Split System Regas
Does your Split System need re-gassing?
It might seem deceptively straightforward, you suspect your Split System needs re-gassing, so let’s put some gas in it, right? Unfortunately it’s not so easy. Let’s have a look at what’s involved, including:
Why do Split Systems need regas?
Split Systems (both wall mounted and ducted) contain a refrigerant gas which is vital to the operation of the unit.
If you find out your system is low, it might be tempting to think, as it’s a gas it may evaporate at some point and need topping up.
But no, that’s incorrect. It’s a gas which lives in a closed system. For the system to work in either heating or cooling mode, the gas travels around the system turning from a gas into a liquid and back again. It doesn’t just disappear or wear out with age.
The only way for refrigerant gas to escape the system is through a leak. So topping it up isn’t going to work. The leak needs to be found and repaired.
Signs you have a gas leak
While there are signs your Split System has a gas leak, these could also indicate other issues, such as parts failure, so it’s important not to guess! The only way of knowing for sure is to have it professionally assessed.
- Room temperature air coming out
- Poor cooling performance / takes a long time to cool down the room (note, it’s easier to identify poor performance when the unit is in cooling mode than heating mode)
- Ice build up on the indoor or outdoor unit
- Error codes on the controller or warning lights on the unit
- System frequently cycles on and off
- Increase in electricity bills
The regas process
The process to diagnose a leak is important, as it will rule out faulty parts, or something easily fixed such as blocked filters.
As refrigerant moves from the indoor to outdoor unit through copper pipes and the leak could be in the indoor unit, outdoor unit or anywhere in between.
Occasionally there are visible indicators for technicians where the leak may be, but sometimes they are teeny tiny and have leaked slowly over years. So while some people are assuming their air con is just getting old, it’s been leaking refrigerant to the point it stops working effectively.
Once the technician has identified where the leak is coming from, it needs to be repaired. Then once the repair is carried out, the system needs to be re-gassed with new refrigerant, then tested to ensure it’s working correctly.
All sorts of specialist equipment is required to do this. Plus in order to purchase refrigerant gas, you need a Refrigerant Handling License. So this is defiantly not a DIY job!
Potential costs
There are multiple factors involved in how much this will cost, including:
- How much labour is involved to diagnose and find the leak – For example, leaks which are difficult to diagnose or find require the system to be decanted of refrigerant and pressure tested with nitrogen. This will be more expensive, as this process takes time.
- Part costs and labour to fit the part
- Cost of new refrigerant gas – The bigger the split system, the more gas it requires
It is also important to take into consideration the age of your Split System vs the cost of the repair. After assessment, our technician can give you options so you can make an informed decision. If your Air Con is old, it may be a good time to upgrade to a new, energy efficient Split System.
