Aircon Gas Top-Up

What is an aircon gas top-up?

An aircon gas top-up adds refrigerant to a system that has been measured and found short. Refrigerant is not used up in a sealed circuit, so low gas means a leak somewhere. We measure the gas first, recommend a leak check if the charge is low, and add only the gas the system needs.

How do we check and top up the gas?

1. Rule out dirt first. A clogged coil, blower fan or filter can feel like low gas. We check them before we measure the gas.
2. Measure. With our Appion PTC900 digital tester we measure how much gas the system is working with, and check how much power the outdoor unit draws at the same time. Together they show whether the charge is low.
3. If the gas is fine, we stop. Gas is not the problem, no gas is added, and we look for the real cause.
4. If the charge is low, find the leak. This is our infrared leak check, priced separately: an infrared detector and our Habotest HT601B+ sniff around the joints, valves and coil, and a bubble test pinpoints the exact spot.
5. Top up by measurement. Only the refrigerant on the unit's nameplate goes in, and we measure again afterwards. On a multi-split, every indoor unit on the same outdoor unit is switched on before we measure, so the measurement reflects the whole system.

Top-up or leak repair?

| Ice on the coil, oily marks at a joint | Clear sign of a leak | Leak repair before any gas goes in | A top-up without a repair only buys time. The gas leaks out again, and once the charge is lost, air and moisture can enter and damage the compressor. Leak repairs come under our aircon repair and troubleshooting service. After the repair, we test the pipes for leaks, then pump out air and moisture before the correct amount of refrigerant is charged, as we explain in why vacuum evacuation matters. For the warning signs, see aircon gas leak signs.

Which refrigerant does your aircon use?

R22 is the old refrigerant, no longer used in new units and being phased out. R410A followed it, and most current inverter aircons use R32, which is mildly flammable. Each system takes only the refrigerant on its nameplate, and different refrigerants must never be mixed. Too much gas is as bad as too little, which is why we charge by measurement, never by feel.

What should Singapore homes know?

Most outdoor units here sit on an HDB or condo aircon ledge, and the service valves we connect to are on the outdoor unit, so ledge access is part of every gas job. We also find leaks on aircons only a few years old, often at a flare joint made during installation. Before booking, you can try our guide to checking your aircon gas yourself. If gas turns out to be fine, the other usual causes are in why an aircon is not cold.

What affects the price?

• A gas check and top-up is S$165, paid when you book, whether the system uses R32, R410A or R22
• If the gas turns out to be fine, the S$165 goes towards the service that fixes the cooling instead
• A leak check is extra: S$580 for 1 to 3 indoor units, S$880 for 4 to 5
• A leak repair is quoted after the leak check, depending on where the leak is and how easy the ledge, rooftop or bracket is to reach

Warranty

Every service includes a 90-day warranty. If a unit we serviced leaks water or stops cooling within 90 days, WhatsApp us photos or a video of the problem: the site inspection, fixing the leak and any minor repair caused by our work are free. The warranty does not cover parts or installation costs, misuse, wear and tear on an ageing system, or problems from a gas leak the unit already had.