Finding a Refrigerant Leak Before It Costs a Compressor

By Commercial Service Company · October 3, 2026

Why Refrigerant Leaks Don't Announce Themselves

Refrigerant doesn't wear out. If a walk-in cooler, reach-in, ice machine, or rooftop unit is low on charge, refrigerant got out somewhere — through a bad braze joint, a worn valve seal, a rubbed-through line, or corrosion in a coil. The leak is usually small and slow, which is exactly why it gets missed. Equipment keeps running, just not as well, until the compressor finally gives out.

Symptoms That Point to a Leak

None of these alone proves a leak, but a pattern of them is a reason to get equipment checked before it fails or spoils product:

• Cases or walk-ins running warmer than the setpoint, even though the compressor cycles normally
• Longer run times — the unit seems to never shut off, trying to keep up
• Ice buildup on the evaporator coil or suction line
• Oily residue around fittings, valves, or braze joints (refrigerant oil leaves a film behind)
• Hissing or bubbling sounds near line sets or the compressor compartment
• Higher than usual electric bills for refrigeration-heavy equipment
• Food safety temperature logs trending up without an obvious cause

How a Technician Actually Finds a Leak

Finding a refrigerant leak takes training, gauges, and specialized equipment, not guesswork. A licensed technician will typically use a combination of methods depending on the system and where the leak is suspected:

• Electronic leak detectors that sniff for refrigerant molecules along line sets, fittings, and coils
• UV dye injected into the system on a prior service call, then checked with a UV light
• Soap bubble solution on suspect joints and valves
• Pressure and standing tests to isolate sections of the line set
• Visual inspection of coils, braze joints, and factory seams for oil residue or corrosion

These methods narrow the leak down to a specific point so it can be repaired, not just patched with more refrigerant. This diagnostic work, along with any refrigerant handling, should always be done by a licensed technician — refrigerant work is regulated for a reason, and doing it wrong can damage the compressor or create a safety hazard.

Why Topping Off Refrigerant Is Not a Repair

Adding refrigerant to a low system brings the pressure back up and the equipment runs better — for a while. But the leak is still there. The system will drop low again, sometimes in weeks, sometimes in months, and it will need refrigerant again. Each cycle of running low puts extra strain on the compressor, which is the most expensive single part in most refrigeration and AC equipment. Compressors are designed to pump refrigerant and oil together; when the charge is low, the compressor runs hotter and gets less lubrication, which shortens its life. Topping off without finding and fixing the leak means paying for the same gas twice while the real cost — a shortened compressor life — keeps building in the background.

The EPA Rules Behind This

This isn't just a maintenance best practice — it's federal law. Under EPA regulations (Section 608 of the Clean Air Act), owners of commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment are required to have leaks repaired when the annual leak rate exceeds the threshold set for that equipment type, and repairs have to happen within a set timeframe once a leak is found. Technicians who handle refrigerant must be EPA-certified, and refrigerant cannot legally be vented to the atmosphere. Beyond the legal requirement, these rules exist because refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases, and keeping them in the system is good for the equipment and the environment. A licensed technician will know the specific requirements for your equipment and refrigerant type and can keep your service records in order if you're ever asked to show compliance.

Don't Wait for the Compressor to Tell You

By the time a compressor fails from running low on refrigerant for too long, you're looking at a much bigger repair than a leak check would have been — plus the lost product and downtime while a walk-in or case is out of service. If your equipment is running warm, cycling longer than it used to, or you've noticed any of the signs above, get it checked before it gets worse.

Commercial Service Company has been serving restaurants, grocery stores, and facilities across Conway, Little Rock, Benton, Bryant, Maumelle, Jacksonville, Searcy, Russellville, and the rest of central Arkansas since 1976. Call us at 501-548-2374 to get a technician out to find the leak and fix it right.