Refrigerant Leak Detection — Bay Area
Losing refrigerant is not normal — it means there is a leak. Topping off without finding and fixing the leak is a short-term fix that costs you money every season. AD Mechanical uses electronic leak detectors and nitrogen pressure testing to locate the exact leak point before recommending any repair or recharge.
How We Detect Refrigerant Leaks
- Electronic leak detector sweep — coils, service valves, braze joints, flare fittings
- UV dye injection and UV light inspection
- Nitrogen pressure test to confirm leak location on sealed system
- Measure subcooling and superheat to quantify refrigerant loss
- Document leak location with photos and written report
Where Leaks Commonly Occur
- Evaporator coil — especially older copper and aluminum coils from corrosion (formicary corrosion)
- Service valve Schrader cores — slow loss from worn cores
- Flare fittings at line set connections
- Braze joints on filter drier, reversing valve, or TXV
- Condenser coil damage from debris or hail
Repair vs. Recharge — Honest Options
We always present both options. A minor flare leak on a young system is worth repairing. Evaporator coil replacement on a 14-year-old R-22 system is often not — the refrigerant alone is expensive and the system is near end of life.
Note: R-22 refrigerant is no longer manufactured in the US and is very expensive. If your system still uses R-22, replacement with a modern R-410A or R-32 system is almost always the better financial decision when a leak is found.
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