AC Refrigerant Leak Detection & Repair

24-HOUR ANSWERING SERVICE

NO OVERTIME CHARGES - EVER

LICENSE #401802

SERVING SACRAMENTO SINCE 1981

24/7 Emergency Service Available

AC Refrigerant Leak Detection & Repair

Topping off refrigerant without fixing the leak is throwing money away. We find leaks and actually repair them.

Electronic Leak Detection

Actual Repair—Not Just Recharge

No Overtime Charges

Licensed Since '81 (#401802)

AC Keeps Losing Refrigerant?

If someone's been out to 'add Freon' more than once, you have a leak. Refrigerant doesn't wear out—it leaks out. Time to actually fix it.

Read More

Here's the thing about refrigerant: it doesn't get used up. Your AC isn't burning it like gas. If you're low, it leaked out somewhere.The "just add refrigerant" scam:Some companies love to show up, check pressures, tell you you're low, add a pound or two, and collect $200. They'll see you again next summer. And the summer after that. Meanwhile you've spent $600 on refrigerant that's now in the atmosphere, and the leak is still there.Why leaks happen:Vibration: Copper rubs against copper, eventually wears through. Common at the compressor and where lines pass through the cabinet.Corrosion: Formicary corrosion eats pinholes in evaporator coils. Thanks, household chemicals and off-gassing from building materials.Age: Brazed joints and flare fittings loosen over time. Schrader valves (like tire valves) wear out.Bad installation: Kinked lines, improper brazing, missing insulation—problems from day one that show up years later.What we do:We find the actual leak. Electronic leak detectors, UV dye, nitrogen pressure testing—whatever it takes to locate it. Then we fix it.Sometimes it's a simple repair. Sometimes the evaporator coil is swiss cheese and replacement makes more sense. We'll show you what we find and give you real options.

AC Not Cooling Like It Used To

Ice Forming on Lines or Coil

Been Recharged More Than Once

Hissing Sound from Unit

1

Leak Detection

We use electronic detectors, UV dye, and pressure testing to find exactly where it's leaking.

Learn More

Finding a refrigerant leak isn't always obvious. Some leaks are fast—you lose a pound a week. Some are slow—takes all summer to get low.Our process:Electronic detection: Highly sensitive detectors that find refrigerant vapor. We check every joint, fitting, and component.UV dye: For slow leaks that are hard to pinpoint, UV dye circulates with the refrigerant and shows up under black light at the leak point.Nitrogen pressure testing: For stubborn leaks or when we need to be absolutely certain. Pressurize the system and listen, or use soap bubbles to find it.We don't guess. We find it.

2

Repair Options

We show you what we found and give you real choices—repair, replace, or honest conversation.

Learn More

Once we find the leak, you get options:Simple leak: Fitting, valve, or accessible line leak. We braze it, replace the component, pull a vacuum, and recharge. Fixed.Coil leak: Evaporator coil with pinhole leaks. Sometimes we can repair individual leaks. Often the coil has multiple failures and replacement makes more sense. We'll show you the condition and let you decide.The honest conversation: If your system is old, uses R-22, and needs a coil replacement, we'll do the math with you. Sometimes fixing an old leaky system costs more than replacing it. We'll give you real numbers.No pressure. Your system, your money, your call.

3

Proper Repair

We fix it right—brazing, component replacement, vacuum, and proper recharge.

Learn More

Refrigerant repair isn't just soldering and hoping.If we're brazing: We flow nitrogen through the system during brazing to prevent oxidation inside the lines. We let joints cool properly. We leak-test the repair before moving on.After repair: Deep vacuum to remove moisture and air. At least 500 microns, held for 30 minutes. Anything less and you'll have problems.Then: Proper refrigerant charge by weight or superheat/subcooling, depending on your system. Not "until it feels cold."We document everything. What we found, what we fixed, how much refrigerant went in. You have a record.

4

Verification

We test the repair, run the system, and make sure it's actually fixed.

Learn More

We don't button it up and hope.After repair, we leak test the fix. Run the system, check pressures, verify it's holding. Watch for temperature drop at the registers to confirm it's cooling properly again.We also tell you what to watch for. If it was a coil leak and we repaired one spot, the coil may develop more leaks later. We're honest about that.If it comes back within a reasonable time, we stand behind the repair.

Find It First

Real leak detection, not just topping off and hoping.

Actually Fix It

Repair the leak, not just the symptoms. Stop paying for refrigerant every year.

Honest Assessment

If repair doesn't make sense, we'll tell you straight.

Proper Process

Vacuum, leak test, charge by spec. Done right.

How do I know if my AC has a refrigerant leak?

Common signs: AC blowing warm air, ice on the refrigerant lines or evaporator coil, hissing sounds near the unit, higher-than-normal electric bills, or the system running constantly without reaching set temperature.

Can I just add more refrigerant to my AC?

You can, but you're treating the symptom, not the problem. If someone keeps 'topping off' your refrigerant, you have a leak that's only getting worse. It's also expensive—refrigerant isn't cheap. Finding and fixing the leak is the right long-term solution.

Is AC refrigerant dangerous?

In normal operation, no. But direct exposure to leaking refrigerant in enclosed spaces can displace oxygen and cause dizziness or difficulty breathing. If you smell a chemical odor near your AC or hear hissing, ventilate the area and call us.

Why is my AC leaking refrigerant?

Vibration causes fittings to loosen over time. Corrosion eats through copper lines, especially in humid environments. Factory defects happen. Age plays a role—older systems are more prone to leaks. Sometimes it's just wear and tear.

How long does refrigerant leak repair take?

Leak detection can take 1-2 hours. Simple repairs might add another hour. If the leak is in the evaporator coil and requires coil replacement, that's a bigger job—potentially a half-day to full day.

We'll find it and fix it—for real this time.