AC Repair Services › Refrigerant Leak Detection and Repair

Refrigerant Leak Detection and Repair in Pensacola, FL

A refrigerant leak isn't something you fix by adding refrigerant. The leak keeps draining the charge and the problem comes back. We locate the leak first, repair it, and then recharge the system — in that order. Skipping the leak repair just delays the next service call.

Call (850) 972-0626

When to Call

When You Need Refrigerant Leak Detection and Repair

Your system cools well for a few weeks then gradually loses cooling capacity
A tech has added refrigerant to your system more than once
You notice ice on the copper lines or on the outdoor unit itself
The system runs constantly but can't pull the temperature down
You can see corrosion or pitting on the copper lines near the coil
Your system is losing charge faster than it should given its age

How It Works

Our Process for Refrigerant Leak Detection and Repair

1

Pressure and Superheat Check

We pull refrigerant readings to confirm the system is actually low and to get a baseline before we start leak hunting.
2

Electronic Leak Detection

We use an electronic detector to check the evaporator coil, line set connections, and Schrader valves. Salt air corrosion shows up most often at the evaporator coil tubing.
3

UV Dye Check

If the electronic detector doesn't give us a clean location, we inject UV dye and run the system to help trace where refrigerant is escaping.
4

Leak Repair

Small leaks at fittings or access valves can often be repaired directly. Coil leaks may require coil replacement depending on severity and location.
5

Pressure Test

After the repair, we pressure test the system before adding any refrigerant. This confirms the fix held before we charge it.
6

Recharge and Verify

We recharge to the manufacturer's specified weight or pressure and verify the system is cooling correctly before closing out the job.

What's included

Electronic leak detection across coil, line set, and fittings
UV dye injection if electronic detection doesn't locate the leak
Repair of the identified leak point before recharge
Pressure test of the repaired section to confirm integrity
Refrigerant recharge to specification after repair is confirmed

What's not included

Evaporator coil replacement if the leak is in a coil beyond repair — quoted separately
Line set replacement if the tubing has widespread corrosion damage
Refrigerant added to a system without locating and fixing the leak first

Real Situations

Common Scenarios in Pensacola

A homeowner near Bayou Texar has had refrigerant added twice in two summers and the system is already losing cooling again.

We run leak detection and find a pinhole leak in the evaporator coil — a common result of formicary corrosion from the salt and humidity near the water. We explain the options: coil replacement or system replacement depending on the unit's age and overall condition.

A house in Gulf Breeze just across the Pensacola Bay Bridge has a system that's only four years old but is already showing low refrigerant symptoms.

Salt air off the bay can accelerate coil corrosion significantly, even on newer equipment. We locate the leak point, assess whether it's a fitting or coil issue, and repair accordingly. We also check whether the system was installed with any corrosion protection on the coil.

A homeowner off Cervantes Street calls because their system isn't cooling and a neighbor told them it just needed a refrigerant top-off.

We check the charge and confirm it's low, but we don't add refrigerant until we know where it went. We run leak detection, find a leaking Schrader valve, and replace it before recharging. The neighbor's advice would have worked for two months.

Pensacola Context

Why this matters in Pensacola

Pensacola's proximity to Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay, and the Gulf puts homes in persistent salt air exposure. That salt accelerates formicary corrosion in copper coil tubing — a specific type of pitting that causes small leaks that develop slowly over one to three years. Homes within a mile or two of open water tend to see this faster than inland properties.

Straight Talk

About pricing & scope

Leak detection isn't always a single visit. Small leaks can be slow and hard to pinpoint without dye and run time. If the coil is the source, that changes the scope significantly — coil replacement is a different job than fixing a fitting. We'll tell you what we found and what each path costs before you decide anything.

What This Fixes