Air conditioning that blows warm, smells musty or takes an age to clear the windscreen isn’t just an annoyance — it usually means the system has lost refrigerant or picked up a fault. At Brookfield Garage in Stowmarket we service, regas and repair air conditioning on all makes, including the newer R1234yf systems fitted to most cars built since 2017.
Most systems lose a small amount of refrigerant naturally every year, so even a healthy car benefits from a regas every couple of years. If yours has never been done, there’s a good chance it’s working at a fraction of its capacity — and a low system makes the compressor work harder, which is an expensive part to replace.
What’s included
- Full regas — we recover the old refrigerant, vacuum-test the system, then recharge it to the manufacturer’s specified weight with fresh refrigerant and lubricant.
- R134a and R1234yf — we handle both refrigerant types. Cars registered from roughly 2017 onwards use R1234yf; older cars use R134a. They are not interchangeable, and we’ll confirm which yours takes before we start.
- Leak detection — if the system won’t hold a vacuum or loses gas quickly, we trace the leak using UV dye and electronic detection, then quote for the repair before doing anything further. As always, no extra work is done without your approval.
- Antibacterial clean — that damp, musty smell when the fans start is bacteria and mould in the evaporator and vents. An antibacterial treatment kills it off and leaves the cabin fresh — worth doing for hay fever sufferers too.
- Component repair — condensers, compressors, pipes and pressure switches replaced where needed, covered by our 1-year parts and repairs warranty.
Air-con faults on Porsche and VAG cars are often flagged in the climate control module itself — our dealer-level diagnostics read those fault codes directly, which takes the guesswork out of intermittent problems. See our vehicle diagnostics page for more.
Why Brookfield?
- Specialist and all-makes. We’re an independent Porsche specialist and VAG specialist, but we regas everything from city cars to vans.
- Warranty-safe. Servicing here under the block exemption rules keeps your manufacturer warranty intact.
- Honest diagnosis. If your system just needs gas, that’s all we’ll sell you. If it’s leaking, we’ll show you where and quote first.
- Local and convenient. Free collection and delivery within 2 miles of the garage, and we’re an Approved Garages member. Most regas appointments are completed the same day.
Air conditioning FAQs
How often should I regas my air conditioning?
Every two years or so is a sensible interval. Systems typically lose up to 10–15% of their refrigerant per year even without a fault.
Why does my air con smell?
Moisture in the evaporator lets bacteria and mould build up. An antibacterial clean removes it — and running the air con regularly, even in winter, helps stop it coming back.
My air con works but isn’t very cold — do I need a regas?
Probably, yes. Weak cooling is the classic sign of low refrigerant. If a regas doesn’t restore it, the pressure readings will tell us what’s actually wrong.
Should I switch the air con off in winter?
No — it dehumidifies the cabin, so it clears a fogged windscreen far faster, and regular use keeps the seals lubricated.
Book an air con service
Call 01449 674874, email enquiries@brookfieldgarage.ltd, or book online. Open Monday–Friday 8:30–5:30, Saturdays by appointment.