#EVAC AND RECHARGE AC FULL#

So, a full AC recharge involves evacuating the old refrigerant, and then refilling it with fresh. And once he finds it, he’ll have to evacuate the system and repair the leak before he can refill it. If the system is too low or completely empty, refrigerant will have to be added to look for the leak. If the system is just a little low, he can start looking for leaks right away. Generally, when you bring in your car for an AC recharge, the technician will start by checking system pressures with his gauges. Car manufacturers were forced to convert to gases with less global warming liability, as well as sharply curtailing the amount of refrigerant on board. Problem is, refrigerant gas is a powerful greenhouse gas, and most of it eventually gets vented back into the atmosphere. It was common to add a modest amount every spring to make sure the system could operate at peak efficiency. Interesting Fact!īefore concerns about the environment, A/C systems used far more (4-5 times as much) refrigerant. The cool gas is then piped back under the hood to the compressor, and so on. As the refrigerant expands, it soaks up heat from the car interior. It’s then allowed to expand inside the evaporator inside the dash. This gas is compressed, cooled off in the car’s condenser (mounted right in front of the radiator). There are several different types of refrigerant in use. Your car’s air conditioning system is filled with a highly specialized gas called refrigerant. There is a very limited amount of refrigerant in the system, and when even small amount leaks, the system can no longer function properly, delivering lukewarm air instead of cold air.

In the simplest form, you’ll know when you need an AC recharge if your AC starts pumping warm air instead of cold.

#EVAC AND RECHARGE AC HOW TO#

Here’s a quick review of your AC system, and how to keep it in tip-top shape. If a system is left open and exposed to outside air and humidity for a long time, the pump on-time should be increased significantly.In the warm summer months, the last thing you want is for the car’s AC to stop working. Check with manufacturer's specifications. If a system has been opened for repair, a vacuum should be pulled for at least 30 minutes. By bringing a closed system into a vacuum, the boiling point is greatly reduced, and any moisture boils into a vapor that's pulled out through the vacuum pump.

Performing an evacuation does not remove metal shavings from a system though, this requires a flush.Ī vacuum pump is used to draw the system to a vacuum of 29.75 'hg or greater. It blends with the hygroscopic oils used in today's R-134a systems, reducing their ability to lubricate components like the compressor. It forms a corrosive hydrochloric acid that corrodes lines, clogs screens, and damages other components in the system. Moisture in an R-134a system mixes and reacts with the refrigerant and oil in the system. Moisture and air are removed from the system with a vacuum pump to draw the system into a vacuum. When a system is severely low on refrigerant or has been opened for repair, moisture and air enter the system. After the recovery process is complete and all available refrigerant has been removed from the system, it's ready for evacuation.

Evac and recharge ac