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Air Conditioning Repair Near You

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What is an Air Conditioning Repair?

An air conditioning repair is a more targeted car repair. Unlike an air conditioning re-gas, repairing your car’s air con system is not preventative maintenance and only needs to be done when there is a specific problem.

An air con repair usually solves a leak, broken compressor, condenser or other air conditioning part.

 

Who Can Help with My Car’s Air Con Repair Near Me?

You can book an air conditioning repair at most local garages and through many mobile mechanics operating in your area.

Some repairs may require the use of uncommon specialist equipment, but most garages who complete air con repairs will have the right contacts to outsource the work to.

 

Where Can I Book a Car Air Conditioning Repair?

You can book an air conditioning repair right here, through BookMyGarage.com. Just enter your reg and postcode and select ‘General Repair’ to compare eligible garages in your area. You can then choose the best one for you, select a suitable date and time and provide a description of the problem with your car to help the repair shop diagnose the issue.

If you want a quote for your air con repair, you will have to contact local garages directly to find out their prices. However, they may not be able to provide an accurate estimate because the inspection process usually defines the work needed and the cost.

 

How Much Does an Air Con Repair Cost?

As mentioned above, it’s not easy to provide an accurate figure for a car’s air conditioning repair cost as the problem influences the prices.

However, you should expect to pay between £70 - £200 for a small leak, while a new compressor can cost between £400 and £1,000!

As a rule of thumb, replacing a compressor, condenser, hose, pipe or other part of your air con system is likely to be more expensive than repairing a leak. You should also factor in the initial cost of an air con re-gas as this will help the technician determine whether there is a leak in the system and how severe the problem is.

 

What are the Signs My Car Needs an Air Conditioning Repair?

The main sign that your car needs an air con repair is that you have to keep re-gassing your air con system. If you notice the following at regular intervals, you may need to book an inspection:

  • System struggles to blow cold air.
  • Air con only blows warm air.
  • The flow of cold air is weak.
  • Your air con system does not switch on.
  • The system produces a strange noise or bad smell.

 

Can I Complete My Car's AC Repair Myself?

We wouldn’t recommend fixing your air con system yourself. Re-gassing the system requires a specialist machine, and it takes an experienced technician to properly diagnose the issue with a faulty air con unit.

The refrigerant gas itself is also harmful to the environment and needs to be disposed of safely, which can’t be done at home.

For these reasons, you should not attempt to fix your car’s air conditioning at home. You should choose a qualified repair shop near you instead.

 

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How Long Does it Take to Repair a Car’s Air Conditioning?

An air con repair can take between 1 and 8 hours, depending on the work needed and the complexity of the repair.

How Does a Technician Work Out What’s Wrong with My Car’s Air Con?

As the usual culprit is a leak in the system, the technician must first re-gas your car’s air con and wait a couple of weeks to see how much refrigerant gas is lost (if there’s not an immediately obvious problem). Then, they provide their diagnosis and complete the fix.

If that doesn’t solve your problem, the process will need to be repeated so the technician can find what part of the system is causing the issue.

All this means that diagnosing the right air conditioning repair can take much longer than repairing the system itself.

Is it Worth Repairing an Old Car’s Air Conditioning System?

If you plan to continue driving the car, or hope to one day sell it, then you should book an air conditioning repair when necessary.

Neglecting an air con repair can make driving in summer conditions very uncomfortable. It can also reduce the resale value of your vehicle, as drivers are likely to be put off by the fact it doesn’t appear to have been well-maintained.

Even if your car isn’t worth very much, we’d recommend booking an air con repair when you need it as it isn’t a serious enough repair to kill off an old vehicle.

Can a Faulty Air Conditioning System Affect My Car’s Performance?

A faulty air conditioning system can affect your car’s performance as it may put additional strain on your engine, causing it to work harder than necessary. This means it will use more fuel, but you won’t feel any of the cooling benefits of your A/C.

As a driver, you’re impacted more by a faulty air con system. A hot cabin can cause you to become dehydrated and lose concentration on the road ahead, potentially leading to a collision. That’s why it’s important to fix a faulty air con system as soon as possible.

Can Leaking Refrigerant from My Car’s AC be Harmful to the Environment?

Leaking refrigerant gas can impact local air quality, causing some harm to the environment. The refrigerant gas contains hydrocarbons which contribute to global warming.

While newer refrigerant gases, like R-1234yf, are more environmentally friendly than the old R134a refrigerant (which contained a significant amount of freon), it’s still not ideal for the environment if your car has a leaky air con system.

Do I Need to Repair a Faulty Air Conditioning System?

Yes, you should repair a faulty air conditioning system. Not only can a leaky system contribute to reduced fuel economy and negative environmental impacts, but a lack of cooling power can also cause you to become dehydrated and struggle to concentrate on the road in hot conditions.

For your safety and comfort, we would always recommend repairing a faulty air conditioning system in your car.

What are the Risks of Ignoring a Faulty Car Air Conditioning System?

Ignoring an air conditioning repair brings with it a few risks:
- You can make the problem worse if you leave it too long, increasing the repair bill when you finally get around to fixing the issue.
- Your concentration may be reduced in hot conditions because of dehydration, increasing your risk of having a collision.
- You can reduce the resale value of your vehicle if you don’t fix the issue as many drivers won’t take the risk of buying a car that may have additional faults due to a lack of care.

If you suspect your car needs an air conditioning repair, we recommend booking an appointment at a local garage as soon as possible to get the problem resolved.