Complete guide to refrigerant refills, leak detection, and repair costs. Understand the real problem before you pay.
AC systems are sealed—they don't "use up" refrigerant. If your refrigerant is low, you have a leak. Simply adding refrigerant without fixing the leak is like putting air in a flat tire without patching the hole.
If your AC uses R-22 (Freon) and needs major leak repair or significant refrigerant, seriously consider system replacement. R-22 production ended January 1, 2020, and remaining supplies are extremely expensive ($150-300/lb). A system that needs 5+ pounds of R-22 could cost $750-$1,500 just for the refrigerant—money better spent toward a new R-410A system.
| Scenario | Amount Needed | Leak Detection | Refrigerant | Labor | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Small Leak + R-410A Minor top-off with simple leak | 1-2 lbs | $75-$150 | $50-$200 | $75-$150 | $200-$500 |
Medium Leak + R-410A Typical residential repair | 3-5 lbs | $100-$200 | $150-$500 | $100-$250 | $350-$950 |
Major Leak + R-410A Consider system replacement | 6-10 lbs | $150-$300 | $300-$1,000 | $150-$400 | $600-$1,700 |
Small Leak + R-22 R-22 is very expensive now | 1-2 lbs | $75-$150 | $150-$600 | $75-$150 | $300-$900 |
Note: These estimates assume leak detection and repair are included. "Recharge-only" services that don't fix leaks may cost less initially ($150-300) but waste money long-term. Most residential systems hold 6-10 pounds of refrigerant when fully charged.
New R-410A system: $3,500-$7,000 with 10-year warranty and 20-30% energy savings
Major leak repair on old R-22 system: $1,000-$2,500 with no efficiency improvement
Energy savings alone can recover replacement cost in 5-7 years
AC refrigerant recharge costs $150-$800 in Las Vegas, depending on refrigerant type and amount needed. R-410A (modern) costs $50-100/lb, while R-22 (older systems) costs $150-300/lb. A typical recharge needs 2-5 pounds plus labor ($75-250) and leak detection ($75-200). Beware of recharge-only services that don't fix leaks—you'll need another recharge soon.
Never, if properly installed and maintained. AC systems are sealed and should never lose refrigerant under normal operation. If you need annual or frequent recharges, you have a leak that needs repair. Companies offering "annual recharge" as routine maintenance are either incompetent or dishonest—fix the leak instead.
You can, but it's wasting money. The refrigerant will leak out again (often within weeks or months), and you'll pay for another recharge. It's like putting air in a tire with a nail in it—temporary fix at best. Proper service includes leak detection and repair. Some slow leaks are acceptable short-term if repair is prohibitively expensive and system is near end-of-life.
Yes, but extremely expensive. R-22 production ended January 1, 2020, but technicians can still use reclaimed/recycled R-22. Prices have skyrocketed from $25/lb in 2015 to $150-300/lb now. If your R-22 system needs significant refrigerant (5+ pounds) or major leak repair, replacement with a modern R-410A system is usually more cost-effective long-term.
Proper refrigerant service takes 1-3 hours total: diagnosis (30-45 mins), leak detection (30-60 mins), leak repair (30 mins-2 hours depending on complexity), system vacuum (30-45 mins), recharge (20-40 mins), and testing (15-30 mins). Quick "top-off" services that take 15-30 minutes aren't doing proper leak detection and repair.
Yes, significantly. Low refrigerant causes the compressor to overheat and work harder, leading to premature failure (a $1,200-$3,500 repair). Ice forming on indoor coils from low refrigerant can damage the evaporator. If you suspect low refrigerant, get service quickly to prevent expensive compressor damage. Never "top off" repeatedly without fixing leaks.
Get proper leak detection and repair from qualified HVAC professionals