Air conditioner · Naples and Campania
Air conditioner gas recharge in Naples: find the leak first
Many people think air conditioner gas needs topping up now and then, like engine oil. It does not work that way: the refrigerant runs in a closed circuit and, if the system is sound, it stays the same for the whole life of the split. If it is low there is a leak, and recharging makes sense only after it has been found and repaired.
From €250 + VAT about 3 hoursSingle split, back to back, up to 3 m of piping, F-gas certification included
Do not open the valves of the outdoor unit and do not use DIY recharge kits: the gas escapes under pressure and so cold that it can burn the skin.
Recognise the problem
- It cools less and less from one summer to the next
- You have already had a recharge and a few months later you are back where you started
- Frost or ice on the valves of the outdoor unit
- Oily traces on the pipe fittings or under the outdoor unit
- The compressor starts and stops more often than usual
The most common causes
- 1
Loose or faulty fittings
The flare connections, the nuts joining the copper pipes to the two units, are the most delicate point. A small leak there is enough to empty the circuit little by little.
- 2
Damaged pipes
A drill into the wall during building work, pipes crushed in trunking or corroded outside can open a fine hole, sometimes invisible to the eye.
- 3
Corrosion of the outdoor coil
The coils are made of thin tubes and fins. Over the years, and faster near the sea because of salt air, pinholes can form in the outdoor unit.
- 4
Installed without vacuum and leak test
If at installation the circuit was not put under vacuum and no leak test was done, meaning a check that there are no leaks, moisture and small leaks show up later.
What you can safely check yourself
- Before thinking about gas, wash the filters and check that the remote is in cooling mode.
- See whether the outdoor unit fan turns and the fins are free of leaves and dirt.
- Photograph the label on the outdoor unit: it states the type of gas, for example R32 or R410A, and the quantity charged at the factory.
- If you see an oily stain on the fittings, photograph it without touching pipes or valves.
Never open the boiler or the gas water heater, and always switch off the power before touching an electrical appliance. If in doubt, call us.
When you need a technician at home
- Frost on the outdoor valves with clean filters
- You have had a recharge in the past and the drop in cooling repeats
- Traces of oil on the fittings or under the outdoor unit
- The split stopped cooling after work in the house
How much it costs
Air conditioner installation (our price)
Single split, back to back, up to 3 m of piping, F-gas certification included
from €250 + VAT
Gas recharge once the repair is done
indicative market price in the Naples area; finding and repairing the leak are assessed separately
80-150 €
Market figures are indicative for the Naples area. You know our exact price before we start; prices apply near our base in Parete, and further away you see them in full when you choose your town.
Why gas should not be topped up
Refrigerant gas does not burn and does not evaporate outwards: it passes from the indoor unit to the outdoor one and back, always inside the same pipes. So how often should it be recharged? On a system with no leaks, never.
A recharge done without looking for the leak buys a few weeks or months of cooling, then the gas escapes again. You pay twice and meanwhile the compressor works in the wrong conditions.
The correct sequence is different: the leak is located with suitable instruments, repaired, the seal is checked, a vacuum is pulled in the circuit to remove air and moisture, and only at the end is the gas charged, in the quantity shown on the label.
What the law says and what to ask for
DPR 146/2018 requires that recharging, repair and installation of circuits with fluorinated gases be carried out by technicians and companies with F-gas certification, and that the work be recorded in the FGAS Database.
Before anyone opens the circuit in your home, ask for the F-gas certificate number. This applies to everyone, us included: a compliant technician shows it to you without difficulty.
A separate case is very old air conditioners charged with R22: that gas is no longer allowed for servicing, so they cannot be recharged. If the label on your split says R22 and it has lost gas, it is worth considering replacement.
R32, R410A and DIY kits
Splits from recent years mostly use R32, slightly older ones R410A. The two gases do not mix: only the one specified by the manufacturer should be used.
R32 is mildly flammable, and that is one more reason why recharge cans and kits sold online are a bad idea. Without gauges and a scale you do not know how much gas you are adding, and an overcharged circuit works as badly as an undercharged one.
Want to know what it is first? Show us
On a video call we rule out the causes that get mistaken for missing gas: full filters, wrong mode, outdoor unit in the sun or stopped. We look at the frost on the pipes and at the label, which states the type and quantity of gas. If the problem really is in the circuit, we explain the work needed and what to ask of whoever does it.
Video consultation, up to 15 minutes: €9.90 (€14.90 on Sundays), deducted from the bill if we then come to your home.
Book the consultationDIY guides
Frequently asked questions
How often should the gas in a home air conditioner be recharged?
Only when there is a leak. Gas is not used up by use: if some is missing after a few years, it has escaped somewhere. First the leak is found and repaired, then it is recharged.
How much does an R32 gas recharge cost in Naples?
On the Neapolitan market a recharge costs roughly 80-150 €. On top of that come finding and repairing the leak, which varies a lot depending on where it is. We give you the exact figure once the diagnosis is done and before we start.
The air conditioner is running but not cooling: is it the gas?
It can be, but the more frequent causes must be ruled out first: dirty filters, wrong mode, an outdoor unit that cannot shed heat. On a video call we check them in a few minutes, so you avoid paying for a recharge you do not need.
How do I know if my air conditioner has a gas leak?
The typical signs are cooling that drops season after season, frost on the outdoor valves and oily stains on the fittings. Confirmation, though, comes only from an instrument search by an F-gas certified technician.
Is an air conditioner gas leak dangerous at home?
In a home split the amount of gas is small, but refrigerant should not be breathed in closed rooms or released into the air. Switch off the appliance, ventilate the room and keep naked flames away, because R32 is mildly flammable. Then have it checked.
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Air conditioner all over Campania
We work in Naples, Posillipo, Caserta and all over the region. Near our base in Parete there is no travel cost; further away you see the full price before you confirm.
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