I live in Arizona, so I guess not. When I was living in Hawaii the A/C seemed okay but once I moved to Phoenix area and the temps were >110, not so much. Recharging a 10 year old system is not unusual out here in the Sonoran Desert.
@Patsy Faye Don't be so bothered! All of us old-timers survived decades without air conditioning in our homes, much less cars. I was born in a hospital in July having no air conditioning at all, in Chicago, sweltering temperature and humidity be damned. Is that why I'm so looney? I imagine my poor Mother enduring labor amidst such beleaguering heat and humidity. You are bothered by being bothered! Frank
I'd assume there is a very, very slow leak. My system was still within acceptable parameters according to the gauge that came with the refrigerant, but was not at 100%. And when it's a 110+ outside, you need to be at the max. If I were still living in Ohio, I probably would not have bothered.
Actually, just read online that...........the refrigerant (Freon, if it's still called that) should really never have to be recharged. When the A/C is on, it simply circulated thru the system, unless there is a leak. A lot of times, a leak, can be noticed on the ground, under the engine, when the vehicle is parked and A/C has been on. I thought the system had to be recharged yearly, but I was wrong. Most people have their vehicle A/C checked each year before summer to make sure it is operating correctly, with no visible leaks. But, if at any time, your A/C starts blowing warm air, instead of cool-to-cold, there is definitely a problem with the system and it should be checked out for any leaks. If there is indeed a leak in the system, either get the leak fixed or sweat in the vehicle.
Problem is, at our age, vehicle A/C can be as important as home A/C. A/C does use up gas in a vehicle, but, depending on how hot and humid it is outside, vehicle A/C is a must for Seniors. Home A/C can be the same way. People can open windows, but that can allow outside hot air in. A ceiling or desk fan is also useful, but it can sometimes just rotate hot inside air around. Basically, it's whatever a person can afford.
Now I'm confused - are you saying there is 'no need' to have the air con gas renewed ? Doesn't it run out ? Does it last forever ?
I just read that it recycles itself inside the system, UNLESS the system has a leak. Now, I suppose the refrigerant can get old and has to have some new put in, but that's it. IOW, the refrigerant doesn't evaporate, only leaks out. So, if your A/C isn't operating correctly, like blowing warm air out, then it needs to be checked for leaks. A qualified A/C place can test the system and tell you how much refrigerant you have in it. If the refrigerant is low, then (supposedly) there is a leak in the system. The compressor in ours was bad and had to be replaced. We'd turn the air on and the fuse, controlling it, would blow.
Like I said, I have never heard of having to change the coolant in a car. I still have my DH's pickup truck and it's 21 years old. Coolant has never been changed. That AC gets cold enough to make frost form on the windows. JK
@Shirley Martin, we aren't talking about engine coolant here. We are talking about the air conditioner inside a vehicle which takes refrigerant to operate. You're getting engine coolant mixed up with the air conditioner. Two different things.
OK, I told y'all that I'm not a mechanic. I meant the Freon or whatever you call it. I don't think the coolant has been changed, either. I have my mechanic check it before the coldest weather sets in but, a far as I know, he has never changed it.