"Ask Adam" Adam has been in the HVAC industry for over 40 years. He has been involved in all aspects of the business from service to sales. His main interest is in customer comfort. Is Your A/C System Losing Refrigerant? In a perfect world your A/C system should not lose any refrigerant. Unfortunately, leaks do occur and sometimes they are almost im- possible to find. The problem could be in the evaporator coil, the line set or the condenser. Typically leaks are found around brazing joints, fittings or service valves. Refrigerants are in an oil base so any oily areas are in- dicative of a leak. Those are the easy ones to fix. The difficult ones are usually in the evaporator coil or condenser. A common problem with older systems is when dogs urinate on the condenser fins. The urine is highly corrosive and will erode the aluminum fins and tubing which will cause refrigerant leaks. Adam Kern, Owner Official Heating & Cooling The methods for finding leaks are: Visual - Look for oily residue. Audible - Listen for a hissing sound. Soap Bubbles - Shows if a leak is present. Electronic Instruments that emit an audible sound when detecting refrigerant. ODye - coloring agent injected into system then use a UV light to see signs of the dye on the problem area. Pressure Check-Use nitrogen to pressure check the condenser and then the evaporator coil, this usually finds the problem. If you have any HVAC questions, call 800-350-HVAC (4822) or email adam@officialhvac.com Bella says: Because we can't always see what lies up ahead... HVAC Service plans starting at under $8 per month! FACTORY AUTHOROD DEALER Carrier Serving you is what we do best! OFFICIAL Heating & Cooling 800-350-HVAC (4822) officialhvac.com BBB NATE ZSALEK PROD 5 Time Honoree " Ask Adam " Adam has been in the HVAC industry for over 40 years . He has been involved in all aspects of the business from service to sales . His main interest is in customer comfort . Is Your A / C System Losing Refrigerant ? In a perfect world your A / C system should not lose any refrigerant . Unfortunately , leaks do occur and sometimes they are almost im possible to find . The problem could be in the evaporator coil , the line set or the condenser . Typically leaks are found around brazing joints , fittings or service valves . Refrigerants are in an oil base so any oily areas are in dicative of a leak . Those are the easy ones to fix . The difficult ones are usually in the evaporator coil or condenser . A common problem with older systems is when dogs urinate on the condenser fins . The urine is highly corrosive and will erode the aluminum fins and tubing which will cause refrigerant leaks . Adam Kern , Owner Official Heating & Cooling The methods for finding leaks are : Visual - Look for oily residue . Audible - Listen for a hissing sound . Soap Bubbles - Shows if a leak is present . Electronic Instruments that emit an audible sound when detecting refrigerant . ODye - coloring agent injected into system then use a UV light to see signs of the dye on the problem area . Pressure Check - Use nitrogen to pressure check the condenser and then the evaporator coil , this usually finds the problem . If you have any HVAC questions , call 800-350 - HVAC ( 4822 ) or email adam@officialhvac.com Bella says : Because we can't always see what lies up ahead ... HVAC Service plans starting at under $ 8 per month ! FACTORY AUTHOROD DEALER Carrier Serving you is what we do best ! OFFICIAL Heating & Cooling 800-350 - HVAC ( 4822 ) officialhvac.com BBB NATE ZSALEK PROD 5 Time Honoree