By Commercial Service Company · August 25, 2026
Refrigerant does not get used up. It circulates in a sealed, closed loop, and in a system that is working correctly the same charge stays in that loop for years. So when a walk-in starts running warm or a reach-in ices over, "it's low on refrigerant" is not a diagnosis. It means the refrigerant went somewhere, and it went somewhere through a hole.
We have been servicing commercial refrigeration around Conway and central Arkansas since 1976, and leaks are one of the most common calls we get, especially in July and August when equipment is already fighting the heat. Here is what a leak looks like from the operator's side of the counter, and what has to happen next.
Ice in places ice does not belong
A low charge drops pressure in the evaporator, which drops the coil temperature below freezing. Moisture in the air freezes on the coil instead of draining. What you see:
- A solid frost or ice slab on the evaporator coil inside a walk-in or reach-in
- Frost creeping along the suction line or forming on the compressor itself
- An ice machine making thin, cloudy, or partial cubes, or cycling oddly
- Ice coming back within a day or two after someone defrosts it
Ice buildup also insulates the coil, so the box gets warmer while the ice gets thicker. That is usually the point where product starts to go.
The box will not hold temperature
Warm product with a unit that is clearly running is the classic tell. Watch for a cooler that used to hold 36°F and now sits at 42°F, a freezer with soft ice cream, a prep table that recovers slowly after the lunch rush, or a beverage system pouring warm and foamy. Log your temperatures daily. A written record is the difference between "it feels warm" and "it has drifted a few degrees a week for a month," and it tells a technician a great deal before he ever opens a panel.
Hissing, bubbling, or gurgling
Refrigerant escaping through a small opening can make a steady hiss. A larger leak can produce gurgling or bubbling as the remaining charge boils off unevenly through the metering device. In a busy kitchen you may only hear it during a slow hour or after close. Any new sound out of a condensing unit or line set is worth a service call.
Oily residue on lines, fittings, or the floor
Compressor oil circulates with the refrigerant, so where refrigerant escapes, oil usually escapes with it and leaves a dark, greasy film that collects dust. Check brazed joints, flare fittings, service valves, the condenser coil, and the floor or pad under the condensing unit. A dirty, oily smear at a joint is one of the more reliable visual signs of a leak.
Constant running and a climbing power bill
An undercharged system never satisfies its thermostat, so it runs and runs. You may notice the compressor almost never cycles off, electric bills rising with no change in business, or a unit tripping on overload in the afternoon heat. Long run times are hard on equipment. A leak that costs a service call today can cost a compressor next month.
Why topping off does not fix anything
Adding refrigerant to a leaking system buys you a few weeks and creates four problems:
- The leak is still there, and leaks generally get worse, not better.
- You pay for refrigerant over and over. Several common refrigerants are being phased down and have become harder to source, so a recharge is not the routine line item it once was.
- Oil leaves with the refrigerant. A chronically low charge starves the compressor of both cooling and lubrication, which is how a small repair turns into a compressor replacement.
- Moisture and air can be drawn in through the same opening on the low side, leading to acid formation and internal corrosion.
The correct sequence is to locate the leak, repair it, pressure test the repair, evacuate the system, and then weigh in a proper charge. Anything short of that is renting time.
This is EPA-certified work, not a DIY job
Federal law requires EPA Section 608 certification to purchase and handle refrigerants and to service these systems, and intentionally venting refrigerant is illegal. Larger commercial systems also carry leak repair, verification, and recordkeeping obligations that land on you as the owner. Beyond the regulations, this work involves high pressures, brazing, and live electrical, and refrigerant can cause frostbite and displace oxygen in a small room. Do not add refrigerant yourself, do not braze on a charged system, and do not let an uncertified handyman near it. Have a licensed, EPA-certified technician diagnose and repair it.
What you can safely do while you wait
- Move product to a working box or get it on ice.
- Write down temperatures, times, and anything you saw, heard, or smelled.
- Keep condenser coils clean and door gaskets sealing. That is routine maintenance, not a repair.
- Shut down a unit that is short cycling or tripping breakers and call for service instead of resetting it repeatedly.
If you are seeing ice, warm product, or oil where it should not be, call Commercial Service Company at 501-548-2374. We service restaurants, grocers, convenience stores, and facilities in Conway, Little Rock, Benton, Bryant, Maumelle, Jacksonville, Searcy, Russellville, and across central Arkansas, and we would rather find the leak now than replace your compressor later.