Recharging your automobile air conditioner

My air conditioner was not cooling anymore. I bought a 134a kit with two bottles for $35, recharged, and everything seems to be fine. What is the advantage to having a garage recharge your automobile air conditioner for around $100 compared with doing it yourself for a fraction of the cost? I know one thing the garage does is put a vacuum pump on the lines, is this a necessary step? Is recharging yourself by adding a can of 134a just a temporary fix?



Using a garage and a good mechanic has several advantages. They are generally equiped with much better tools and instruments. A automotive garage with have professional grade refrigerant manifold gauges to measure both the low AND high side in the lines. If refrigerant needs to be added to your A/C system, the exact amount will be added using a Robinair charging cylinder. Cans simply are not very accurate. An quality automotive air conditioning mechanic will evacuate, vacuum and recharge for an exact filll by weight per manufacturer's specs. Also, leak detection dye may be added. Then the air conditioning system can be inspected
for refrigerant leaks and free recheck under ultraviolet flashlight a few weeks later. An experienced air conditioning mechanic will probably be familiar with your car's particular air conditioning system and will now where to look for refrigerant leaks.