AC Repair Services › Refrigerant Leak Detection and Recharge

Refrigerant Leak Detection and Recharge in Spokane, WA

Refrigerant is the substance that actually moves heat out of your home. When it leaks out, the system runs but can't cool. Finding and fixing the leak first is the only repair that makes sense — adding refrigerant without sealing the leak just delays the same problem.

Call (509) 472-2017

When to Call

When You Need Refrigerant Leak Detection and Recharge

Your AC runs all day but the house temperature keeps climbing in the afternoon
The system was recharged before and stopped cooling again within a season or two
You can see ice forming on the refrigerant lines coming out of the air handler
The air coming from your vents is only slightly cooler than room temperature
Your last technician said the system was low on refrigerant but didn't find a leak
You hear a faint hissing near the indoor or outdoor unit when the system runs

How It Works

Our Process for Refrigerant Leak Detection and Recharge

1

Pressure Assessment

We connect gauges to the service ports and check system pressures. Below-normal readings confirm refrigerant loss. This tells us how significant the leak is before we start searching.
2

Leak Search

We use an electronic leak detector and UV dye to locate the leak. Common sites are the evaporator coil, Schrader valves, and brazed joints in the line set. This step takes time and can't be skipped.
3

Leak Location Report

We show you exactly where the leak is. If it's inside the air handler on the evaporator coil, we explain what accessing it involves. Some repairs are straightforward — others require more work.
4

Repair Quote

The repair cost depends on where the leak is and how it's fixed. A Schrader valve replacement is simple. A leaking evaporator coil may need coil replacement. We quote it honestly before proceeding.
5

Leak Repair

We fix the leak at the source using the appropriate method — valve replacement, brazing, or coil replacement. We don't use stop-leak additives as a primary fix.
6

Recharge and Verification

After the repair is confirmed, we recharge to the manufacturer's specified pressure. We run the system and verify suction line temperature to confirm proper operation before leaving.

What's included

Electronic leak detection across the full refrigerant circuit
UV dye application and inspection where needed to confirm leak location
Written quote for the specific repair before any work proceeds
Leak repair using the method appropriate to the location and type
Refrigerant recharge to manufacturer specification after leak is sealed
Post-recharge system performance verification before job closeout

What's not included

Evaporator coil replacement if that's where the leak is — quoted as a separate job
Line set replacement for leaks in buried or inaccessible refrigerant lines
Any ductwork or electrical work unrelated to the refrigerant system

Real Situations

Common Scenarios in Spokane

A homeowner in Spokane Valley had their system recharged two summers ago and it's stopped cooling again in July.

Repeated loss of charge almost always means an unrepaired leak. We start at the evaporator coil and Schrader valves, which are the most common failure points on mid-2000s equipment. We find the leak, quote the fix, and don't add refrigerant until the source is sealed.

A family in the Shadle Park area noticed ice building up on the copper pipe going into their furnace cabinet during a hot spell.

Ice on the suction line usually means low refrigerant or restricted airflow. We check the filter and airflow first, then pressure-test the system. If refrigerant is low, we search for the leak before recommending a recharge.

An older home near downtown Spokane has a system that cools fine early in the day but loses cooling capacity as temperatures climb past 90.

This is a classic pattern of a system running low on charge. It can keep up with mild demand but not peak load. We test pressures during the warmer part of the day when possible to get accurate readings, then locate the leak.

Spokane Context

Why this matters in Spokane

Spokane's summer temperature swings put real stress on refrigerant circuits. Systems that are 10 to 20 years old — common in Spokane's established neighborhoods and post-war housing stock — are past the age where coil corrosion and fitting failures become more common. Formicary corrosion in copper evaporator coils is also more likely in areas where the air has trace levels of certain volatile compounds, which can come from household products and building materials in older homes.

Straight Talk

About pricing & scope

The cost of this service varies based on where the leak is and how hard it is to access. A leaking coil that requires the system to be evacuated and the coil replaced costs more than a simple valve fix. We won't know the full scope until we locate the leak. We tell you what we find before you commit to anything.

What This Fixes