'It just needs a recharge': ask where the refrigerant went
Refrigerant does not get used up. A system that is low has a leak. A recharge without a leak repair is money that leaves through the same hole, and the Department of Energy lists testing for leaks with a leak detector as part of a proper technician visit.
What is probably happening
- A sealed system holds its charge for life. Low charge means a leak at a fitting, a valve core, or a coil.
- A top-off without a leak fix works for a season, sometimes a month, then you are paying again. Repeated top-offs also put the refrigerant into the air, and intentional venting is prohibited under federal law.
- The honest version: find the leak, repair it, pull a vacuum, weigh in the charge, write the pressures on the invoice.
Do this in the next five minutes
- Ask the technician where the leak is. If they have not looked, ask them to.
- Ask what refrigerant it is and the price per pound. Write it down.
- Ask how many pounds were added. A system's full charge is on the data plate; a large fraction of it gone is a big leak.
- Get the leak location and the before-and-after pressures on the invoice.
- If the leak is in the coil, get a written quote for the coil versus a top-off, and ask how long a top-off will last.
Do not
- Do not buy refrigerant yourself. Sales for home systems are restricted to EPA certified technicians.
- Do not accept 'seal in a can' leak stop as a repair on a system you plan to keep. Ask the technician whether it voids the compressor warranty.
- Do not pay for a recharge twice without a leak search in between.
Who to call
A licensed HVAC technician with EPA Section 608 certification
Section 608 certification is the legal minimum for anyone opening the refrigerant circuit. Ask for the type: Type II or Universal covers home split systems.
BestHonestPro is a free comparison resource, not a contractor. There is nothing to sign up for and we do not sell your details. When we begin connecting callers to contractors, we will be paid a referral fee by the contractor, never by you, and this line will say so.
What it should cost
$100 to $500
Refrigerant recharge alone, national range. A refrigerant leak repair runs $250 to $1,500
Source: Angi, HVAC repair cost, updated August 2026. View source
National published range, not a quote for your job. The full cost table for this trade is on the hvac page.
Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out
Tap each one as you ask it.
- Where is the leak, and how did you find it?
- What refrigerant, what price per pound, and how many pounds?
- Will you fix the leak first, and is that in this price?
- What is your EPA Section 608 certification type?
End the call if
- Refrigerant added with no leak search and no pressures on the invoice.
- A price per pound with no total pounds, or a total that does not match the data plate charge.