An air conditioner is a sealed system. It does not consume refrigerant, so if the charge is low, refrigerant is escaping somewhere. Repeatedly adding refrigerant to a leaking system is a habit some contractors fall into, but it wastes your money every season, damages the compressor over time, and releases refrigerant that regulations are specifically designed to prevent. Werth-Aire’s EPA Section 608–certified technicians find the leak and repair it.
Leaks hide in a lot of places: the evaporator coil, the condenser coil, the copper line set, brazed joints, service valves, and Schrader cores. We use proper leak-detection methods — electronic detectors, and where appropriate nitrogen pressure testing and dye — to locate the source rather than guessing. Then we explain the repair-versus-replace picture honestly, because on an older system a major coil leak can tip the decision toward replacement.
Once the leak is repaired, we evacuate the system properly and weigh in the correct charge to manufacturer specification — not by feel — so the AC cools efficiently and the repair lasts.
Need refrigerant leak detection in Pittsburgh?
Same-day appointments · honest flat-rate pricing
Signs of a refrigerant leak
- The AC runs constantly but never quite cools
- Ice forming on the refrigerant lines or indoor coil
- Warm air from the vents on the hottest days
- A hissing or bubbling sound near the lines or coil
- Cooling that gets weaker each summer
- You have had refrigerant added before and it is low again
What our refrigerant leak detection covers
Proper detection
Electronic leak detection, nitrogen pressure testing, and dye to find the real source.
EPA-certified handling
Section 608–certified technicians who recover and handle refrigerant to regulation.
Coil & line-set repair
Repair of leaks at coils, joints, valves, and the copper line set.
Correct recharge
System evacuated and charge weighed in to manufacturer spec — not guessed.
Our process
Confirm the charge
We verify the system is actually low and rule out airflow or other causes before chasing a leak.
Locate the leak
Using electronic detection and, where appropriate, nitrogen pressure testing or dye, we find the actual source.
Repair or advise replace
We repair the leak, or — on an aging system with a major coil leak — give you an honest replacement evaluation.
Evacuate & weigh-in charge
We evacuate the system and weigh in the correct charge to spec so cooling and efficiency are restored.
An AC is a sealed system — so where does it go?
An air conditioner does not consume refrigerant, so if the charge is low, it is escaping somewhere, and the job is finding where. Leaks rarely announce themselves; they weep slowly from spots that take experience and the right tools to pinpoint. We confirm the system is actually low, then locate the source with electronic detection and, where appropriate, nitrogen pressure testing or dye — rather than guessing. Once found, we repair it, evacuate the system, and weigh in the correct charge to specification. Repeatedly adding refrigerant to a leaking system, by contrast, wastes money every summer and runs the compressor hot and undercharged the whole time.
What affects the cost
Leak detection and repair are quoted after we confirm the problem. Cost drivers include:
- Where the leak is — an accessible joint versus a coil deep in the system
- The refrigerant type and the amount required to recharge
- Whether a coil or component must be replaced
- The age of the system and whether replacement is the better value
We treat low refrigerant as a leak to fix, not a summer top-off. On older systems, we give you an honest repair-versus-replace comparison before you spend on a major coil repair.
| Location | Why it leaks | Detection method |
|---|---|---|
| Evaporator coil | Formicary corrosion | Electronic + dye |
| Condenser coil | Weather / impact damage | Visual + electronic |
| Brazed joints | Vibration fatigue | Bubble / electronic |
| Valves & Schrader cores | Seal wear | Electronic sniff |
| Line set in walls | Age and abrasion | Nitrogen pressure test |
Repair or replace? Use the evidence
Once we have found the leak, the honest next question is whether repairing it is worth it or whether the money belongs in a new system. That turns mostly on where the leak is, how old the AC is, and which refrigerant it uses. We lay out both paths with real numbers before you commit to a major coil repair.
When repair makes sense
- The leak is at an accessible joint, valve, or line — not buried inside a coil
- The system is newer and uses current refrigerant (R-410A or a newer low-GWP blend)
- The compressor is healthy and the rest of the system tests sound
- The repair-plus-recharge cost is a fraction of a replacement
When replacement deserves a look
- The leak is in the evaporator or condenser coil on an aging system
- The AC uses phased-out R-22, which is costly to recharge
- The system is 12+ years old and other components are near end of life
- You have already paid for repeated recharges on the same unit
If replacement is the smarter spend, compare a high-efficiency AC installation line by line — sizing, permits, warranty, and startup testing — before you decide.
Why choose Werth-Aire for refrigerant leak detection
We do not sell you a summer top-off. Our EPA-certified techs find the leak, weigh in the correct charge to spec, and give you an honest repair-versus-replace read before you spend on an aging coil.
Serving Pittsburgh since 2015
11+ years keeping North Hills and Allegheny County homes comfortable through hard winters and humid summers.
4.9★ across 51 reviews
Local homeowners rate us for straight answers, clean work, and pricing with no surprises.
Licensed, insured & EPA-certified
EPA Section 608 technicians installing to ACCA Manual J/S/D standards, with the proper Pittsburgh permits pulled on every install.
Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 response
A written quote before we start, the diagnostic fee explained up front, and around-the-clock help when it can’t wait.
Refrigerant Leak Detection across Pittsburgh & the North Hills
From our base on the Perry Highway corridor, we bring refrigerant leak detection to homes across Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania. That includes Ross Township, McCandless, West View, Bellevue, Avalon, and Shaler Township, plus the South Hills, the river boroughs, and the wider metro. See every community on our HVAC service areas page, or call (831) 461-3437 to confirm we cover your street.
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Related reading
- Signs Your AC Has a Refrigerant Leak — An AC that needs refrigerant every summer has a leak. Here are the signs, why "just add more" is the wrong fix, and how proper leak detection works.
- AC Blowing Warm Air During a Heat Wave: Quick Fixes — Warm air from the vents on the hottest day of the year is maddening. Here is what to check safely — and when it is time to call for a repair.