Here at LubeFx+ , we have introduced the first of its kind, the Express vehicle A/C evaluation and recharge service. Nothing like it throughout Alberta to ensure our customers are serviced right, every time. A/C systems add value to your vehicle, so keeping them in good working order is essential. It is just as important as maintaining your vehicle’s maintenance fluids.

It’s common for refrigerants to leak, and leaking refrigerants can damage your compressor and evaporator, not to mention the environment as well. A common sign of this potential issue is when your A/C isn’t as cold as expected. It’s also common for a fan to malfunction, preventing cold air from entering the cabin of your vehicle.

Over time, the gaskets and o-rings within the A/C unit can become loose and worn out. It’s more common to see air conditioning units go through preventative maintenance than full-on repairs or replacements. The best way to tell if your A/C unit requires a maintenance service is to use it. When the air stops being cold, feel free to drop in at any time to do a complete A/C system check today.

My car’s AC is not working – what now? Lubefx + Express vehicle AC evaluation and recharge service.

One of the most common reasons for bringing your vehicle in when hot weather starts is that your vehicle is not blowing cool air, or it starts cold but quickly goes warm.

Often your vehicle is low on refrigerant and simply needs an AC recharge of your vehicle’s air conditioning system – however, this does not always solve the problem. Sometimes we will recharge your car’s AC system and put a UV dye in it so that if it leaks out again we are able to pinpoint where it is coming from.

We need to use the UV dye because your air conditioning system is recharged with a gas, making it harder to ‘see’ where a leak is, the UV dye helps us detect this (unless it is a really big leak and more obvious).

It isn’t always a leak or AC system recharge – there are other causes related to air temperature such as your AC compressor clutch not engaging (a noise when you turn on your AC could indicate this needs repair or replacing), a loose compressor belt or even your AC condenser simply needing cleaning.

Can I recharge my vehicle’s AC system myself?

Doing an AC recharge yourself is not something we recommend as we get a lot of vehicles in the shop that have tried an at-home remedy, and it typically causes more harm than good – with additional complications occurring.

The kits you find at stores to recharge your vehicle’s air conditioning system will typically use a propane gas that is extremely explosive and isn’t compatible with the refrigerant that your AC system actually needs.

These at-home kits also promise to fill small leaks; we have seen this lead to damage as well as it ends up ‘filling’ areas it shouldn’t including plugging the valve between your AC system’s high side and low side. These do-it-yourself failures can cost you more money in the end.