05/20/2026
Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of homeowners asking the same question after an AC technician says:
“Your system is low on refrigerant.”
The next question is always:
“What should we do now?”
Usually, there are 2 scenarios:
🔹 Scenario 1 — Top up the refrigerant
The technician adds refrigerant and leak sealant to get the system cooling again.
This can sometimes work for a while if the leak is very small. You may get another 1–2 years of operation, but there is no guarantee because the leak still exists.
🔹 Scenario 2 — Proper leak diagnosis and repair
The technician finds the leak, repairs or replaces the faulty part, pressure tests the system, and recharges it properly.
This is the correct long-term solution, but it can be more expensive upfront.
As a licensed HVAC technician, this is what I usually recommend:
✅ 1) Newly installed AC systems
If the AC was recently installed, there’s a good chance both parts and labour may still be covered under warranty. In many cases, homeowners may pay little or nothing out of pocket.
✅ 2) AC systems a few years old
Most manufacturers provide around 5 years of parts warranty (sometimes more if registered). You may only need to pay labour costs for the repair.
✅ 3) AC systems around 5–10 years old
This is where many homeowners struggle with the decision.
In most cases, I recommend fixing the leak the proper way instead of repeatedly topping up refrigerant. It saves money and headaches long term.
✅ 4) AC systems 15+ years old
At this stage, replacement is usually the better investment.
However, if replacement is not financially possible right now, you can ask the technician about adding refrigerant and possibly using a leak sealant as a temporary option.
Sometimes it holds for a few years.
Sometimes it doesn’t.
Most companies will not provide a guarantee on leak sealant repairs — and homeowners should understand that clearly before proceeding.
The biggest thing homeowners should know:
❄️ Refrigerant does not get “used up” like fuel.
If it’s low, there is almost always a leak somewhere in the system.
