Regularly servicing your car’s air conditioning (AC) system is crucial for maintaining efficiency by improving air quality and keeping the vehicle cool during hot weather. It prevents potential problems such as refrigerant leaks and component wear, which, if ignored, can lead to costly repair bills and uncomfortable driving conditions. Regular servicing improves efficiency as the AC system uses less energy, leading to better fuel economy and the benefits can be used all year round, when, even in the winter, your AC system can assist in demisting your windscreen quicker and prevent fogging whilst driving.

Manufacturers recommend your car air con system is serviced at least every 2 years as it can lose up to 15% of refrigerant each year. Low refrigerant levels mean the engine has to work harder to produce cold air resulting in decreased efficiency and increased fuel costs. It is important to maintain your air con system throughout the year to avoid any damage to components and to keep the system and seals well lubricated.

Our City & Guilds certified mobile aircon specialist is fully qualified in refrigerant handling and insured to work on auto air con systems. A car AC service & regas generally takes around an hour to complete and includes:

• • Initial Auto Air Con System Check 
  • Air Con Refrigerant Recovery
  • Vacuum Pressure Test
  • Nitrogen Pressure Test* 
  • Visual Inspection
  • Aircon Regas (Recharge) R134a / R1234yf to Vehicle Specific Levels
  • Air Con Oil Top Up with Leak Detection UV Dye

• Final AC System Pressure Check

​* If the air con system fails the pressure tests we will carry out leak detection and fault finding instead.

You should use your air con all year round, not just when the weather is hot. This is because the AC in your vehicle is a highly pressured system, that relies on specific parts, including the condenser, compressor, evaporator, pipework / hoses and O-rings to remain fully sealed so that it can hold the correct pressure to operate correctly. These parts, and all the others in the system, require regular maintenance through use, becuase when the AC is switched on, the refrigerant and the oil inside are able to move around the system keeping the parts lubricated and working correctly. If you only use your air con during the summer, or for a few weeks / months of the year, then rubber components that require oil to keep them well lubricated can dry out, leading to cracking and leaking. 

Yes, having your AC regularly serviced and keeping it turned on, especially during the Winter months, helps to demist your windscreen as the dry air it creates accelerates the demisting process improving your visibility out on the road. ​  

There could be a few reasons why the AC has stopped working; the system may just be low of refrigerant gas or it could have a leak or fault. We can diagnose air con leaks and faults, and quote for repairs. We can repair minor leaks & faults on the spot during your initial appointment if we have the parts on the van, however for larger repairs, we often have to order vehicle specific parts in so we will send you a quote for the repairs and book this for a later date. Please note: some repairs are not possible to carry out mobile or on the road side, if your vehicle requires AC repairs that need to be carried out in a workshop instead then we will advise you of this once we have diagnosed the leak or fault. 

Yes. DH Auto Southwest Ltd offer a fully mobile only service, meaning we will come out to you at home or work, at a time that is convenient for you. We cover Mid & West Cornwall, including Helston, Hayle, Penzance, Truro, Falmouth, Newquay, St Austell and surrounding areas. To ensure that your mobile appointment runs smoothly, we ask that you provide a safe and legal place for us to park and work on your vehicle. We will need to park in front or to the side of the vehicle to carry out the work, and there needs to be sufficient space for the doors to be opened and system inspections to be carried out safely. If you are unsure of anything regarding parking arrangements, please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your requirements. 

Yes, DH Auto Southwest can service & regas both R1234a and R1234yf vehicles, and we can help you identify which gas your car will need when you book an air conditioning regas if you’re unsure. Since 2017 vehicle manufactures have been required by law to use a new, more environmentally friendly car air con refrigerant gas known as R1234yf in all new passenger cars. This new car air con gas replaced the older R134a refrigerant which has been in use since 1995. Some manufacturers began using R1234yf as early as 2013, so there are a number of vehicles during the 4 year crossover using either gas. 

We accept payment by Debit or Credit Card, by BACS (bank transfer) or Cash. We may ask for a deposit on booking for appointments and repairs, these can be paid via BACS or by using a Debit or Credit Card over the phone. Full payment or balancing payments are due at the end of the appointment. We do not offer credit terms unless you are a trade customer (please contact us for more information).