US · Expiry & renewal tracking
Schedule refrigerant leak inspections after a leak-rate exceedance
Once an appliance with 50+ pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerant exceeds its leak rate, a certified technician must inspect it for leaks every three months (500 pounds or more, commercial or industrial process) or once a year for others, until it stays below the rate (40 CFR 82.157(g)); HFCs follow 40 CFR 84.106.
EPA's leak repair rule in 40 CFR 82.157 applies to appliances with a full charge of 50 or more pounds of an ozone-depleting (class I or class II) refrigerant. The owner or operator must calculate the leak rate every time refrigerant is added, with some exceptions. If the leak rate exceeds 20% for commercial refrigeration, 30% for industrial process refrigeration, or 10% for comfort cooling and other appliances, the leaks must be found and repaired within 30 days (120 days if an industrial process shutdown is needed), unless the appliance is retrofitted or retired (40 CFR 82.157(a) to (d)).
After an appliance exceeds the applicable leak rate, periodic leak inspections by a certified technician are required. Commercial and industrial process refrigeration with a full charge of 500 pounds or more: once every three months, until leak rate calculations show the appliance has not exceeded the leak rate for four quarters in a row. Commercial and industrial process refrigeration of 50 to under 500 pounds, and comfort cooling and other appliances: once per calendar year, until the appliance has not exceeded the leak rate for one year (40 CFR 82.157(g)(1) and (g)(2)).
Since January 1, 2026, a similar leak repair rule in 40 CFR 84.106 applies to appliances with a full charge of 15 or more pounds of an HFC or of a substitute with a global warming potential above 53, except appliances containing only an ozone-depleting refrigerant and residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps. Under that rule, leak inspections run once every three months (500 pounds or more, commercial or industrial process refrigeration) or once per year (others) after the date of a successful follow-up verification test (40 CFR 84.106(a) and (g)).
At a glance
| Rules | 40 CFR 82.157 (ozone-depleting refrigerants) and 40 CFR 84.106 (HFCs, since 2026) |
|---|---|
| Trigger | Appliance exceeds the applicable leak rate |
| Leak rates | Commercial refrigeration 20%, industrial process refrigeration 30%, comfort cooling and others 10% |
| Repair deadline | 30 days (120 days if an industrial process shutdown is required) |
| Commercial or industrial, 500 lb or more | Leak inspection every three months, until four quarters below the leak rate |
| Other appliances | Leak inspection once a year, until one year below the leak rate |
| Records | Leak inspection records kept at least three years |
Quarterly or annual leak inspections are not required on appliances, or portions of them, continuously monitored by an automatic leak detection system that is audited or calibrated every year (40 CFR 82.157(g)(4) and 84.106(g)(4)).
Who is responsible?
The owner or operator of the appliance. Leak inspections must be done by a certified technician, who must give the owner or operator documentation of the inspection: the date, the methods used, the location of each leak found, and a certification that all visible and accessible parts were inspected (40 CFR 82.157(g)(2) and (l)(3)).
Repairs need two verification tests
Each repaired leak needs an initial verification test within the 30-day (or 120-day) repair period and a follow-up verification test within 10 days of the successful initial test, or within 10 days of the appliance reaching normal operating conditions if it was evacuated for the repair (40 CFR 82.157(e)).
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each appliance that has exceeded its leak rate, with the date its next quarterly or annual leak inspection is due.
- Add the automatic leak detection system's annual audit or calibration as a separate item if you use one.
- Reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the due date and on the due date itself.
- Assign a responsible person (for example your facility or refrigeration manager) so the right person gets the reminder.
- If a date passes, managers get overdue reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
- Ask the certified technician to upload the leak inspection record through a secure upload link, valid for 14 days; no account is needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Are leak inspections required on every appliance every year?
- No. Under 40 CFR 82.157(g) and 84.106(g), the quarterly or annual leak inspections apply to appliances that have exceeded the applicable leak rate, and continue until the appliance stays below it for four quarters in a row (quarterly schedule) or one year (annual schedule).
- Which appliances need quarterly inspections?
- Commercial refrigeration and industrial process refrigeration appliances with a full charge of 500 pounds or more (40 CFR 82.157(g)(1)(i) and 84.106(g)(1)(i)).
- Who may perform the leak inspection?
- A certified technician, using methods the technician considers appropriate for the appliance (40 CFR 82.157(g)(2) and 84.106(g)(2)).
- How long must leak inspection records be kept?
- At least three years, unless otherwise specified (40 CFR 82.157(l)).
Sources
- eCFR: 40 CFR 82.157, Appliance maintenance and leak repair
- eCFR: 40 CFR 84.106, Leak repair (HFCs and substitutes)
Last checked: Sep 30, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
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Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each refrigerant leak inspection (EPA) (US) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
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