The car air conditioning system needs regassing approximately every two to three years.
A car air conditioning system is a complex bit of technology that cools the air in the cabin of most vehicles. The car's air conditioning system does this by passing cold air over a series of metal coils which are cooled by the flow of fresh refrigerant gas (highly flammable gas) a chemical liquid in the compressor that evaporates and becomes a gaseous form when it leaves the cold coils, absorbing heat from its surroundings as it turns back into a liquid. The effect is similar to what happens when you sweat during hot days: your body's natural cooling mechanism works by evaporating perspiration from your skin, taking heat away from your body, and completely remove it via evaporation. In your car, the hot, humid air being blown from inside the cabin is passed over these cold coils and cools down rapidly. The gas in the whole system, goes through a cycle of evaporating and getting compressed until it reaches 40 to 50 degrees Celsius. At this point, it starts getting siphoned back into its liquid state so that it can begin chilling the car again next time you use the car air conditioner. On average, you will need to have your car air con re-gassed every few years at the very most.
You can spot when your car's air con system is losing its ability to maintain a comfortable cabin inside the vehicle by simply observing how cold your air vents get. The warning signs include-if the vents are not cooling down completely, or if they cool down only with the fan on maximum, then you probably need a re charge. It is possible for an experienced air conditioning specialist or a mechanic to tell you whether or not your car aircon just needs a re gas service.
When your car's air conditioning system is not working properly, it may need a re-gas for one of many different reasons. Sometimes leaks in the ducts or pipes can affect its ability to maintain cool air temperatures in the cabin. This may also happen if there is sediment in the old gas that clogs up these parts. It might also just be that you have put too much wear on the air con units over time and it's wearing out, so replacing it with a factory-approved recharge is worth putting, to ensure safety when driving your vehicle again. Low levels of AC gasses can make the engine work harder.
How long it takes to recharge your car's air conditioning system will depend on the type of re-gas service you use. While re gassing, if you are simply putting in more R134a, which is what most recovery trunking uses, then car air conditioning service should take about an hour. The time for re gassing service may vary depending on the vehicle type.
Prices for refilling your AC system in a workshop location should be around $50 - $100. The price for air con recharge may vary based on your location and the supplier you use to get a quote from. You may also need to troubleshoot the issue with your air conditioning system if you want to repair it yourself and save money.
No, your tinted windows should not affect air conditioner. However, if the car air conditioning needs a recharge because of a leak or other problem, then it can happen that this will be more noticeable when you have the AC on and the vehicle is in direct sunlight. This is because there may be extra moisture and pressure building up inside due to these circumstances and this means that leaks are more likely to occur. In case of older cars, regular servicing and regular maintenance is required.