A homeowner with a heat pump said an HVAC company quoted them about $1,800 to add dye and return later to pinpoint a refrigerant leak, with repair labor still expected to cost extra.
They took to Reddit's r/HVACAdvice forum to ask if the charge was reasonable.
Here's what to know
Writing in a Reddit thread, the homeowner said the unit was still covered under a parts warranty, though labor would not be included.
This original poster added, "My heat pump start[ed] kicking off after about two minutes," and they said an HVAC company determined there was a leak somewhere in the system.
With the diagnosis still incomplete and labor not covered, the homeowner was trying to decide between repairing the unit and replacing it, saying they did not want to spend $5,000 on fixes if the system could fail again soon after.
Several commenters challenged the quote. One pointed to a much lower price range, between $200 and $300, for leak detection, and they said the OP should "find a tech that has a good electronic leak detector" because "dye is an absolute last resort for very small hard to locate leaks."
Another reply said a standard leak search "should be nowhere near that amount" and cautioned that using dye could even cause warranty problems in some situations.
A different commenter said they had repaired multiple leaks on newer heat pumps and viewed the roughly $1,800 charge for dye and a return visit as excessive. They shared an example, in which someone had been pushed toward a $25,000 replacement but the actual leak repair came in at under $2,000 with refrigerant included. The same user then wrote, "$1,800 to add dye and come back and check is robbery."
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What can be done?
Before agreeing to a refill-and-wait approach, always ask how a company plans to find the leak and what that step will cost.
For homeowners facing that same decision, upgrading a heating and cooling system can be one of the best ways to save money on utility bills and guard against rising energy prices. Palmetto can help homeowners understand their HVAC options and reduce their energy bills with newer, more efficient HVAC systems and heat pumps. Plus, Palmetto's Comfort Plan network can help readers connect with vetted installers.
For homeowners who are not ready to spend up front on a replacement, Palmetto's Comfort Plan includes $0-down HVAC subscription options that can lower heating and cooling costs by up to 50%, plus 12 years of free maintenance.
Where can I learn more?
A failing HVAC can cause stress and strain your budget, so be vigilant when hiring a repair team.
• A Ring camera caught a tech puncturing a coil during a routine AC tune-up.
• One homeowner faced a warranty repair bill higher than replacing a failed heat pump.
• Homeowners often learn repair costs climb fast when heat pumps fail outside labor coverage.
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