Common questions, straight answers.

Most manufacturers recommend every two years. Air-con systems lose around 10% of their refrigerant each year even when everything's working properly — it's just how the system breathes through its seals. If you're noticing the air isn't as cold as it used to be, you're already overdue.

R134a is the older refrigerant used in most cars built before about 2017. R1234yf is the newer one, mandated for new car designs from 2017 onwards — it has a much lower global warming potential, but costs noticeably more. Your car uses one or the other; there's a sticker in the engine bay that tells you which. We carry both, and we'll always confirm which yours needs before quoting.

A straightforward re-gas is 30 to 45 minutes. A full service — recovery, vacuum-hold test, oil top-up, refill, vent temperature check — is closer to an hour. If we find a fault and you want diagnostics on top, that's longer. We'll give you a realistic estimate when you book.

There's no point pumping fresh refrigerant straight back into a leaky system. If the vacuum-hold test fails (or the system was recently re-gassed and is already empty), we'll stop and tell you. We can run a nitrogen pressure test with UV dye to find the leak, then quote you for the repair before doing any work. Sometimes it's a tiny valve. Sometimes it's a condenser. You'll know before we touch it.

No — that's almost always bacteria on the evaporator. Damp surface, dust, mild temperatures — it grows. The fix is an anti-bacterial treatment through the system: takes 20 minutes and clears it out. We can do it as a standalone job or alongside a re-gas.

Usually a sign that you're either low on gas (the system cycles off when pressure drops) or that the condenser fan isn't kicking in when it should. We'll diagnose properly rather than guess — sometimes it's a small electrical part, sometimes it's a low charge that just needs topping up.

Slightly, yes — the compressor takes power from the engine, so you'll use a touch more fuel when it's on. On a modern car it's a few percent. On a hot day it's still cheaper than driving with the windows down at motorway speeds, which costs you more aerodynamically. Use it.

Yes — for about ten minutes once a week. It keeps the seals lubricated and the compressor moving. Systems that sit unused for six months are the ones that develop leaks. Most modern cars run the A/C automatically when you select demist anyway, but it's worth doing deliberately too.

Yes. Cars, vans, light commercials, campers, motorhomes, 4x4s, classics, tractors, plant — anything with an A/C system. Larger commercial vehicles and campers sometimes carry a small surcharge (more refrigerant, more time), but we'll always confirm before booking.

A reasonably flat space, access to the bonnet, and somewhere we can park the van within hose reach (about 4 metres). Driveways, work car parks, workshop yards — all fine. We don't need a power outlet; the van is self-contained.

Saturdays by appointment, yes — regularly through the warm months. Sundays are trade emergencies only. Evenings on weekdays if needed. If your week is jammed, just ask.

Card on the day (we take chip-and-pin in the van), or bank transfer. Trade accounts can be invoiced monthly with standard 30-day terms once an account is set up. We don't take cash.