Book a service call now for a 5-star experience.If your AC is blowing warm air, running nonstop, or has ice forming on the lines, you may have a refrigerant leak. LA Heating and Air finds and fixes refrigerant leaks in Sherman Oaks. We use electronic leak detectors and other various pressure related tactics that we will discuss later to find the exact source. Our $99 service call is waived when you approve the repair.
Call (818) 660-1062 for available same-day service.
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Refrigerant is the liquid that makes your AC cold. It flows through your system in a closed loop. It should never run out or need topping off.
If your refrigerant is low, you have a leak somewhere. The leak will only get worse over time.
Here are the warning signs Sherman Oaks homeowners should watch for:
Sherman Oaks summers push AC systems hard. Temperatures often exceed 100 degrees in July and August. A system low on refrigerant cannot keep up with that heat. It will run and run without ever cooling your home properly.
Refrigerant leaks do not happen on their own. Something causes the leak. Finding and fixing the cause matters just as much as adding refrigerant.
Vibration damage - Your AC compressor vibrates when it runs. Over years of operation, this vibration can loosen fittings and weaken joints in the refrigerant lines.
Corrosion - The copper tubing that carries refrigerant can corrode over time.
Physical damage - Weed trimmers, falling branches, or animals can damage the refrigerant lines running to your outdoor unit. Even a small nick can become a leak.
Poor installation - If the original installer did not braze the joints correctly or overtightened fittings, leaks can develop years later.
Age - Older systems are more prone to leaks. Rubber seals dry out. Joints weaken. A system over 10 years old has a higher chance of developing leaks.
At LA Heating and Air, we use a step-by-step process to locate leaks accurately.
Visual inspection - we look for obvious signs like oil stains near fittings, corrosion on copper lines, and physical damage to components. Refrigerant oil travels with the refrigerant, so oil spots often mark the leak location.
Electronic leak detection - we use electronic detectors that sense refrigerant in the air. These tools can find leaks too small to see. We trace along every joint, fitting, and connection until we find the source.
Pressure testing - we can pressurize the system with nitrogen to check for leaks. Pressure drop over time confirms a leak exists, and we can isolate sections to narrow down the location.
Once we find the leak, we explain your options clearly. The right repair depends on where the leak is and how bad it is.
Braze repair - if the leak is at a joint or fitting, we can often braze it closed. Brazing uses high heat to seal the copper permanently. This is a common and absolutely the most cost-effective repair for accessible leaks (hopefully your leak is in an area that is accessible to braze).
Line replacement - if the leak is in a damaged section of copper tubing, we may need to replace that section. This is common when physical damage or severe corrosion is involved.
Coil replacement - If the leak is inside the evaporator coil or condenser coil, repair is often not practical. Coils have many small tubes and joints. Replacing the entire coil is the better option for a lasting solution.
System replacement - If your system is old, uses R-22 refrigerant, or has multiple leaks, replacing the entire system may make more financial sense than repeated repairs. We always explain the cost of each option. We tell you what we would do if it were our own home. Then you decide.
Refrigerant leak repair is not a quick fix. It is a multi-step process that takes time, skill, and expensive materials. Here is what goes into a proper leak repair and why the cost adds up.
1. We have to recover all the refrigerant from your system. Federal law requires this. We cannot just release refrigerant into the air. We use a recovery machine to pull it out and store it safely. This step alone takes 30 minutes to an hour.
2. We pressurize the system with nitrogen gas. This helps us find the leak. We use electronic leak detectors to trace every line, joint, and connection. Some leaks are obvious. Others are tiny pinholes that take real detective work to locate. Finding a hidden leak can take an hour or more.
3. Once we find the leak, we make the repair. Most repairs require brazing, which uses a high-temperature torch to seal copper tubing. This is skilled work. A bad braze job will just leak again.
4. After the repair, we have to pull a vacuum on the system. We use a vacuum pump to remove all air and moisture from the lines. We pull the system down to 500 microns or lower. This is critical. Any moisture left inside will damage your compressor and cause problems later.
5. We add refrigerant back to the exact correct charge. Too little and your system will not cool. Too much and you risk compressor damage. R-410A refrigerant costs $50 to $80 per pound. Most systems need 6 to 12 pounds.
6. We test everything. We check pressures, temperatures, and airflow. We make sure the system is cooling properly before we leave.
Add it all up and you have three to five hours of skilled labor, expensive refrigerant, nitrogen, and specialized equipment. That is why a proper refrigerant leak repair costs $2,000 to $3,000. Shortcuts cost less, but they do not last.