--- title: "Air Conditioning Gas Recharge & Re-Gassing Bournemouth & Dorset | F-Gas | Adapt" description: "F-Gas certified refrigerant recovery, leak repair and recharge across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset. 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Pressure test, find the leak, fix it, recharge to spec." }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does an air conditioning re-gas cost?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A single-unit domestic re-gas — including leak test, leak repair at a flare joint, deep vacuum and recharge — typically lands between £220 and £380 inc VAT, depending on refrigerant type and quantity. Awkward leak locations or coil-leak diagnostics are quoted on the day after pressure-testing." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can't you just 'top it up' to save money?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No — and any engineer who offers to do so without leak-testing first is breaking F-Gas regulations and selling you a problem. Refrigerant isn't consumed; if it's low, it's leaked, and a top-up means a second callout in weeks." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long does the job take?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A standard leak repair, vacuum and recharge is around 2–3 hours on site for a single split. Pressure-testing requires hold time, so this isn't a 30-minute job — but it's done once, properly." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What refrigerants do you carry?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "R32, R410A, R407C and R134a — calibrated gauges and adapters for all four. We don't add refrigerant to R22 systems (banned for top-up); we'll quote a replacement instead." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the leak repair guaranteed?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — 90 days on the specific leak we've repaired. If the same leak returns within 90 days, we're back at no cost." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will re-gassing damage my system?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No — done properly, it restores the system to manufacturer spec. Done badly (no leak repair, no vacuum, wrong refrigerant) it can damage the compressor; that's exactly why F-Gas certification exists." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I know if my system needs re-gassing?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Symptoms: running constantly but not reaching set-point, ice forming on the indoor head or outdoor pipework, blowing room-temperature air, error code on the remote pointing to low pressure. We'll diagnose with calibrated gauges before quoting any work." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What about my warranty?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "F-Gas registered re-gas with documented leak repair keeps the warranty intact. A cowboy re-gas (no documentation, no F-Gas paperwork) voids it instantly." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you cover my area?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "We're based in Bournemouth and cover Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne, Ferndown, Ringwood, Salisbury and the wider Dorset and Hampshire region. If you're inside the BCP postcodes or within a 30-minute drive of Bournemouth town centre, you're inside our rapid-response patch." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are you F-Gas registered?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — every Adapt engineer is F-Gas certified to handle, recover and recharge refrigerant. Our F-Gas company registration is held under Adapt Mechanical Services Ltd, Company No. 15463021, and we carry full public liability insurance on every job." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will I get a written quote?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Always. The site visit is free, the quote is fixed in writing within 24–48 hours, and we don't add surprise extras to the invoice. If something genuinely needs to change once we're on site, we tell you before we start work — never after." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Services", "item": "/services" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Air Conditioning Gas Recharge (Re-gassing)", "item": "https://adaptmechanical.co.uk/services/gas-recharge" } ] } ] --- Bournemouth, Dorset Mon–Fri 7am–7pm · Sat–Sun 9am–7pm · Rapid Response Across Dorset & Hampshire [Info@adaptmechanical.co.uk](mailto:Info@adaptmechanical.co.uk)[01202 144008](tel:+441202144008) [![Adapt Mechanical Services — design, install, service](/__l5e/assets-v1/9f4b50c1-0efb-49ea-a654-b1d6329b6101/adapt-logo.png)](/) [About](/about) [Services](/services) [Service Areas](/service-areas) [Our Work](/our-work)[Contact](/contact) [01202 144008](tel:+441202144008)[Request Estimate](/contact) Summer Offer — Air conditioning installed from £1,499 [Get your quote →](/contact) 1. [Home](/) 2. [Services](/services) 3. Air Conditioning Gas Recharge (Re-gassing) Re-gassing · F-Gas · Leak Repair # Air Conditioning Gas Recharge & Refrigerant Recovery Across Bournemouth & Dorset If a system isn't cooling like it used to, it's almost always low on refrigerant from a slow leak. We pressure-test, locate the leak, repair it properly, then recharge to manufacturer spec — with full F-Gas paperwork. [Book a re-gas](/contact) [01202 144008](tel:+441202144008) Rapid response across Dorset & Hampshire · F-Gas registered (Company No. 15463021) · Fixed written quotes · Bournemouth · Poole · Christchurch · Wimborne · Ferndown · Ringwood · Dorset · Hampshire · Salisbury - 17 years' air conditioning experience - F-Gas registered engineers - Rapid response across Dorset & Hampshire - Fixed written quotes - Manufacturer-backed warranties Service overview ## What air conditioning gas recharge (re-gassing) actually involves. Plain-English breakdown, so you know exactly what you're paying for, and why it matters before we set foot on site. ### What it is Re-gassing is the F-Gas regulated process of recovering, replacing or topping-up the refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system. A correct re-gas always includes leak detection, leak repair, system evacuation to deep vacuum, accurate refrigerant weigh-in, and full commissioning paperwork. ### Who it's for Anyone with a system that's stopped cooling properly, is icing up, is short-cycling, or has been told by a non-F-Gas installer that it 'needs a top-up'. Also: commercial operators required to carry out documented F-Gas leak checks and refrigerant inventory. ### When you need it When cooling performance drops without an obvious cause, when ice forms on the indoor head or outdoor pipework, when the system runs constantly but doesn't reach set-point, when a manufacturer error code points to low refrigerant, or as part of statutory annual F-Gas leak checks on commercial systems above 5 tCO₂e charge. ### Why it matters Refrigerant doesn't get used up — if a system is low, refrigerant has leaked out, and just topping it up wastes refrigerant (£80–£150/kg) and lets the leak grow. F-Gas regulations actually prohibit topping up a known leaking system without first repairing the leak. A proper re-gas finds and fixes the cause. The cost of doing nothing ## What goes wrong when this is ignored. An air conditioning 'top-up' without a leak test is the most common rip-off in this trade — you pay for refrigerant that's gone within months and a callout that solves nothing. ### Risks of waiting - Topping up without finding the leak: refrigerant gone again within weeks, second invoice, leak now larger and more expensive to repair. - Running a low-refrigerant system: compressor overheats and fails — that's a £1,200–£1,800 part on top of the recharge you were avoiding. - Ice forming on the indoor coil from low charge: meltwater overflows the drain pan, damages ceilings and walls below. - Non-F-Gas operator letting refrigerant vent to atmosphere during recovery: illegal under F-Gas regs, environmentally damaging, and uninsurable. - Commercial system over 5 tCO₂e charge with no documented annual leak check: HSE-reportable F-Gas breach. ### Common mistakes - Accepting 'I'll just put a bit more gas in' — that's not a repair, it's a rental. - Letting a non-F-Gas engineer touch the refrigerant circuit at all — illegal and warranty-voiding. - Using cheap auto-style refrigerant cans on a domestic split — wrong refrigerant, wrong fittings, dangerous. - Skipping the leak repair and recharging anyway 'because we need it working for the weekend' — Monday is then a bigger callout. - Topping up an R22 legacy system — R22 is banned for top-up; any leak triggers a system replacement decision. Our process ## How the job actually runs. Same system every time. No improvising on your floor. 1. 01 ### Diagnose the cause Run the system, log pressures, calculate superheat/subcooling, confirm low charge is the actual fault and not a controls or sensor problem. 2. 02 ### Recover & pressure-test Recover any remaining refrigerant cleanly into a recovery cylinder, then pressure-test the system to 25–30 bar with dry nitrogen to identify the leak. 3. 03 ### Locate & repair the leak Electronic leak detector, soapy bubble test or UV dye depending on the suspected location. Most leaks are at flare joints or Schrader valves — repairable on the day. 4. 04 ### Evacuate to deep vacuum Pull the system down to <500 microns using a two-stage vacuum pump and digital micron gauge. This removes moisture and non-condensables that would otherwise damage the compressor. 5. 05 ### Recharge & commission Refrigerant weighed in by digital scale to manufacturer spec, system run through full commissioning, F-Gas paperwork issued, 90-day guarantee on the leak repair. What you get ## The outcomes that matter. ### Fix the cause, not the symptom Every Adapt re-gas includes leak detection and repair — refrigerant isn't dumped into a leaking system. ### F-Gas certified, fully documented Refrigerant additions, removals and leak repairs all logged to F-Gas standard, suitable for warranty and compliance records. ### Correct refrigerant, weighed in by scale R32, R410A or R407C as specified, weighed to manufacturer-stated charge — no 'topped up by feel'. ### Protects your compressor Running with low charge cooks compressors; a proper re-gas prevents the £1,400 part replacement that almost always follows. ### 90-day leak repair guarantee If the same leak returns within 90 days, we're back at no cost. ### Honest replacement advice If the system is R22, end-of-life, or beyond economical repair, we'll tell you in writing — and quote replacement separately, no commission. In depth ## Everything worth knowing before you book. The details a salesperson skips. Skim it, or read every word — both are useful. Questions on this? Talk to a specialist engineer direct. [01202 144008](tel:+441202144008) ### What 'low on gas' actually means Air conditioning systems are sealed refrigerant circuits — the refrigerant inside doesn't get consumed and doesn't degrade in normal use. If a system is low on refrigerant, it's leaked out, period. Common leak points (in order of frequency) are: flare joint connections at the indoor and outdoor units (vibration loosens them over years), brazed joints on the high-side liquid line, Schrader valve cores at the outdoor unit, the outdoor unit's Schrader access ports themselves, and very occasionally a perforated evaporator coil or condenser coil. Most leaks are repairable on the day; coil leaks are usually a unit-replacement decision. ### Why pressure testing matters before any recharge F-Gas regulations require that any system being recharged with more than the equivalent