Is an A/C recharge enough, or is something leaking?

A/C systems are sealed. If yours needs refrigerant, it leaked somewhere, and a recharge on its own only buys time.

Why it blows warm

Low refrigerant, a failed compressor clutch, a blend door stuck on heat or a cooling fan that does not run. Only the first one is fixed by a recharge.

The dye test

Every recharge we do includes UV dye. If the air is warm again in a few weeks, the dye shows exactly where it is leaking.

Slow leaks and fast leaks

A system that lasts a whole summer on one charge has a slow leak, and a recharge a year can be the sensible answer. One that is warm in two weeks needs the leak fixed.

Why the cans from the parts store are a gamble

They add refrigerant without recovering what is there, so the system can end up overcharged, and some contain sealer that clogs the recovery machines.

What we measure

Vent temperature on a road test. On a warm Tulsa afternoon a healthy system blows around 40 degrees.