Lagos in March. 35°C in the shade. 45°C inside a car with broken AC. The traffic on Third Mainland Bridge is not moving. The driver is sweating through their clothes. They are calling every mechanic in their phone: "Please, my AC stopped working. Can you fix it today?"

This is your season. February through April is AC season in Lagos — and if you are not prepared, you are leaving millions on the table.

Why Most Workshops Miss the AC Opportunity

The typical workshop approach to AC repair:

  1. Customer complains AC is not cold
  2. Mechanic adds refrigerant gas
  3. Customer pays ₦15,000 and leaves
  4. AC stops working again in 2 weeks
  5. Customer blames the mechanic and goes elsewhere

The problem? Adding gas without checking for leaks is like pouring water into a bucket with holes. The gas leaks out, the customer comes back angry (or worse, does not come back at all), and you have wasted everyone is time.

The Proper AC Diagnostic Process

The workshops that make serious money from AC follow a systematic process:

  • Step 1 — Pressure test: Check high and low side pressures. A basic manifold gauge set costs ₦25,000–₦45,000 and pays for itself in one week. If pressures are low, there is a leak.
  • Step 2 — Leak detection: Use UV dye or electronic leak detector (₦15,000–₦30,000). Find the leak BEFORE adding gas. Common leak points: condenser, evaporator, hose connections, compressor shaft seal.
  • Step 3 — Fix the leak first: Replace the O-ring, hose, or component. THEN recharge with gas.
  • Step 4 — Cabin filter: 80% of customers have never changed their cabin filter. A dirty filter makes even a working AC feel weak. Cabin filter replacement: ₦5,000–₦12,000 easy upsell.
  • Step 5 — Condenser wash: Dust and bugs block the condenser, reducing cooling. A simple pressure wash of the condenser front: ₦3,000–₦5,000 upsell.

AC Revenue Breakdown

When you do AC properly, here is what each job looks like:

  • Diagnostic + pressure test: ₦5,000
  • Refrigerant recharge (R134a): ₦15,000–₦20,000
  • Leak repair (O-ring/hose): ₦10,000–₦25,000
  • Cabin filter replacement: ₦5,000–₦12,000
  • Condenser wash: ₦3,000–₦5,000
  • Compressor replacement (when needed): ₦80,000–₦180,000

Average AC job (without compressor): ₦35,000–₦60,000. With compressor: ₦120,000–₦200,000.

At 3–5 AC jobs per day during peak season × 26 working days = 78–130 jobs per month. Even at ₦35,000 average: ₦2,730,000–₦4,550,000 per month. Just from AC.

Preparing for AC Season

Smart workshops prepare in January:

  • Stock up on R134a gas cans (buy in bulk from Trade Fair — cheaper)
  • Buy 50+ cabin filters for popular models (Corolla, Camry, Accord, Civic)
  • Get a UV dye kit and leak detector if you do not have one
  • Train your boys on proper AC diagnostic steps
  • Send WhatsApp messages to all previous customers: "Hot season is coming. Book your AC check now — ₦5,000 diagnostic special."

Track Every AC Job

The workshops that grow are the ones that know their numbers. How many AC jobs this week? What is the average ticket? Which cars need the most AC work? (Hint: Toyota Corolla 2005–2010 — the evaporator is always the problem.)

Mekavo tracks every job with full details — what you did, what parts you used, what you charged. At the end of AC season, you know exactly how much it brought in. Next year, you prepare even better.

Free for Nigerian workshops. Start logging your AC jobs today.