AC Refill — Cost, How Often, and Which Refrigerant
Air conditioning cools a little worse every year, because the system naturally loses refrigerant. We explain how often to service it and what the price is made up of.
4 min read · Pulsecar team · updated:
Why the air conditioning cools weaker over time
Through seals and hoses, the system loses part of its refrigerant every year. Oil circulates together with the refrigerant and lubricates the compressor — without enough of it, the most expensive part of the system wears out faster.
How often to service the air conditioning
- Refrigerant top-up with a leak check — usually once a year, or when cooling clearly weakens.
- Cabin filter replacement — once a year, more often with allergies.
- Disinfection — when there is an unpleasant smell from the vents.
R134a or R1234yf
Older cars usually use R134a, and most cars made since around 2017 use R1234yf. You will find the refrigerant type and its amount on a sticker under the bonnet. The two refrigerants must never be mixed.
What the service involves
- Recovering the old refrigerant and measuring its amount.
- Pulling a vacuum and checking that the system holds it, i.e. is leak-tight.
- Filling in the correct amount of refrigerant together with oil.
- Checking the temperature at the vents.
How much an AC refill costs
At Pulsecar, an AC refill with a vacuum check costs 199 PLN, and the refrigerant is billed separately at 40 PLN per 100 g (R134a or R1234yf). The service takes about 30 minutes. We replace the cabin filter for 40 PLN.