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.
Why Recovery Comes Before Any Repair
Refrigerant recovery is the process of removing refrigerant from a system into a certified recovery cylinder before any work that requires opening the circuit, whether that's a coil replacement, compressor swap, line repair, or brazing work of any kind. It's a legal requirement under EPA Section 608 regulations, which prohibit knowingly venting refrigerant to the atmosphere, and it's also simply good practice, since refrigerant recovered cleanly can sometimes be reused after being checked for contamination, saving cost compared to a full new charge, while venting wastes it entirely and releases a substance with significant global warming potential directly into the air.
We use certified recovery equipment matched to the refrigerant type involved, since R-410A, R-22, and newer lower-GWP refrigerants like R-454B behave differently under recovery conditions and require appropriately rated equipment and recovery cylinders. Recovery speed depends on refrigerant state: liquid recovery from the liquid line is generally faster than vapor recovery from the suction side, so we often use a combination approach, pulling liquid refrigerant first before switching to vapor recovery for whatever remains in the system afterward. We weigh the recovered refrigerant and document the amount, both for our own records and because EPA regulations require tracking refrigerant recovered and its disposition.
Older R-22 systems still in service around Georgetown, a meaningful number of them given how many homes here were built before the 2010 R-22 phase-down began affecting new equipment, require particular care during recovery, since R-22 supply has become increasingly limited and expensive as production has wound down under the phase-out schedule. Recovering R-22 cleanly, without contamination from moisture or oil breakdown, matters more now than it once did if there's any chance the refrigerant can be reused rather than needing replacement with newly reclaimed or virgin supply at today's elevated prices. We check refrigerant condition during recovery and advise homeowners honestly when a system's refrigerant is contaminated enough that reuse isn't realistic, since that affects the overall cost comparison between repairing an aging R-22 system and considering a full replacement to a current refrigerant.
Refrigerant Recovery Questions, Georgetown TX
AC Not Cooling? Low Refrigerant?
EPA certified technicians. We find leaks, fix them, then recharge, in that order.