Important: Refrigerant work is EPA regulated. ProAir Georgetown technicians hold current EPA Section 608 Universal certification. We recover, recycle, and recharge refrigerant according to federal regulations and never vent refrigerants to atmosphere.
Refrigerant Leak Detection & Testing
Professional leak detection using electronic sniffers and UV dye. Find leaks before recharging, or recharge just moves the problem.
High-sensitivity electronic leak detectors locate small leaks in coils, line sets, and fittings that visual inspection misses.
UV dye injection and black light inspection, effective for finding intermittent or slow leaks that evade electronic detection.
Pressure test refrigerant circuits with dry nitrogen to verify leak-free condition before charging new refrigerant.
Refrigerant Service & Recovery
Proper refrigerant recharge, measured by subcooling and superheat, not just pressure gauges. We charge to manufacturer spec.
EPA-compliant refrigerant recovery before any system work requiring circuit opening.
Deep vacuum pull to remove moisture and non-condensables before refrigerant charge, critical for system longevity.
Extended deep vacuum to achieve proper micron levels, we don't rush this step that protects compressor life.
Convert systems from discontinued refrigerants to approved drop-in or replacement refrigerants.
Line Set Service & Repair
Flush contaminated line sets during compressor replacement to prevent new compressor failure from acid or debris.
Professional braze repair of pinhole leaks and joint failures in copper refrigerant lines.
Repair damaged liquid line sections including crimps, kinks, and corrosion failures.
Replace deteriorated suction line insulation, critical for efficiency and preventing condensation in Georgetown's humid summers.
Seal wall and foundation penetrations around line sets to prevent pest entry and air infiltration.
Install locking valve caps to prevent refrigerant theft and unauthorized access to Schrader valves.
Cooling Circuit Components
Replace leaking Schrader valve cores, a small but common source of refrigerant loss over time.
Install or replace liquid line filter driers, required after any system opening to remove moisture and acid.
Replace leaking or damaged service valves on compressors and line set connections.
Replace failed accumulators that protect compressors from liquid refrigerant slugging.
Replace failed thermostatic expansion valves, a hunting or stuck TXV causes refrigerant distribution problems and efficiency loss.
Repair or replace discharge line mufflers that reduce compressor noise and vibration.
Evaporator & Condenser Coil Service
Clean, inspect, and service evaporator coils, dirty coils are a leading cause of reduced cooling capacity in Georgetown homes.
Replace failed or leaking evaporator coils, including proper refrigerant recovery, installation, and recharge.
Straighten bent evaporator fins to restore full airflow through the coil and recover lost capacity.
Clean condenser coils fouled by Georgetown's cottonwood, dust, and debris, critical for summer efficiency.
Repair pinhole leaks and minor damage in condenser coils when full replacement isn't required.
Deep acid wash for severely fouled condenser coils, removes mineral scale, oxidation, and embedded debris.
Address the root cause of a frozen evaporator coil, low refrigerant or restricted airflow. We fix the cause, not just defrost.
Diagnose and repair the refrigerant or airflow condition causing ice formation on copper suction lines.
How Electronic Detectors Find Small Leaks
Electronic refrigerant leak detectors work by sensing refrigerant gas molecules in the air immediately around a suspected leak point, using sensor technology, most commonly heated diode or infrared sensors in professional-grade equipment, sensitive enough to detect leak rates as small as a fraction of an ounce per year. That level of sensitivity matters because many real-world refrigerant leaks are slow, a worn Schrader valve, a pinhole from formicary corrosion, or a marginal flare fitting can leak refrigerant gradually over an entire season without producing any visible oil residue or audible hiss, the traditional signs homeowners look for.
Effective electronic leak detection is as much technique as equipment. We move the sensor probe slowly, generally an inch or two per second, along every fitting, joint, valve stem, and coil section in the accessible refrigerant circuit, since moving too quickly lets small leaks pass undetected between passes. We work from the bottom up at each component, since refrigerant is heavier than air and tends to pool near the leak source before dispersing, and outdoor wind or indoor airflow from the system's own blower can carry the gas away from the sensor if we're not working close and methodically. False positives are also a real consideration, ambient refrigerant lingering in a small attic space from a recent repair, or residue from earlier work, can trigger a detector even without an active leak, so we ventilate the area and retest to confirm before pinpointing a repair location.
Attic access is a significant factor in Georgetown, where many homes use single-story ranch layouts with air handlers and line sets routed through attic space that's difficult to move through and often extremely hot during the exact months when refrigerant leaks are most likely to be noticed. We plan our approach to prioritize the most likely leak locations first, brazed joints, service valve stems, and coil connections, based on system age and history, rather than attempting to inspect every inch of line blind. Once a leak is located and confirmed, we mark the exact spot, verify it's the only leak present before assuming the job is done, and then move to repair, whether that's a valve core swap, a braze repair, or a coil-level fix depending on where the leak turned out to be.
Electronic Leak Detection Questions, Georgetown TX
AC Not Cooling? Low Refrigerant?
EPA certified technicians. We find leaks, fix them, then recharge, in that order.