Leak detection and recharge
Refrigerant Leak Repair in Chandler, AZ
The AC runs and runs, the air is barely cool, or a technician says it's low on refrigerant again. Call and you are connected with an independent AC contractor that serves Chandler.
- No obligation to hire
- Independent local HVAC contractors
- For homeowners in Chandler and nearby
AC out or blowing warm air? Speak to a local AC contractor now.
You are connected with an independent heating and cooling contractor that serves your area.
Call (928) 543-0990Tap to call from your phone. Calls may be recorded. See our referral disclosure and privacy policy.
Refrigerant doesn't get used up
An air conditioner's refrigerant circulates in a sealed loop. If it is low, it has leaked out somewhere: a corroded coil, a cracked joint, a worn valve core or a rubbed-through line. Adding refrigerant without finding the leak buys a few weeks or months, and the bill comes back.
Leak repair is detective work. Technicians use electronic detectors, bubble solution, dye or a pressure test to find the leak, then decide whether to repair it, replace the part or, on an older system, talk about replacement. Systems that still use R-22 are the hardest case, because that refrigerant is no longer produced and is costly to buy.
Before you call
What to check first
- Note the symptoms: longer run times, warm air, ice on the lines or a hissing sound near the units.
- If there is ice, turn the system off and run the fan only so it thaws before the visit.
- Find old invoices. Repeated recharges are a strong sign of a leak that was never fixed.
- Check the data plate on the outdoor unit for the refrigerant type (R-22, R-410A or a newer one).
- Don't add refrigerant yourself. Handling refrigerant requires EPA certification.
What leak repair involves
What a heating and cooling contractor should do, so you know what to expect and what to ask.
Pressure and temperature readings
Confirms the system is actually low on refrigerant rather than starved of air or failing elsewhere.
Leak search
Electronic detectors, bubble solution, UV dye or nitrogen pressure tests to find where it escapes.
Coil repair or replacement
Evaporator and condenser coils are common leak points. Small leaks can sometimes be repaired; corroded coils are usually replaced.
Evacuate and recharge
After the repair the system is pulled into a vacuum to remove moisture, then charged by weight to the maker's spec.
Refrigerant type
The repair plan depends on whether the system runs on R-22, R-410A or a newer refrigerant.
Repair or replace
On an older system, the technician should tell you when the leak repair costs more than the system is worth.
How it works
From your call to a working system
We don't run our own crews. When you call, we connect you with an independent local heating and cooling contractor that serves your area. They diagnose the system, give you the price and do the work.
Call
Describe what the system is doing. We connect you with an independent AC contractor that serves your address.
Testing
Readings confirm low refrigerant, and the technician explains how they'll look for the leak and what it costs.
Repair
The leak is fixed or the part replaced, then the system is evacuated and recharged.
Check
The system is run and measured to confirm it is cooling as it should.
Costs
Refrigerant Leak Repair: typical planning ranges
| Job | Typical planning range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Leak search | $200 – $600 | Method used, access to the coils and lines |
| Recharge after repair | $200 – $900 | Refrigerant type and amount; R-22 costs most |
| Evaporator coil replacement | $1,500 – $3,500 | Coil size, access, refrigerant |
Typical planning ranges for common jobs, not quotes, local averages or price guarantees. The contractor prices your job after looking at the system; equipment size, brand, refrigerant type and access all change the figure.
Questions
Refrigerant Leak Repair: common questions
Can't they just add more refrigerant?
They can, and it will cool for a while, but the leak continues. Repeated top-ups cost more over time than finding the leak, and running low on refrigerant can damage the compressor.
My system uses R-22. Is it worth repairing?
It depends on the age, the leak and the price of R-22, which is no longer produced. For many older R-22 systems a significant leak is the point where replacement makes more sense.
Is refrigerant dangerous?
In normal use it stays sealed in the system. Leaks are mainly a cost and an environmental problem. Leave handling to a certified technician.
Related
Other heating and cooling help
Emergency AC Repair
AC dead, blowing warm or tripping the breaker in the middle of summer. Get a contractor looking at it.
AC Installation & Replacement
When repairs stop making sense: sizing, choosing and installing a new system.
Heat Pump Repair
One system, two jobs. When it won't switch modes, won't heat or won't cool.
Also serving nearby communities
Besides Chandler itself, calls are taken from these nearby communities.
AC not keeping up?
Talk to an AC contractor today
Call and you are connected to an independent AC contractor who serves Chandler, Gilbert, Sun Lakes, Queen Creek and Ahwatukee.
AC out or blowing warm air? Speak to a local AC contractor now.
You are connected with an independent heating and cooling contractor that serves your area.
Call (928) 543-0990Tap to call from your phone. Calls may be recorded. See our referral disclosure and privacy policy.