Fridge regassing in Harare
Fridge Regassing in Harare, Done the Right Way
A fridge does not use up gas. If yours is low on refrigerant, it has a leak, and a refill without a leak repair is money poured down the drain. Harare Fridge Repairs finds the leak, repairs it, pulls a deep vacuum and recharges the system to the weight on the rating plate, at your address, any time of day.
- R134a, R600a, R290, R404A and R22 systems
- Electronic leak detection and nitrogen pressure testing
- Vacuum pump used on every recharge, no shortcuts
- Household fridges, chest freezers and commercial units
- Fridges and freezers only, nothing else
- Mobile across Harare, no need to transport the unit
- Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Price agreed before any work starts
Does your fridge really need regassing?
Regassing is one of the most over sold repairs in Harare. A fridge that is not cooling is more often suffering from a seized fan, a blocked defrost drain, a failed defrost heater, a faulty thermostat or a compressor relay than from a gas shortage. Those faults cost far less to fix and gas would not have helped.
The genuine signs of low refrigerant are quite specific: the compressor runs constantly and feels hot, the evaporator only frosts up in one small patch near the inlet instead of evenly, the cabinet slowly loses cooling over weeks rather than failing overnight, and sometimes there is an oily stain near a pipe joint where refrigerant has been escaping with a little compressor oil.
Our technician measures the running pressures and the temperatures across the evaporator before concluding anything. If the gas charge is correct, you are told so and we move on to the real fault. Read our guide on whether your fridge needs regassing if you want the full checklist.
What a proper regas involves
Anyone can connect a cylinder and top up. A lasting repair takes five steps, and we do all of them on site.
- 1
Find the leak
Electronic leak detector, soap test and, where needed, a nitrogen pressure test to find the exact joint, pipe or evaporator that is leaking.
- 2
Repair it
Brazing the joint, replacing a corroded section of pipe, or replacing a leaking evaporator or condenser. The filter drier is replaced at the same time.
- 3
Pull a vacuum
A vacuum pump removes air and moisture from the system. Skipping this step leads to ice blockages and a failed compressor months later.
- 4
Charge by weight
The exact gas and charge weight printed on the rating plate is measured in with a scale, then pressures and temperatures are checked while the fridge runs.
Refrigerants
The right gas for your fridge
Household fridges made before about 2015 almost all use R134a. Newer fridges from Samsung, LG, Hisense, Bosch, Defy and most other brands use R600a, a hydrocarbon refrigerant that needs smaller charges, careful handling and different equipment. Commercial fridges, beverage chillers and freezers often use R404A or R290, and some old chest freezers and cold rooms still run R22.
Putting the wrong gas in a fridge, or mixing gases, ruins cooling performance and can damage the compressor. We carry the common refrigerants on the vehicle and always match the gas on the rating plate. If a plate is missing or unreadable, the compressor model tells us what the system was designed for.
Where fridges leak
Knowing the common leak points is why we can usually fix a leak in a single visit.
- Brazed joints at the compressor and filter drier
- Aluminium evaporators corroded by food acids or pierced while defrosting with a knife
- Condenser pipes rusted at the back of the fridge
- Capillary tube chafed where it enters the evaporator
- Commercial units with vibration cracks at the compressor
- Pipework damaged when a fridge was moved
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does fridge regassing cost in Harare?+
It depends on the type of gas, the size of the system and whether a leak repair or filter drier is needed. We quote after testing the fridge and before we start. Beware of very cheap regassing offers that skip the leak repair and vacuum; the gas will be gone again within weeks.
How long does regassing take?+
Leak testing, repair, vacuum and charging usually take between one and three hours on a household fridge. Large commercial units and cold rooms can take longer. The fridge is then left running and should be cold within a few hours.
How often should a fridge be regassed?+
Never, if the system is sealed. A fridge that needs regassing every year has a leak that was never repaired. Once a leak is fixed properly the gas charge should last the life of the fridge.
Can you regas a fridge at my house?+
Yes. All our regassing is done on site in Harare with a vacuum pump, gauges, scale and brazing equipment carried on the vehicle. You do not need to transport the fridge anywhere.
My fridge was regassed recently and is warm again. What happened?+
Either the leak was never repaired, the system was not vacuumed and has an ice or moisture blockage, or the wrong gas or charge weight was used. We will test the pressures and tell you which it is before recommending anything.
Need a fridge regassed in Harare?
We test first, then repair the leak and recharge properly. Call 0782 886 252 or WhatsApp us your suburb and fridge details.