DIY Vehicle A/C Recharging | Why You Shouldn’t do it

Recharging your vehicle’s A/C at home can be a simple and cheap fix. But, did you know that it can cause costly repairs in the future? However, we are here to warn you of the risks of using the DIY A/C Recharging kits.

Your vehicle’s Air Conditioning System is complex and should not be messed with by anyone other than trained technicians. Here at Kalispell Ford, we have special tools that allow us to do this procedure the right way. In addition, we have gathered information below on why it is best to leave this process to the professionals.

A/C Recharging kits do not evacuate old refrigerants.

What goes up must come down, correct? Same logic with the refrigerants in your vehicle’s air conditioning system. What goes in must come out! Using a DIY A/C Recharging kit can overload the amount of refrigerants in the A/C system. This can cause significant damage! Instead, our professionals will begin by vacuuming out all the refrigerant from your vehicles A/C system. This also removes any moisture that got into the system, which can cause your A/C to run poorly. Then, once we know your car’s A/C system is free of stale refrigerant and moisture, we can fill it up with fresh refrigerant the correct way.

DIY A/C Recharging may not work on your vehicle.

Most DIY canisters have a refrigerant called R-134a. Although this is a popular refrigerant for vehicles to contain, not all of them have it. Many new vehicles take a refrigerant called R-1234yf, which is commonly not found in DIY canisters. In addition, mixing refrigerants can be very dangerous for your vehicle and can lead to extensive repairs. If you do not know which type of refrigerant your vehicle takes, it might be best to leave it to the professionals.

DIY A/C Recharging does not measure by weight.

The amount of A/C refrigerant that goes into your vehicle should be measured by weight, which most DIY kits do not do. This weight specification comes straight from the manufacturer of your specific vehicle. If there’s too much, the system can be damaged; and if there’s not enough, your A/C might not work well.

DIY A/C Recharging does not seal leaks.

If your vehicle A/C is not properly working, chances are your A/C system could have sprung a leak. DIY A/C Recharging kits do not seal these leaks. To seal these leaks you need a trained technician to locate and patch them. If you use a DIY A/C recharge kit on your vehicle with a leak, all that gas will come right back out of the system. And, you’ll have wasted your money. It’s one more reason we believe it’s smart to trust the professionals whenever it’s time to recharge your car’s A/C system.

Here at Kalispell Ford we have trained technicians on hand to ensure your vehicles A/C gets recharged the right way. In addition, our sister stores Kalispell Volkswagen and Kalispell Toyota contain trained technicians to fix your A/C as well.

Furthermore, for more information or to make your vehicles appointment, call (406) 755-9638 or visit kalispellford.com