at the front of the car, then expands through a valve into the evaporator behind the dashboard, where it absorbs heat from the air blowing into the cabin.

Cars built before around 2013 almost all use R134a. Most cars from about 2017 onwards use R1234yf, which has a far lower environmental impact, and some models switched earlier. The two are not interchangeable and need different equipment. Every system loses a little refrigerant over time through seals and hoses, so cooling gradually fades. The refrigerant also carries the compressor's lubricating oil, so running low affects more than comfort.

Signs your air conditioning needs attention

Air not as cold as it was

Gradually weaker cooling over a few summers usually means the refrigerant charge has dropped, which a regas can put right.

Only cold at speed

Cooling that is fine on the move but weak at idle can point to a low charge, a condenser fan fault or a blocked condenser.

No cold air at all

If the air is warm, the system may be nearly empty and the compressor won't engage. A fast loss like this points to a leak that should be found first.

Windows slow to demist

The air conditioning dries the air, which is why it clears a misted windscreen quickly. Weak demisting can be a sign the system isn't working.

Noise when the AC is on

A rattle, grind or squeal when the air conditioning switches on can point to a worn compressor, compressor clutch or drive belt.

Musty smell from the vents

A damp, stale smell often comes from bacteria on the evaporator or a dirty cabin filter rather than the refrigerant itself.

Compressor clutch not engaging

On belt-driven compressors, the clutch on the front should click in when you press the AC button. If it doesn't, the pressure may be too low or there is an electrical fault.

When should it be done?

Most systems benefit from a regas every two to three years, as some refrigerant escapes naturally through seals and hoses. Book sooner if you notice cooling getting weaker. If the air conditioning has stopped cooling within weeks or months of a previous regas, there is a leak, and topping it up again will only waste refrigerant. In that case we recommend a leak test with UV dye before recharging.

Every 2–3 years as general maintenance
When cooling becomes noticeably weaker
Before summer if you had weak cooling last year
After any repair that opens the system, such as a new condenser or compressor
Leak test first if cooling was lost soon after a previous regas

How we regas air conditioning

Check-in and refrigerant typeWe check the label under the bonnet to confirm whether your car uses R134a or R1234yf, and the quantity the manufacturer specifies.
Performance checkWith the engine running we check vent temperature, compressor engagement and the condenser fan, and look for obvious damage or oily leak marks.
Recover old refrigerantOur machine recovers the remaining refrigerant and weighs it, which tells us how much the system had lost. Refrigerant is never vented into the air.
Vacuum and leak testThe system is held under vacuum to boil off moisture, then monitored to see if it holds. A system that loses vacuum has a leak and needs repair before recharging.
Recharge by weightWe refill with the exact weight of refrigerant the manufacturer specifies, plus the correct compressor oil. UV dye can be added to help trace slow leaks later.
Test and verifyWe run the system and check vent temperature and pressures to confirm it is cooling properly and the compressor is cycling normally.
HandoverWe tell you how much refrigerant was recovered and whether that suggests a leak, so you know if further investigation is worthwhile.

Refrigerant and oils we use

We use the refrigerant your car was designed for, either R134a or R1234yf, and charge it by weight to the manufacturer's figure, since overfilling is as bad for performance as underfilling. The compressor oil must match too: PAG oil of the correct grade for most belt-driven compressors, and POE oil for many hybrid and electric cars with electric compressors, because the wrong oil can damage them. Replacement parts are OE or OE-equivalent.

R134a or R1234yf refrigerant, matched to your car
Compressor oil to the correct type and grade, including POE for electric compressors
UV leak detection dye where appropriate
OE or OE-equivalent condensers, compressors, valves and seals, quoted separately

How long it takes

45–60 minutes

A straightforward regas takes around 45–60 minutes including the vacuum and leak test. If a leak is found, finding and repairing it takes longer and may need parts ordering.

What’s included

Refrigerant type and system check
Recovery and weighing of old refrigerant
Vacuum and leak-down test
Recharge by weight to manufacturer specification
Compressor oil top-up
Vent temperature and performance test

Worth knowing

What people get wrong about air conditioning regas

Trusting a DIY top-up can

A can from a motor factor cannot recover what is already in the system, so it can only add to an unknown starting point. Many also contain sealant and dye that a garage then has to deal with.

Assuming warm air means low gas

A stuck blend flap, a failed pressure switch, a dead fan or a choked cabin filter all give warm or weak air on a full charge. Recharging touches none of them.

