Aircon regas on a split unit isn't a routine top-up. A sealed system should keep its charge, so a low charge needs its cause diagnosed, and a leak is usually the answer. A proper job finds and repairs the fault, then charges by weight to the manufacturer's specification. Work on the refrigerant circuit needs an SAQCC Gas registered practitioner.
A sealed aircon shouldn't lose gas, so a low charge needs a cause
A car's tank empties. An aircon's gas doesn't.
The refrigerant in a split system circulates in a closed loop. It isn't fuel. Refrigerant is not used up in normal operation. Engico, a Gauteng installer, says a healthy unit shouldn't lose any gas over its whole life, and Coolflow, a Western Cape operator, says the same: the system is a closed loop, and a unit that keeps losing gas has a leak. Coolflow adds a rule of thumb. If a unit needs regassing more than once in a season, that points to a leak needing repair, not another top-up.
A low charge can result from a leak or an incorrect previous charge, so the cause needs diagnosis before refrigerant is added. Where it comes from matters more than how much gas went in last time.
What a low charge can look like:
- Cooling that's weak even with a clean filter
- A unit running for hours without reaching the temperature you set
- Frost on the pipes or the indoor coil
- A hiss or bubbling sound (ServiceLink SA lists this as a refrigerant leak sign)
- Oily residue at a pipe joint, visible from the floor (ServiceLink SA lists a visible leak this way)
Any of those can have another cause, so start with the checks on our aircon repair page. If those are fine and the signs are still there, request a fault check.
Why a top-up does not repair a leak
Put gas into a leaking system and it leaks out again. You've paid for the gas, the visit and the problem.
Coolflow says leaks are repaired before regassing, because recharging a leaking system wastes refrigerant.
Cape Air Conditioning adds the cost of waiting. A refrigerant leak makes the unit run longer, and it can damage the compressor and shut the system down.
What a proper regas involves, at a high level
South African operators describe the job in broadly the same order, and procedures differ by unit. This is what to expect from a registered practitioner, and what to ask about when you compare quotes. It isn't a method for doing it yourself.
- Identify the unit and the gas. The refrigerant type is on the system's nameplate, usually on the outdoor unit, according to Coolflow. If you want to look, read the nameplate from the ground without removing any panel, and skip it if the unit is on a high bracket.
- Diagnose the fault. The practitioner identifies the refrigerant and diagnoses the fault. The technician checks airflow, operating conditions and the manufacturer's diagnostic measurements before deciding whether the charge is low.
- Find the leak. The practitioner locates it with methods suited to the system. Engico lists electronic leak detection and nitrogen pressure testing; Coolflow adds UV dye and visual checks.
- Recover and repair. Before a charged part of the circuit is opened, the remaining refrigerant is recovered as needed. Coolflow lists re-flaring a joint, brazing a pipe section or replacing a damaged coil as repairs.
- Test, evacuate and charge. After the leak is repaired, the circuit is leak-tested to the manufacturer's procedure, evacuated and checked for vacuum stability, then charged by weight to the manufacturer's specification, including any adjustment for pipe length. A vacuum-hold check does not replace a leak test.
- Check performance. Engico measures superheat and subcooling to confirm the unit now performs.
Engico puts a properly done regas at 90 minutes to three hours.
Who's allowed to do it
Work on the refrigerant circuit needs an SAQCC Gas registered practitioner.
For you, that means a can of gas and a hose from a hardware shop is not a repair. What you can look at yourself is covered on our aircon repair page: the remote settings, any error code and the breaker's position.
What moves the price of a regas
A price needs a look at the fault. Here is what others publish. The scopes differ, so the figures are not directly comparable.
| Source and date | What it lists | Published range |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Vines, undated, accessed 9 November 2026 | Refrigerant, labour to evacuate, leak testing | R850 to R1,800 |
| Coolflow (Western Cape), Stellenbosch page, undated, accessed 9 November 2026 | Minor top-up | R800 to R1,200 |
| Coolflow (Western Cape), Stellenbosch page, undated, accessed 9 November 2026 | With leak detection and repair | R1,200 to R2,500 |
| Coolflow (Western Cape), Kommetjie page, undated, accessed 9 November 2026 | Residential split, diagnosis included | R1,800 to R3,500 |
| ServiceLink SA, published 10 April 2026 | Top-up as an extra when a leak is found on a service | R800 to R2,500 |
These are different scopes: some list top-ups, some include diagnosis or leak testing, and one lists detection and repair. They are not directly comparable. Do not infer what a quote includes from its price; ask what is covered.
