Posted on 12/19/2025
On a hot day, a weak A/C turns every drive into a chore. Maybe the air is just cool instead of cold, or it works fine in the morning but struggles in afternoon heat. Those small changes are usually the first signs that something in the system is on its way to failing, not just having an off day. 1. Low Refrigerant From Small Leaks The most common cause of poor A/C performance is low refrigerant. The system is sealed, so refrigerant does not get “used up” over time; it escapes through tiny leaks in hoses, fittings, O-rings, or the condenser. As the level drops, the system loses cooling power, and the compressor may start cycling more often. You might notice the air is cold when you first start driving, then turns lukewarm quickly, or it cools fine at highway speeds but blows warm at long stoplights. If we hook up gauges and see pressures pointing to low charge, that is our cue to look for dye traces, oily spots, or other clues to find the actual leak rath ... read more