At Fast Affordable Air, we often receive calls from homeowners in Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas when their AC isn’t cooling properly. One of the most common issues we uncover is a refrigerant leak. These leaks can be tricky to find, but our technicians use professional tools and methods to locate the problem quickly and safely.
Locating the Leak with UV Detection
In the attic, we used a UV light to scan the area around the indoor air handler. You can see in the photo that the pan and nearby insulation glow under the light. This happens because we introduce a special UV dye into the refrigerant lines. When refrigerant escapes, it carries the dye, which shows up clearly under UV light. This makes it much easier to spot leaks that would otherwise remain invisible to the naked eye.
Inspecting the Service Valves
Outside, we carefully inspected the brass refrigerant service valves. These valves are connection points where technicians attach gauges to measure system pressures. Over time, the seals inside can wear down, leading to small leaks. In the images, you’ll notice areas with discoloration and residue around the fittings. That’s often a sign of refrigerant oil escaping along with the refrigerant itself.
A service valve leak may seem minor, but even small refrigerant losses can cause big issues. Low refrigerant levels make the system work harder, which increases energy bills and reduces cooling performance. Left untreated, it can also cause compressor damage, which is one of the costliest repairs on any HVAC system.
Sealing and Protecting the System
Once we confirmed the leak sources, we cleaned and tightened the connections. In some cases, valve cores need to be replaced to ensure a proper seal. Afterward, we vacuumed the refrigerant lines to remove any moisture or contaminants and recharged the system to the correct specifications. Proper charging ensures that the central air conditioner runs at peak efficiency, keeping the home cool without wasting energy.
Why This Matters for Homeowners
- Lower energy bills: A properly sealed system doesn’t waste electricity by overworking the compressor.
- Better indoor comfort: Correct refrigerant levels help maintain steady and reliable cooling during hot Las Vegas summers.
- Longer system life: Fixing leaks and keeping the system clean prevents premature wear on vital components.
- Healthier indoor air: Leaks can cause moisture buildup that encourages mold growth, so repairs also help improve air quality.
If you’re curious to learn more about how refrigerant leaks affect system performance, you can also visit Energy.gov’s page on Central Air Conditioning, which explains efficiency and maintenance in simple terms.
