How to Spot a Rushed or Cut-Price Regas

Not every regas is done the same way, and the difference usually isn’t obvious until the gas runs out again a few months later. Here’s what separates a proper job from a rushed one.

It should take close to an hour, not ten minutes

A genuine regas involves recovering the old gas, pulling a vacuum to test the system holds, then recharging with the correct amount of refrigerant and oil — typically 45 to 60 minutes in total. If a “regas” is done in ten or fifteen minutes flat, there’s a good chance a step has been skipped, most often the vacuum and leak test.

Ask what gas your car takes — and expect a proper answer

Older cars (broadly pre-2017) use R134a; newer cars use R1234yf, which costs more. If whoever’s doing the work doesn’t ask, or charges the same flat price regardless of which gas your car needs, that’s a warning sign — either they’re not checking properly, or they’re using the wrong gas, which can damage seals and components over time.

A vacuum test should happen before recharging

Pulling a vacuum on the system and letting it hold for a few minutes is how a leak gets caught before new gas goes in. Skip this step and you can put fresh (and not cheap) refrigerant straight into a system that’s just going to leak it back out — meaning you paid for gas that never had a chance of lasting.

You should see a temperature check, not just be told it’s “sorted”

The whole point of a regas is cold air you can measure, not take on faith. A vent temperature check at the end — ideally one you can see for yourself — is a simple way to confirm the job actually worked before you drive off.

If it doesn’t last, ask why — don’t just pay for another top-up

If a regas needs redoing within a year, there’s almost always an underlying leak that a straight top-up won’t fix. A cut-price job that just tops up the gas without investigating why it ran low in the first place tends to become a repeat cost, not a one-off.

What we do differently

Every regas here includes the vacuum and leak test, the correct gas for your specific vehicle, and a vent temperature check in front of you before you pay. See our regas and recharge service for the full breakdown, or get in touch if you want a second opinion on a job that hasn’t lasted.