Why you shouldn’t try DIY air-con top-ups

Air conditioner maintenance is one area that is often overlooked until the mercury in the thermometer constantly sits above 30 Celsius. While the idea of saving money by doing a DIY gas top-up might be tempting, it is not the solution to getting the air-con to run cooler. Furthermore, it is illegal in Australia to merely top-up an air-conditioning system.

The idea behind this article stemmed from a recent visit to my son Tom’s workshop, Master Tech Diagnostics and Repairs. During the visit, he answered the office phone and listened to the caller explain his problem before saying, “OK, bring it around, and we’ll look at it for you.” Then he hung up the phone.

“At least this guy called before attempting a DIY air-conditioning repair,” Tom said after the call. “Doing a DIY air-con fix on your truck might seem like a good idea and a way to save a few dollars. But it’s a false economy. Taking the truck to a reputable air conditioner repair workshop is easier and cheaper in the long run.”

Tom said that over the past few weeks, he’d had to fully replace the AC units on four trucks because drivers attempted to top up the systems with the incorrect gas. These guys spend around $400 at cheap parts stores on two cans of gas advertised to refill their AC system, but in the end, they do more harm than good to the system.

One of the primary pitfalls of DIY air conditioning maintenance is the lack of proper diagnosis. Topping up the refrigerant without identifying the root cause of the issue may provide only a temporary solution, masking underlying problems such as leaks or component failures.

DIY enthusiasts rely on generic top-up cans readily available at cheap auto parts stores. Using the “wrong” refrigerant type or incorrect quantity of gas like M30 Hydrocarbon, which is more affordable than the R134a or R1234yf, but unlike these manufacturer-recommended gases, it is highly flammable. Hydrocarbon gases can cause damage to your vehicle’s air conditioner components and expose vehicle occupants to a potentially lethal risk.

Tom advises that if you get a quote to have your AC fixed from a cheap repairer you find on Gumtree or Facebook marketplace, make sure that they intend to use the correct inert gas recommended by the vehicle manufacturer to repair your vehicle’s air-conditioner and that they hold the proper licence to complete the job.

Your truck’s air-conditioning system was designed to work with the recommended inert gas. The truck’s air-conditioning system contains rubber and aluminium components that are unsuitable for highly flammable gas, especially at the high pressure required by the truck’s air-conditioner system.

For example, LPG, another flammable hydrocarbon gas, must, by law, be contained in solid copper pipes. Using incorrect gas in your vehicle’s air conditioner system could also impair the circulation of lubricating oil, causing damage to internal parts and creating the risk of a gas leak.

Hydrocarbon gas like M30 is flammable. If you’re topping up the refrigerant gas using a hydrocarbon gas, there’s a high probability of fire. The proximity of the flammable gas to the cabin creates a fire risk for the occupants. Also, note that in the event of a collision that caused damage to the AC system, flammable gas would be released inside the cabin.

Furthermore, overcharging the air conditioning system is a common mistake made during DIY maintenance. This can result in increased pressure levels, compromising the integrity of components and risking system failure. Licensed professionals are trained to accurately measure and charge the system within manufacturer specifications.

Tom said the benefits of professional expertise must be considered when it comes to vehicle air-conditioning maintenance.

“Identifying the root cause of the issue allows for targeted and effective repairs, ensuring long-term system functionality of the AC system,” Tom explained.

However, unlike DIY enthusiasts who often resort to temporary fixes, licensed professionals perform quality repairs. This includes fixing leaks, replacing faulty components, and ensuring the AC system’s overall integrity.

Furthermore, professional technicians adhere to industry standards and regulations when handling refrigerants. They are equipped to safely handle refrigerant recovery, recycling, and charging procedures. Significantly, this reduces the environmental impact and ensures compliance with legal requirements.

Inaccurate Pressure Gauges: DIY top-up cans often come with imprecise pressure gauges, making it challenging to accurately measure and regulate the system’s pressure. Notably, this can lead to overcharging or undercharging, jeopardising the performance and longevity of the air conditioning system.

Potential Contaminants: DIY cans may contain contaminants or impurities that can harm the air conditioning system. Professional automotive air conditioning specialists use pure, high-quality refrigerants to maintain the system’s efficiency and prevent damage.

No Guarantee of Success: DIY top-up cans offer no guarantee of success in resolving your air-conditioning issues. Without proper diagnosis and repairs, the problems may persist, leading to more significant expenses in the long run. If you manage to top up the AC system gas without burning yourself, damaging parts or breaking the law, the fix will likely only be temporary. That’s because the original leak, which caused the air conditioner system to be low on gas in the first place, has yet to be fixed. You’ll still need to take the truck to a licensed technician to have the cause of the leak located and properly repaired.

It is essential to be aware that while the temptation to perform DIY automotive air-conditioning maintenance may be strong, the pitfalls associated with such practices must be considered when it comes to your vehicle’s air-conditioning system.

Seeking the services of licensed professionals ensures accurate diagnosis, quality repairs, and the proper handling of refrigerants. The dangers of using DIY top-up cans from cheap auto parts stores underscore the importance of entrusting the care of automotive air-conditioning systems to experienced and knowledgeable specialists, ultimately promoting safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

“Thankfully, this guy on the phone is bringing his truck in so we can rectify his air-conditioning issue before recharging the system with new gas,” Tom said. “Look at the invoice this poor fella had to pay last week to have a new AC system fitted into his T909 because he tried to save a few dollars. He spent $400 on two top-up cans, which destroyed the AC system in a matter of minutes, then spent another $2800 with us installing the new AC unit.”

“Effectively, he spent an extra $2200 getting his air conditioner working compared to if he had come in and seen us first so we could diagnose the problem. Then we would have rectified the issue and re-gassed the system, which would have cost about $1000, including the GST,” he said.