of 10% of its nominal charge has its leak repaired before recharge — and that the repair is verified by pressure test. We pressure-test with dry nitrogen at 25–30 bar (well above operating pressure but below pipework rated pressure) and hold for at least 15 minutes, watching for pressure drop. A pressure-stable system passes; any drop tells us where to look for the leak using electronic detectors, ultrasonic listening or fluorescent UV dye. ### Deep vacuum — the bit nobody talks about After leak repair and before recharge, the system must be evacuated of all air and moisture using a two-stage vacuum pump pulled down to below 500 microns (0.5 millibar), measured with a digital micron gauge. This step is what separates a real recharge from a cowboy job. Air in a refrigerant system causes acid formation; moisture causes ice in the expansion valve and compressor damage. A 'quick' vacuum of 10 minutes is not enough — we typically pull down for 30–60 minutes and verify the gauge holds steady before introducing refrigerant. ### Refrigerant types — R32, R410A, R407C, R22 and what you should know Modern systems (post-2018) almost all use R32 — lower global warming potential, single-component, charged by weight. R410A is the previous generation and still widely used; also charged by weight. R407C is older and mostly seen on systems 15+ years old. R22 was the legacy refrigerant and has been banned for top-up since 2015; if you have an R22 system, any leak triggers a system replacement decision because you cannot legally add R22 to it. We carry calibrated gauges and adapters for all four and will tell you exactly what's in your system after a 30-second check. ### What a proper F-Gas certificate looks like Every Adapt re-gas finishes with a paper or PDF F-Gas record showing: date, engineer name and F-Gas certification number, system make/model/serial, refrigerant type, refrigerant added (weighed), refrigerant recovered (weighed), leak repair description, pressure-test result, vacuum reading, post-recharge running pressures and superheat. This is the document that keeps your manufacturer warranty live and that commercial operators need for F-Gas compliance audits. ### When a re-gas isn't the right answer If a system is over 12 years old, has had multiple previous recharges, is on R22, or has a leak in the coil itself, a re-gas is often throwing good money after bad. We'll always tell you straight — repair quote in one hand, replacement quote in the other, with no commission on the replacement decision. Sometimes the right answer is one more season on a re-gas while you budget for replacement; sometimes the right answer is to replace now. Frequently asked ## Honest answers, practical solutions. Can't see your question? Call [01202 144008](tel:+441202144008). How much does an air conditioning re-gas cost? A single-unit domestic re-gas — including leak test, leak repair at a flare joint, deep vacuum and recharge — typically lands between £220 and £380 inc VAT, depending on refrigerant type and quantity. Awkward leak locations or coil-leak diagnostics are quoted on the day after pressure-testing. Can't you just 'top it up' to save money? How long does the job take? What refrigerants do you carry? Is the leak repair guaranteed? Will re-gassing damage my system? How do I know if my system needs re-gassing? What about my warranty? Do you cover my area? Are you F-Gas registered? Will I get a written quote? Ready when you are ## Book your air conditioning gas job today. Written fixed quote. F-Gas registered engineer. No upsell, no pressure. [Book a re-gas](/contact) [01202 144008](tel:+441202144008) F-Gas registered Rapid response Dorset & Hampshire Related services ## Other things we look after. [← Back to homepage](/) [ ### Air Conditioning Servicing & Maintenance Learn more ](/services/servicing-and-maintenance)[ ### Air Conditioning Repair Learn more ](/services/air-conditioning-repair)[ ### Air Conditioning Diagnostics Learn more ](/services/diagnostics)[ ### Commercial Air Conditioning Learn more ](/services/commercial-air-conditioning) ![Adapt Mechanical Services](/__l5e/assets-v1/9f4b50c1-0efb-49ea-a654-b1d6329b6101/adapt-logo.png) Specialist air conditioning installation, servicing and repair across Dorset & Hampshire. Based in Bournemouth, covering Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne, Ferndown, Ringwood and Salisbury. Rapid response across Dorset & Hampshire. [](https://www.facebook.com/61564676105386)[](https://www.instagram.com/adapt_mechanical/) ### Services - [Air Conditioning Installation](/services/air-conditioning-installation) - [Air Conditioning Servicing & Maintenance](/services/servicing-and-maintenance) - [Air Conditioning Repair](/services/air-conditioning-repair) - [Air Conditioning Diagnostics](/services/diagnostics) - [Split System Installation](/services/split-system-installation) - [Multi-Split System Installation](/services/multi-split-installation) - [Commercial Air Conditioning](/services/commercial-air-conditioning) - [Air Conditioning Gas Recharge (Re-gassing)](/services/gas-recharge) - [Ventilation & Air Quality Systems](/services/ventilation-and-air-quality) ### Areas - [Bournemouth](/service-areas/bournemouth) - [Poole](/service-areas/poole) - [Christchurch](/service-areas/christchurch) - [Wimborne](/service-areas/wimborne) - [Ferndown](/service-areas/ferndown) - [Ringwood](/service-areas/ringwood) - [Dorchester](/service-areas/dorchester) - [Weymouth](/service-areas/weymouth) - [Lymington](/service-areas/lymington) - [Salisbury](/service-areas/salisbury) - [About](/about) - [Reviews](/reviews) ### Contact - [01202 144008 ](tel:+441202144008) - [Info@adaptmechanical.co.uk ](mailto:Info@adaptmechanical.co.uk) - Lower Flat, 7 Windermere Road Bournemouth BH3 7LF - Mon–Fri 7am–7pm Sat–Sun 9am–7pm © 2026 Adapt Mechanical Services Ltd. 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