Air conditioning is one of the most commonly broken parts of a car.  It can also be one of the most expensive to fix.

However, if you try to monitor your air conditioning regularly, you may be able to prevent this.

Here are a few ways to tell if your air conditioning system has a leak and may need repairs.

1) Is the Air Conditioner Blowing Hot Air?

The easiest way to find out if your air conditioning system has a possible leak is if it does not blow cold air.  All air conditioning systems lose some refrigerant each year and need to be recharged.  However, it should only be done once every few years at the most.  If you find yourself thinking that you might need a recharge after a few months, you could have a leak.

2) Is the Coupling Covered in Grease?

The area around the couplings where the coolant hose is attached to the compressor will be covered in grease if there is a leak.  This is because the refrigerant gas is mixed with air and oil.  There will only be an oily residue in the event of a leak.

3) Use a Freon Leak Detector

You can use a Freon leak detector in front of the air conditioning compressor to determine if there is a leak in the system.  It is usually located somewhere behind the dashboard.  Because the refrigerant gas is odorless and invisible, you will need special equipment to detect it.