Kwik Fit experiences surge in air con recharging demand

Over the last week, Kwik Fit has seen demand for air conditioning recharges more than triple as car owners have battled unprecedented heat. Despite lower traffic volumes, with drivers heeding advice not to travel if possible, last week Kwik Fit saw overall demand for air con services reach 354 per cent of the equivalent figure for last year. Last Sunday, a group of the company’s centres covering the South East and East of England saw demand at more than ten times (1,090 per cent) the same day last year.

Kwik Fit posits that this focus on in-car comfort results from a combination of intense heat and the estimated five million people who are spending their summer holiday in the UK instead of abroad this year. As well as servicing air conditioning, Kwik Fit advises drivers to also consider a number of other checks to make sure their car is summer ready, including tyre pressure, tread and condition as well as coolant, oil and screenwash levels.

“It’s natural that in this heatwave, air conditioning is top of mind for many drivers,” comments Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit. “However, with so many holidaymakers relying on their cars to get them to their holiday destination, it’s vital that they remember to check other areas of their cars as well. If anybody is concerned about anything on their car but is unsure whether it is a problem, they can pop into any Kwik Fit centre and our expert team will check it for them.”

Irrespective of the weather, Kwik Fit recommends that drivers have their air conditioning recharged every two years as the refrigerant gas escapes the system over time.