Think twice about the recharge can
Every parts store sells a can that promises to bring a weak A/C back to life in ten minutes. On the first hot week of the year a lot of them get used, and a fair share of the cars that end up in a shop for A/C work had one used on them first.
The trouble is not that the can never works. It is what it does not tell you.
It does not find the leak. An A/C system is sealed. If it is low, refrigerant has gone somewhere, and a recharge puts more in to leak out the same way. A system that needs topping up every summer has a leak that is getting no better.
It is easy to overfill. The little gauge on the can reads one side of the system only, and an overcharged system cools worse, not better, and works the compressor harder.
It may be the wrong product. Many newer vehicles use a different refrigerant from older ones, and the two are not interchangeable. Some cans also contain sealers, which a shop needs to know about before connecting its equipment.
When to bring it in instead
- Cooling that has faded over a season or two.
- A system that was recharged last year and is weak again.
- Air that is cold for a while and then turns warm.
- Any noise from the engine bay when the A/C is switched on.
If a can has already been used, say so, and if you still have it, bring the label. That is useful information, not something to be embarrassed about.
Nearby stores
Fenton and Washington also offer A/C service in this part of Missouri.
About this store
The De Soto store stays open until 5:30 PM and is managed by Cathy Bequette.
See the national A/C service page for all 33 locations.