Why does car air conditioning need regassing if house air conditioning does not?

In principle it does not — both are sealed systems. In practice a vehicle system has flexible hoses, vibration and a shaft seal on a belt-driven compressor, so it loses refrigerant slowly over many years in a way a fixed household unit generally does not. That makes a slow loss plausible in an older car, and it still means there is a leak.

Who to hire for car aircon that isn't cold

Short answer

A mechanic or auto electrician holding a refrigerant handling licence — the same national scheme that covers household air conditioning applies to vehicles. A sealed system does not consume refrigerant, so a system that is low is a system that is leaking, and a regas without finding the leak is a purchase with an expiry date.

Plan itThere is time to get more than one quote, which is where the money is.

What to do before anyone arrives

Note whether it blows air that is simply not cold, or blows very little air at all. The second is usually a blocked cabin filter or a fan, which is a much cheaper fix.
Check whether the compressor engages — you can usually hear and feel it cycle when the air conditioning is switched on.
Check the cabin air filter. It is a consumable, it is often never changed, and it is the most common cause of poor airflow.
Note any smell. A musty smell is the evaporator rather than the refrigerant, and it is treated differently.

What to ask when you book

Do you hold a refrigerant handling licence?
Will you leak test before regassing, and what does that cost?
Is the system the older refrigerant type or the current one? It changes the cost substantially.

What changes the price

No dollar figures here: this directory holds no price data and an invented range is worse than none. What follows is what makes one of these jobs cost more than the same job next door, which is the part you can actually use when comparing quotes.

Whether a leak has to be found and repaired.
Refrigerant type — some are much more expensive than others.
Component failure: compressor, condenser, expansion valve.

What you can do yourself

Is this licensed work?

Handling refrigerant requires a refrigerant handling licence, and the business needs authorisation to acquire and store refrigerant. Venting refrigerant to atmosphere is an offence.

There is no national register. Search the licence number with the regulator for the state the work is happening in.

NSWNSW Fair Tradingbuilders, electricians, plumbers and specialist trades
VICBuilding and Plumbing Commission, and Energy Safe Victoria for electricalbuilding practitioners and plumbers; electricians are Energy Safe Victoria
QLDQueensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)building and most trade contractor licences
WABuilding and Energybuilders, electricians, plumbers and gas fitters
SAConsumer and Business Servicesbuilding work contractors and supervisors
TASConsumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS)building and occupational licences
ACTAccess Canberraconstruction occupations licensing
NTNT Government building practitioner registrationbuilding practitioners and electrical workers

Licensing thresholds and certificate requirements differ by state and change with amending regulation, so this page describes the mechanism rather than quoting a figure. The regulator’s own page is the current answer.

Common questions

Who should I hire for a car air conditioner that is not cold: A mechanic or auto electrician holding a refrigerant handling licence — the same national scheme that covers household air conditioning applies to vehicles. A sealed system does not consume refrigerant, so a system that is low is a system that is leaking, and a regas without finding the leak is a purchase with an expiry date.
Why does car air conditioning need regassing if house air conditioning does not?: In principle it does not — both are sealed systems. In practice a vehicle system has flexible hoses, vibration and a shaft seal on a belt-driven compressor, so it loses refrigerant slowly over many years in a way a fixed household unit generally does not. That makes a slow loss plausible in an older car, and it still means there is a leak.

Find a Mechanic near you

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Who to hire for

General information about who does what, not advice about your specific job. Licensing, consumer law and council rules differ by state and change; the regulator for your state is the current source. More guides to hiring a tradesperson.