The myth of the annual recharge
Refrigerant is not fuel. It circulates in a closed loop and should last the life of the system. If a technician adds refrigerant every year without looking for the leak, you are paying repeatedly for a problem that is still there, and the system is running undercharged for part of every summer. That wastes energy and puts strain on the compressor.
Low refrigerant shows up as weak cooling, longer run times, ice on the lines or indoor coil, and a hissing or bubbling sound in some cases. If you notice any of those, see AC repair for other possible causes, or book a leak check.
How we find leaks
Leaks are often tiny and hard to see. We start with pressure readings and a visual inspection of the usual trouble spots: the indoor evaporator coil, the outdoor condenser coil, brazed joints, service valves and the copper line set where it runs through walls and attics. Then we use electronic leak detection, bubble solution, and when needed, a pressure test with nitrogen to confirm where the loss is happening.
Common leak points
Indoor coils develop pinhole leaks from corrosion over time. Service valve cores and flare fittings can loosen. Line sets can be rubbed through where they pass framing or vibrate against something. Outdoor coils can be damaged by debris, pets or landscaping equipment.
What the repair looks like
Small leaks at a fitting or joint can often be repaired on site. A leaking coil may be repairable, but if it is corroded in several places, replacing the coil is the lasting fix. After any repair we pull a vacuum, confirm it holds, and charge the system to the manufacturer's specification.
Old refrigerant, new decisions
Systems that use R-22 refrigerant are a special case. R-22 is no longer produced in the United States, so what remains is expensive, and every recharge costs more. If an R-22 system has a significant leak, replacement is often the smarter move. Newer systems use refrigerants that are being phased in as older ones are phased down, and we can explain what that means for your equipment.
Leak checks as part of maintenance
A spring tune-up includes a refrigerant pressure check, which is often how slow leaks are first spotted, before they become a July breakdown. If your system has frozen up, see our notes on ice in AC repair, and if the leak is in a mini-split, we service those too.
We repair leaks across Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin, Paradise and Boulder City.
Signs your system is low
Longer run times
The system runs longer and longer on hot afternoons but never quite reaches the set temperature.
Ice on the copper lines
Frost or ice on the larger copper line at the outdoor unit, or on the indoor coil, is a classic sign of low refrigerant or low airflow.
What leak repair costs depend on
The price depends mostly on where the leak is and what refrigerant the system uses. A leak at a service valve or flare fitting is usually a modest repair. A leak in the indoor coil often means replacing the coil, which is a bigger job. Systems on older refrigerants cost more to recharge after the repair. We find the leak first, then give you the repair price and, where it makes sense, the price of a replacement system for comparison.
If the system is old and the leak is in a major component, we will be honest that replacement may be the better use of your money.
Questions we hear a lot
Is leaking refrigerant dangerous?
Modern refrigerants are not toxic in the small amounts that leak from a home system, but they should not be vented, and a leak means the system is not working as designed. If you smell something unusual near the unit, turn it off and call.
Why not just add refrigerant?
Because it will leak out again. Adding refrigerant without fixing the leak means paying for the same problem every season while the system runs inefficiently.
How long does leak repair take?
Finding and fixing a leak at a joint or valve can often be done in a visit. A coil replacement usually needs a second visit once the part arrives.
Can a leak be sealed with a sealant additive?
Sealant products exist, but we do not recommend them for most systems. They can clog valves and metering devices and make future repairs harder, and many manufacturers advise against them. Finding and repairing the leak is the reliable fix.