Comments on: DIY: How to Recharge Your Cars Air Conditioner

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 04:03:11 +0000

On a system that is “Flat” or completly out of charge. The system needs to be “Evacuated” or have the air and moisture in the system removed prior to charging. This can be done in either of 2 (two) ways.
1.) evacuating the system. or…
2.) purging the system.
Purging requires attaching a can of “refrigerant” to the Lo side port and “loosening” the schrader valve on the “Hi side”.(like in a bicycle tire) or depressing the valve.
With the system AND motor OFF, add refrigerant to the Lo side, allowing air to escape from the “Hi” side. This will force much of the air in the system out giving you a better outcome.
Remember to tighten any thing you have loosened, Charge as directed on the next can. Good Luck
The best outcome would be from a A/C professional.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:22:24 +0000

I agree with Cold One. You’re recharging because you have a leak. Fixing the leak is not that simple…a shop that specilaizes in AC repairs is best suited to do this. Otherwise you’ll find yourself recharging continuously.

If you’re ok with recharging once or twice a year, ok. Any more than that and you’ve got a leak that will always outpace your recharges.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:20:53 +0000

One thing that I question is why you don’t have to “bleed” air out of the filler hose before charging. It seems to me you would be pumping a small amount of air and moisture into the AC line before the refrigerant goes in. I plan on charging my home heat pump. Any comment?

By: Danny Boy

Danny Boy — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:00:02 +0000

Cold One, you need to get a life for crying out loud. People like you are the reason that shops think they can charge the earth for simple jobs.

By: DIY: How to Add Refrigerant to a Homes Heat Pump | Milk Your Money

DIY: How to Add Refrigerant to a Homes Heat Pump | Milk Your Money — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:00:26 +0000

[...] follow up on a recent post describing how to recharge your car’s air conditioner, I’d like to take the issue further and describe the process of charging your home’s air [...]

By: Blake

Blake — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:34:36 +0000

Awesome, for several years now I really could have invested in a recharge, but since it wasn’t a necessity, and I’m on the ultra-frugal college budget, it didn’t get done. Instead, I (along with any passengers) suffered through the worst of Iowa’s heat and humidity without decent air!

This is great; never thought of DIY route. Thanks for sharing!

By: Jessie

Jessie — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:26:08 +0000

If only I had an air-conditioner to re-charge….

Great tips!

By: Cold One

Cold One — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:34:39 +0000

To be correct, you would not use the name ‘FREON’ to describe the substance that is injected into the A/C compressor. ‘FREON’ is a tradmark name copyrighted by DuPont. The generic term is ‘REFRIDGERANT’.

The above excercise (recharging of the A/C system) is a quick fix, to be sure. It may or may not last, as it really is a band-aid. There is only one reason why an air conditioning unit needs to be recharged: There is a leak in the system. Leaking A/C units mean refridgerant being released into the atmosphere.

CAUTION should be taken as to the brand of refridgerant that is used. Many of them are propelled by propane. This can be a disaster (and many shops who do A/C repair also have a ‘refriderant identifier’ which will give them the red or green light to proceed with the repair. Depending on the result, the shop may well just tell you to go away. It can be VERY dangerous.

One last note: The gauges that come with these kits are not accurate at all. A look at a shop manual (from the manufacturer) of any given car will indicate EXACT pressures (high side and low side). As much as 1/100th of a pound to much or two little can affect the cooling capabilities of the A/C unit, can mean to much lubricant in the system (or too little) and can cause the leak to worsen and/or the clutch to seize.

By: Wojciech @ Fiscal Fizzle

Wojciech @ Fiscal Fizzle — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:20:56 +0000

This is awesome! I have had to take in my 9-year-old car in every single spring to get the A/C system re-charged, without fail. I had no idea it was relatively simple to do it yourself.

Thanks for the tutorial.

By: Rajeev Singh

Rajeev Singh — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:56:23 +0000

It is very timely post for me as I was looking to get this done for my car.. Was delaying it only because of the cost factor. .. will try to do it myself only now. Thanks !!