Aircon Regas: What You Need To Know

Ask yourself this. When was the last time you organised an aircon regas for your home’s air conditioning system? Don’t be ashamed if you never have arranged one.

Many homeowners assume that an air conditioning regas for your home works similarly to your car’s air conditioner. But that is not the case. Unlike your vehicle’s air conditioning system, which typically needs a yearly regas, you should rarely (if ever) need to book a regas for your home air conditioning system.

Having said that, there may be the occasional reason why you might still need to book a re-gassing.

So here is everything you need to know about the air conditioning regas process. From what it involves to why a car air conditioning regas has different needs, we’ll tell you all you need to know.

What is an Aircon Regas?

Firstly, what exactly is involved in an air conditioning regas? It sounds simple enough but may also be a pretty ambiguous term.

The process involves removing existing refrigerant from your air conditioner (it’s called evacuating the system) and replacing it with a fresh supply. Without a healthy supply of refrigerant, air conditioning systems cannot absorb and cool down warm air efficiently.

An aircon regas never involves merely “topping up” the gas. A licensed technician (i.e. the only people who can legally handle refrigerant gases) cannot just add new refrigerant to an existing supply. They need to replace it completely.

The technician will also investigate and conduct a gas leak test during the job and provide an appropriate repair. Throughout the whole visit, they will run tests on the pipe connections to make sure there are no lingering issues.

Signs of a Refrigerant Leak

Remember when I said that there may be some reasons why you may need an aircon regas? Those reasons would be refrigerant leaks caused either by damage to the pipe, general wear and tear or poor installation of your air conditioning service.

So how will you know if your aircon is experiencing a refrigerant leak? The most obvious signs are:

• Warm air coming out of the air con instead of cold air
• Hissing or bubbling from the external copper pipes
• A build up of ice on air con pipes

While the signs of a leak are relatively easy to spot, you will probably miss them if you don’t look in the first place. For example, your outdoor air conditioning unit could be in a hard-to-reach spot.

How Metropolitan Air Conditioning Can Help

Thankfully, Metropolitan Air Conditioning can take care of that for you. As a part of our regular air conditioning services, we will inspect every element of the system.

Our local technicians will instantly be aware of any poor performance, or damaged pipes.

Unlike a car air conditioning service, a qualified technician will come to your doorstep and give your air conditioner a thorough check-up. During our all-season maintenance services we can clean out filters, coils and motors, and inspect all pipes to get your air-con running smoothly.

 Why a Car Air Con Regas is Different

When it comes to your car, you’ll likely book it in a service after every 10000 km you drive. As part of that service, the mechanic might provide an air conditioner regas. But split and ducted air conditioning systems for the home certainly don’t need one nearly as often. Why?

Well, it comes down to the materials used in a car air conditioning system compared to those in your home aircon.

Pipes, seals and other parts in a car air conditioner are often rubber or plastic. Over time they become more porous, resulting in refrigerant leaking through. Add in daily bumping and grinding while driving and there’s a fairly unsettled environment for warm or cool air.

Your Home Aircon, However …

In stark contrast, your home’s cooling is settled. Ducted cooling doesn’t jostle around in a tight engine.

The pipes are also copper and far stronger. So are the seals. Even though you can expect to see some wear and tear after about five years, there’s far more stability for the refrigerant.

You might need air conditioner regas services when your system has suffered a refrigerant gas leak and it’s blowing hot air when you want cool air. Don’t leave it to the last moment, fix it before summer hits.

The Phase Out of Refrigerant R22

While you may never have to worry about booking an aircon regas job, there is one last bit of information to take note of.

It’s worth knowing what kind of refrigerant your air conditioner uses. If your system uses R22 refrigerant, for example, you best hope you don’t need a regas any time soon.

Also known as Freon, R22 is an old refrigerant gas on its last legs. The Montreal Protocol classifies it as an ozone-depleting substance and has subsequently been phased out.

For many years it was the main refrigerant used in air conditioning. Now it can only be imported for use in pre-existing air conditioners. As of 2030, all R22 imports will be banned.

What Does This Mean For You?

Right now, not a lot. Less than 17% of air conditioning and refrigeration units in Australia use R22. And if they do it has to be recycled or reclaimed.

New systems use more environmentally compatible refrigerants like R-134a and R-410a. Because of this, the Government recommends air conditioning upgrades to more efficient units which are also far cheaper to run.

Metropolitan Air Conditioning is also committed to environmentally friendly practices. We are here to help out with any aircon regas, or air conditioner installation.

If you want to upgrade or service an existing system, just contact us for more information, or to book in a visit from your local licensed technicians. We’ve got your air conditioning needs covered.

Please note: This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.