What the job involves
A leak repair starts with pressure and temperature readings to confirm the system is actually short on refrigerant rather than suffering from airflow problems. From there we search: electronic detectors along the coil and line set, nitrogen pressure testing, and dye when a leak is slow enough to hide. Once we locate it we make the repair, pull a deep vacuum to clear moisture and air, then weigh in the exact charge the manufacturer specifies. Guessing at charge causes its own damage, so we measure.ak susually show up in predictable places, and we check those first.
What we check and what we replace
Evaporator coils are the common culprit, especially older units where formicary corrosion pinholes the tubing. We also check line set connections, service valves, Schrader cores, the accumulator, and brazed joints at the condenser. In older homes with line sets run through vented crawlspaces, we look for rubbing against framing and corrosion where insulation has fallen away. Sometimes a flare nut or valve core is all that needs attention. Other times the coil is finished and we talk honestly about repair versus replacement, including the age of the outdoor unit.
How we decide it is the right call
We weigh the location of the leak, the age of the equipment, and the type of refrigerant. A single accessible joint on a system with years left is a straightforward repair. A leaking coil in a system already showing compressor wear is different math, and we will say so. If your refrigerant is an older type that is being phased down, topping off gets expensive and harder to source. We give you the readings we took and the options, then you decide. No repair happens without your say.
What you get on every job
The quote comes first, in writing
Covering 171 cities across Washington DC, Delaware, Maryland and 5 more.A real person answers
Open 7 days, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET.Every major brand, gas and electric
Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman and more. We are not an authorized dealer for any of them.Refrigerant Leak Repair — quick answers
Can you just add refrigerant instead of repairing the leak?
We can add refrigerant, but it will leak out again and the compressor works harder in the meantime. We would rather find the hole. If you need cooling tonight we can discuss a short term charge while a repair gets scheduled.
How long does a leak search take?
Most diagnoses run one to two hours. Slow leaks take longer because we may need to pressurize with nitrogen or introduce dye and return after the system has run for a while.
Is a refrigerant leak dangerous in my home?
Refrigerant leaks are not typically a health hazard at residential levels, though large releases in tight spaces displace air. The bigger risk is compressor damage from running low on charge. Shut the system off and call us.
How it works
- Step 1
Tell us the symptom
Call or fill in the form and describe what changed. Warm air, short cycling, a smell, water near the indoor unit. Details like that help us load the right parts before we leave.
- Step 2
We diagnose the whole system
We check the thermostat, the indoor unit, the outdoor unit and the ductwork, including runs in crawlspaces where damp air and loose joints quietly cause weak airflow and long run times.
- Step 3
You approve the fix
We explain what failed, what it takes to repair it, and what we would watch next season. Nothing gets replaced without your yes, and we clean up before we leave.
- A real person answers
- Open 7 days
- Written quote before work starts
Why homeowners call us
- Humidity is our home groundMuggy summers and damp shoulder seasons drive most of the calls we take. We look at moisture and airflow together, not the cooling number alone, because a clammy house often means a sizing or duct problem.
- Crawlspace ducts get checkedOlder homes across the region run supply ducts through vented crawlspaces. Crushed flex, disconnected boots and soaked insulation show up constantly, and we get under the house to look instead of guessing from the register.
- Heating and cooling bothSame crew for air conditioning repair in July and heating repair in January. We know how your furnace, heat pump and air handler share ducts and a blower, so one visit covers the whole system.
- Plain talk on repair or replaceWhen a repair makes sense, we repair it. When a system is failing in ways that will keep costing you, we say so and explain why, then leave the decision with you and your timeline.
- All major brands, gas & electricCarrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York and more, as an independent company.
- Straight answersIf a system is not worth repairing, we say so, often right on the phone.
Refrigerant Leak Repair
Ready to book refrigerant leak repair?
Describe the system and your ZIP. The written quote comes before any work.
- A real person answers
- Open 7 days
- Written quotes
- All major brands
- Gas & electric
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