Leaving a dead system for years

Once a system has emptied it draws in damp air, and the desiccant in the receiver drier takes up that moisture. Left long enough it becomes corrosive inside the circuit, and the drier then needs replacing along with whatever leaked.

Believing the button proves it works

The air conditioning light on the dashboard shows the request has been made, not that the compressor has engaged. With almost no refrigerant left, the pressure switch stops the clutch pulling in at all.

Instant quote

Price your air conditioning regas now

Enter your reg and we’ll look up your car, then price the job from our own labour rates and the book time for your model. Nothing is booked until you say so, and the written quote comes before any work.

Free, about 30 seconds, no sign-up
Parts, labour and VAT included
3-month workmanship warranty
Collection and delivery across South London

“It’s rare to find a garage you can truly trust. Fair price, brilliant customer service.”Thinushan K. · ★★★★★ Google

Prefer to talk? Call 020 4629 9469 or WhatsApp us.

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Questions

Air Conditioning Regas: your questions answered

Do you need the car for the whole morning?

Most people leave the car for the morning, because the vacuum stage is worth doing properly rather than rushing. If you would rather not make the trip at all, we collect and deliver locally across South London.

What happens to the price if the system fails the leak test?

We stop at that point and tell you what we found, then give you a written quote for the repair before anything else happens. No refrigerant goes into a system that will not hold it, so you are not paying for gas that would escape again within weeks.

Is a regas guaranteed to last?

Our workmanship carries a 3-month warranty, and a system that passes the vacuum test and takes its full charge should be good for years. What nobody can guarantee is a leak too slow to show up under vacuum, which is why we add dye where it is sensible and ask you to come back if the cooling fades.

Can you do it while the car is in for a service or MOT?

Yes, and it is the sensible way to do it if the car is already booked in. Mention it when you book so the right refrigerant and oil are ready, particularly on a hybrid or a newer car. It is quoted as a separate item so you can see exactly what that part of the bill is.

Which refrigerant does my car use?

Check the sticker under the bonnet, usually on the slam panel or near the radiator. As a rough guide, most cars before about 2013 use R134a and most from about 2017 use R1234yf, with some models changing in between. We always confirm before starting.

Can R134a be put in an R1234yf system, or the other way round?

No. The systems use different service connectors, different oils and are designed around different pressures and properties. Mixing or converting refrigerants isn't something a reputable garage should do.

Will a regas fix a leak?

No. A regas refills the system, but if it is leaking the charge will drop again. If cooling disappeared quickly after a previous regas, we recommend a leak test with UV dye so the leak can be found and repaired first.

Why does the price differ between cars?

R1234yf is considerably more expensive than R134a, and systems hold different amounts of refrigerant. We confirm the refrigerant type and the price before we start work.

Should I run the air conditioning in winter?

Yes. Running it for a few minutes regularly keeps oil circulating to the compressor and seals, and it dries the air so the windows demist faster. Many cars run it automatically when you select demist.

Air Conditioning Regas near you

We look after air conditioning regas for drivers right across South London. Pick your area for local prices, directions and collection:

Beddington~6 min away Carshalton~5 min away Cheam~12 min away Coulsdon~17 min away Croydon~15 min away Mitcham~8 min away Morden~12 min away Norbury~18 min away Purley~15 min away Rosehill~9 min away Streatham~20 min away Sutton~10 min away Thornton Heath~15 min away Tooting~18 min away Wallington~6 min away Wimbledon~20 min away Worcester Park~20 min away

Related work we do

Cabin Filter ReplacementFrom £35 · 15–60 minutesPollen and cabin air filter replacement for all makes, including activated carbon filters.Car ServicingFrom £155 · 1–4 hoursInterim, full and major servicing for all makes, carried out to the manufacturer's schedule with the correct specification oil.Engine DiagnosticsFrom £122 · 1–2 hoursA proper diagnosis of warning lights, running faults and electrical problems, not just a code read.Battery & Electrical RepairsFrom £180 · 30 minutes–2 hoursBattery testing and replacement, starting and charging checks, and electrical fault finding for all makes.MOT TestingFrom £50 · 45–60 minutesClass 4 MOT testing for cars and light vans at a flat £50, under the DVSA maximum fee of £54.85, with nothing added for booking or admin.Brake RepairsFrom £110 · 1–3 hoursBrake pad and disc replacement, calliper and slide pin servicing, brake fluid changes and hose and pipe repairs for all makes.