What moves the number:
A loose joint is a small job; a leak in the coil can mean a part. Pipes behind a finished wall, or a unit on a high bracket, take longer to reach. More pipe holds more gas, and the charge is adjusted for the installed pipe length. And on an old unit with a failing coil, compare against replacement; our aircon installation cost page shows published figures with their sources and dates.
Five rows, five different scopes. A fair price for your unit needs a look at it.
Also on this site
- Before you suspect gas: aircon repair
- Preventing the problem: aircon service and maintenance
- If the unit isn't worth saving: aircon installation
- Areas: Johannesburg · Pretoria · Centurion · Sandton · Randburg · Midrand
- Contact
Questions people ask
Is this for car aircon?
No. This page covers split aircons in homes and offices. Car aircon regas is a different job done at a vehicle workshop.
Why does my aircon need gas?
It shouldn't need more. A sealed split system should keep its charge. A low charge can result from a leak or an incorrect previous charge, so the cause needs diagnosis before refrigerant is added.
How often should an aircon be regassed?
Never on a schedule. Refrigerant is not used up in normal operation. Coolflow (Western Cape) says needing a regas more than once in a season points to a leak that needs repair.
Can I regas my aircon myself?
No. Work on the refrigerant circuit needs an SAQCC Gas registered practitioner. What you can look at yourself is the remote settings, any error code and the breaker's position.
How long does a regas take?
Engico puts a properly done regas at between 90 minutes and three hours. A hard-to-reach leak can add to that.
How do I know which gas my aircon uses?
The refrigerant type is on the system's nameplate, usually on the outdoor unit. Read it from the ground without removing any panel. If the outdoor unit is on a high bracket or behind a wall, skip it; the brand and model are enough for the call.
Will a regas fix my aircon not cooling?
Only if a low charge is the cause, and a low charge itself needs its cause diagnosed. Dirty filters, a blocked coil and an undersized unit also stop cooling, so the technician checks those too.
Sources for the figures and rules on this page
Checked 2026-11-09. Each is one operator's published advice unless stated.
- Healthy unit "shouldn't lose any gas"; refrigerant isn't a fuel; diagnose before refilling; electronic leak detection or nitrogen pressure testing; recover gas; digital scales, exact weight specified by the manufacturer; superheat and subcooling check; 90 minutes to three hours: Engico, 30 August 2026 engico.co.za (opens in a new tab)
- Closed-loop system; refrigerant not used up; repair leaks before regassing; pressure testing, electronic detectors, UV dye, visual inspection: Coolflow (Western Cape operator) Cape Town regas page, undated (footer 2026), accessed 2026-11-09 coolflowaircon.co.za (opens in a new tab)
- Refrigerant type on the nameplate, usually on the outdoor unit; charge weight per manufacturer; residential split R1,800 to R3,500 with diagnosis included: Coolflow Kommetjie (Western Cape) regas page, undated (footer 2026), accessed 2026-11-09 coolflowaircon.co.za (opens in a new tab)
- More than one regas in a season points to a leak; repairs by re-flaring a joint, brazing a pipe section or replacing a damaged coil; minor top-up R800 to R1,200; with detection and repair R1,200 to R2,500: Coolflow Stellenbosch (Western Cape) regas page, undated (footer 2026), accessed 2026-11-09 coolflowaircon.co.za (opens in a new tab)
- Regas R850 to R1,800 covering refrigerant, evacuation labour and leak testing: Electric Vines, "AC Service Price List 2026", undated, accessed 2026-11-09, prices described on the page as indicative electricvines.co.za (opens in a new tab)
- Refrigerant top-up if leak found R800 to R2,500 extra: ServiceLink SA, 10 April 2026 servicelinksa.co.za (opens in a new tab)
- Hissing or bubbling as a refrigerant leak sign: ServiceLink SA, 9 April 2026: ; visible leak (oily residue) servicelinksa.co.za (opens in a new tab) servicelinksa.co.za (opens in a new tab)
- A refrigerant leak makes the unit run longer and can damage the compressor: Cape Air Conditioning, 24 May 2024 capeairconditioning.co.za (opens in a new tab)
- Refrigerant work needs an SAQCC Gas registered practitioner: SAQCC Gas, SARACCA registration category page, checked 2026-11-09 saqccgas.co.za (opens in a new tab)