Time to come in?
Air conditioning is a sealed system. If it is not as cold as it was, refrigerant has gone somewhere — and where it went is the actual question.
Refrigerant charge is low, which means there is a leak. Topping it up without finding the leak is a temporary and repeating expense.
A blend door actuator, on a dual-zone system. It is a climate control fault rather than a refrigerant one.
Low charge triggering the pressure switch, a failing compressor clutch, or an electrical fault in the control circuit.
Growth on a damp evaporator, usually paired with a cabin filter well past replacing.
Compressor or clutch bearing. Worth catching early — a compressor that comes apart sends debris through the whole system.
The A/C compressor runs during defrost to dry the air. A system that has lost its charge makes winter mornings noticeably worse.
What we do
The system gets tested before anything gets added to it. Pressures, temperatures and a leak check tell us whether you need a recharge, a repair, or a climate control fix that has nothing to do with refrigerant.
A top-up is not a repair
Air conditioning does not consume refrigerant. If yours is low, it is leaking, and a recharge alone buys you a season at best. We would rather find the leak, tell you what it costs to fix, and let you make an informed choice than sell you the same recharge every spring.
A/C & Climate Control — asked and answered
Why does my A/C need recharging every year?
Because it is leaking. A sealed system does not consume refrigerant, so an annual top-up is a symptom. Getting the leak located is what actually ends the cycle.
My A/C is cold on one side only. Is that a refrigerant problem?
Usually not. On dual-zone climate control that pattern normally points at a blend door actuator, which is a repair to the climate control system rather than the refrigerant circuit.
Should I use the A/C in winter?
Yes — the compressor runs during defrost to dry the air, which is why a system with no charge makes clearing the windshield slower. It is also good for the system's seals to run occasionally.
Get the A/C tested
Tell us what it does now versus what it used to do. Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:30pm.
167 Carbide Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901