Your AC needs gas only when refrigerant has leaked out; it doesn’t ‘run out’, because it circulates in a sealed circuit. If weak cooling comes with ice on the pipes or hissing near the joints, there’s probably a leak that must be found and fixed before any recharge. That’s the basis of a proper AC gas refill with leak detection.
Does AC refrigerant run out over time?
No. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that refrigerant isn’t consumed in a sealed system, so a low charge means a leak, and it advises repairing leaks rather than topping up. Leaks typically occur at flare joints, service valves, brazed joints and the coils. In coastal homes in Saihat and Tarout, salty sea air speeds up corrosion on outdoor units.
7 signs your AC is low on refrigerant
1. Air that isn’t cold enough
The unit runs and the fan blows, but the air isn’t as cold as it was; Trane lists this among leak signs.
2. Ice on the pipes or indoor unit
Low charge drops the pressure in the indoor coil until it falls below freezing and moisture turns to ice; Trane lists refrigerant leaks among the causes of a frozen coil.
3. Hissing or bubbling
A brief hiss when the compressor stops can be normal pressure equalisation. A continuous hiss or bubbling at one joint can mean gas escaping through a pinhole or a loose fitting.
4. Higher indoor humidity
A healthy AC removes moisture as it cools. A sticky room despite the AC running is another sign on Trane’s list, quickly noticeable in coastal homes.
5. Uneven cooling and non-stop running
One room cools and another doesn’t, or the outdoor unit runs for hours without the room reaching the setpoint.
6. Higher electricity bills
The Saudi Electricity Company says ACs use more than 60% of household electricity, so any loss of efficiency shows on the bill. Higher bills for the same usage are on Trane’s list too.
7. Oily stains at the joints
Compressor oil travels with the refrigerant, so a leak leaves an oily, dust-coated film at joints or valves, often marking the leak itself.
Important: a dirty filter or coil, a failed capacitor or a stopped fan can cause similar symptoms, so low refrigerant is only confirmed by measuring pressures. Rule out the other reasons an AC stops cooling before paying for gas.
Error codes linked to low gas
- LG CH38: low refrigerant.
- Gree E3: low-pressure protection, often due to low or leaking refrigerant.
- Gree E2: indoor anti-freeze protection: possibly a leak, blocked airflow or a dirty filter.
Codes vary by series and model, so confirm in your manual or our split AC error codes guide.
Suspect low gas? What to do now
- Rule out simple causes: clean the filter and check that the outdoor unit is clear and its fan turns.
- If there’s ice, switch cooling off and run the fan only until it melts. Don’t chip it.
- Switch the AC off if several signs appear together, until the leak is fixed.
- Photograph the nameplate, any error code and any oily stains.
- Don’t recharge it yourself. Refrigerant work is for qualified technicians only: it needs gauges, scales and a vacuum pump, and the wrong gas can wreck the compressor.
Think your AC is low on gas? Don’t settle for a quick top-up. Send a photo of the nameplate and any error code to technician Ali at Mousa Workshop on WhatsApp, or call +966 54 372 8453. We diagnose the fault, look for the leak and tell you the cost before starting.
R-22, R-410A or R-32? Know your refrigerant
| R-22 | R-410A | R-32 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure at ~49°C condensing | About 260 psig | About 418 psig | High, close to R-410A |
| Compressor oil | Mineral oil | POE oil | As the manufacturer specifies |
| Environmental impact | Ozone-depleting | GWP 2,088 | GWP 675 |
| Safety class | A1 (non-flammable) | A1 (non-flammable) | A2L (mildly flammable) |
| Status in Saudi Arabia | Banned in new equipment since 2013 | Most common in new units | On some new models |
Three practical rules follow:
- Never mix refrigerants. R-410A runs at about 1.6 times the pressure of R-22 and uses a different oil. Daikin’s installation manuals say to use only the specified refrigerant, as air or foreign matter causes an abnormal pressure rise.
- R-410A is charged as a liquid, not a vapour, as Fujitsu points out, because it’s a blend.
- R-32 has about a third of R-410A’s climate impact but is mildly flammable, so it needs a technician with the right tools and procedures.
How to read your AC’s nameplate
- Find the sticker on the side of the outdoor unit, or inside the indoor unit under the front cover.
- It shows the refrigerant (R22, R410A or R32) and the factory charge in grams or kilograms.
- That charge covers a set pipe length; longer runs may need extra charge per the installation manual.
Why topping up without fixing the leak is a waste
- It will leak again: the hole is still there, so you pay for gas again and again.
- It harms the unit: an undercharged AC runs longer and strains the compressor, its most expensive part.
- It harms the environment: R-410A has a GWP of 2,088, and whatever leaks goes into the atmosphere.
- It breaks the rules: the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s executive regulation requires technicians to recover refrigerant, not release it.
Be wary of the ‘your gas ran out’ explanation and of charging without a pressure reading or leak test. Before accepting a quote, ask whether it covers leak repair, a vacuum and a weighed charge, then compare it with our AC service prices guide.
The proper procedure: from pressure test to weighed charge
- Read the nameplate: refrigerant type and specified charge.
- Measure pressures with a manifold gauge while running, plus current and air temperatures.
- Find the leak with an electronic detector or soap solution on the joints, or a nitrogen pressure test if needed.
- Repair it: tighten, re-flare or braze the joint, or replace the faulty part. If the circuit must be opened, the remaining gas is recovered with a recovery machine, not vented.
- Evacuate (vacuum) to remove air and moisture.
- Charge by weight on refrigerant scales, per the nameplate and pipe length.
- Verify pressures, current and air temperature after start-up.
Refrigerant rules in Saudi Arabia
- A 2013 Ministry of Commerce decree banned new cooling equipment using R-22 or R-123, with spare parts for older models exempt.
- According to reported regulatory updates, R-22 imports will be fully banned from 1 January 2030.
- So if an R-22 unit keeps leaking or its compressor fails, replacement may make more sense than repair; ask your technician after the inspection.
When to call a technician
- You notice two or more of the seven signs.
- Ice returns after you’ve cleaned the filter.
- You hear hissing or see oily stains at the joints.
- Your LG shows CH38 or your Gree shows E3.
- You’re told to refill again within months: that means an unrepaired leak.
At Mousa Workshop in Al-Salam District, Saihat, technician Ali diagnoses the fault first and tells you the cost before starting, and our gas refills include leak detection. We’re open daily from 8 AM to 11 PM across Saihat, Anak, Qatif, Tarout, Dammam, Khobar and Safwa. Book an AC gas refill with leak detection by WhatsApp or phone.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does an AC gas refill cost in Saudi Arabia?
Advertised prices in the Eastern Province in 2026 mostly range from about 150 to 350 SAR for a split unit, depending on its size and gas, and about 150 to 250 SAR for a window unit — and many quotes don't include leak repair. These are approximate market figures from various providers, not Mousa Workshop's prices; we quote after diagnosis.
Can an R-22 AC be converted to a newer gas?
It isn't recommended. Fujitsu advises against converting R-22 systems to R-410A because of the different pressures and oil, and the US EPA says there is no 'drop-in' replacement for R-22.
Is the gas lost when an AC is removed and moved?
Not if the technician pumps the refrigerant down into the outdoor unit and closes its valves before disconnecting the pipes. Cutting the pipes and letting the gas escape wastes it and goes against Saudi rules requiring refrigerant recovery.
Does an inverter AC need a different refrigerant?
Inverter describes how the compressor is driven, not the gas, so an inverter unit may use R-410A or R-32. The nameplate on your unit is always the reference.