How much does it cost to repair an AC leak?

Air conditioning systems use a refrigerant to move heat from the inside of the car to the outside. To do this, the system needs to be sealed, keeping all the gas inside. In this article, we’ll discuss possible causes of AC gas leaks and how much they cost to repair. 

How much does it cost to repair an AC gas leak?

Repairing an AC leak can cost between £120 and £550+, depending on the cause of the leak. In some cases, a simple seal or o-ring needs to be replaced; other causes, however, could require a new AC compressor, radiator or coil.

With how complex an AC system is, it’s very hard to tell without diagnostics where the leak is coming from. In many cases, it can take an hour or so of labour to find the source, before repairing it can begin.

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What causes an AC gas leak?

The air conditioning in your car uses a closed-loop system with a pressurised refrigerant. The smallest of pinholes or cracks in any one of the components can cause the gas to escape. 

Some common locations for AC gas leaks include:

• Condenser: a small radiator positioned behind the front bumper, and therefore easily damaged by road debris

• Compressor: containing many seals, AC compressors are a common cause of leaks

• Pipes and hoses: affected by vibration and age, pipes and connections can leak

What does AC gas do?

Car air conditioning systems use a sealed loop of refrigerant to remove heat energy from the interior of the vehicle. They do this by continually condensing and then evaporating the refrigerant, forcing it between a liquid and gaseous state.

Without sufficient pressure in the system, the pump cannot do its job of turning the refrigerant from a gas to a liquid, thus preventing any cold air from being created. 

How long do AC repairs take?

Repairing an AC system can take anything from a few hours to a week or more. Initially the mechanic will need to take some time to find the source of the issue. Certain parts, such as the evaporator coil behind the dash, can take two solid days of work, or more, to repair. 

Other problems such as needing replacement AC hose or valves, can be done in an afternoon, providing the parts are easy to access, and new parts availability is good.

When to regas AC

If your car’s AC system has a leak, it is actually illegal to re-gas it. This is because the refrigerant used is a very potent greenhouse gas. For this reason you should only regas an AC system when all known faults have been fixed, and the system has been leak tested. 

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