AC Repair Services › Refrigerant Leak Detection and Recharge

Refrigerant Leak Detection and Recharge in Corpus Christi, TX

Refrigerant doesn't get used up over time — if the level is low, there's a leak somewhere in the system. Topping it off without finding the leak just means it'll be low again in a few months. We locate the leak, repair it, and then recharge the system to the correct spec for your unit.

Call (361) 600-9264

When to Call

When You Need Refrigerant Leak Detection and Recharge

The system blows air but it never gets cold enough to meet the thermostat setting
You can see ice forming on the copper lines or on the indoor coil
A tech told you the refrigerant was low but didn't mention finding a leak
The system runs in long cycles and the house slowly warms up on hot days
You had refrigerant added within the last year or two and it's already low again
You hear a faint hissing near the indoor or outdoor unit

How It Works

Our Process for Refrigerant Leak Detection and Recharge

1

Pressure test and low-charge confirmation

We connect gauges to check system pressures. If pressures confirm low refrigerant, we know there's a leak — refrigerant doesn't disappear on its own.
2

Leak detection

We use an electronic leak detector and UV dye to find where the refrigerant is escaping. Common locations are the evaporator coil, Schrader valves, and line set connections.
3

Leak repair

If the leak is at a fitting or valve, we repair or replace it on the same visit. Coil leaks are more involved and may require coil replacement depending on severity.
4

System evacuation

Before recharging, we evacuate the system to remove air and moisture that entered while the system was low. Skipping this step causes long-term damage.
5

Recharge to manufacturer spec

We charge the system to the correct refrigerant weight or pressure for your specific unit model. Overcharging causes as many problems as undercharging.
6

Performance verification

We run the system and verify supply air temperature and pressures are back to normal range before we call the job done.

What's included

Electronic and UV leak detection across accessible system components
Repair of minor leaks at fittings, valves, or accessible line connections
Full system evacuation before refrigerant recharge
Refrigerant recharge to manufacturer specification for your unit
Post-charge pressure and temperature verification

What's not included

Evaporator or condenser coil replacement if the coil itself is leaking — that's a separate job with its own cost
Line set replacement if the leak is in the copper tubing running through walls or ceilings
Repeated recharges without leak repair — we won't just keep adding refrigerant without fixing the source

Real Situations

Common Scenarios in Corpus Christi

A homeowner near the water in Portland has had refrigerant added three times in four years and wants to know why it keeps running low.

We use a UV dye test and an electronic detector to find where it's actually escaping. Salt air corrodes evaporator coils over time, and pinhole leaks are common on older coastal equipment. We tell them exactly where it is and what fixing it involves.

A family on the South Side notices ice forming on the lines going into the wall during a July heat wave.

Ice on the lines usually means low refrigerant or a badly restricted airflow. We check both. If it's a refrigerant issue, we find the leak, fix what we can on the spot, evacuate, and recharge. We don't just add refrigerant and leave.

A homeowner was told by a previous company that the system just needed more refrigerant and now it's low again six months later.

We start with a proper leak search instead of going straight to the gauges. In most cases like this, there's a slow leak at a fitting or coil that was never addressed. We find it, fix it, and document what we did.

Corpus Christi Context

Why this matters in Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi's salt air off the bay accelerates corrosion on evaporator coils, especially on systems that are more than ten years old. The high summer humidity also means systems run longer cycles and put more stress on the refrigerant circuit. Leak problems are more common here than in drier parts of Texas, and they tend to develop faster.

Straight Talk

About pricing & scope

Refrigerant cost varies based on the type your system uses and how much it needs. Older systems may use refrigerant types that cost more to source. If we find a coil leak, the repair cost changes significantly depending on whether we can patch it or need to replace the coil. We'll tell you before we go further.

What This Fixes