Refrigerant doesn't get 'used up' — a system that's low is a system that's leaking. Simply topping it off buys a few weeks of cooling while the same refrigerant vents back out, so we find and repair the leak first, then recharge to the exact factory specification.
Low charge is one of the most common reasons a Kennesaw AC cools weakly or freezes over, and it's easy to misdiagnose. Our EPA Section 608–certified technicians use proper leak detection — electronic detectors, dye, or pressure testing — to pinpoint the source, whether it's a corroded coil, a fitting, or a line-set connection, and handle refrigerant legally and responsibly.
Signs Your System Has a Refrigerant Leak
Low refrigerant shows up in a few telltale ways. Call us if you notice:
- Weak cooling that's gotten gradually worse over a season
- Ice forming on the refrigerant lines or the indoor coil
- A hissing or bubbling sound near the lines or coil
- The AC runs longer and longer to reach the set temperature
- Higher energy bills as the system struggles with low charge
- You had refrigerant added last year and cooling is weak again
- The system was recharged before but never had a leak found
How We Repair a Refrigerant Leak
Find the leak first, repair it, then recharge to spec — the right order.
- 1
Confirm low charge & rule out other causes
We verify the system is actually low — not just suffering from airflow or drainage issues — by measuring pressures and superheat/subcooling, so we're chasing the right problem.
- 2
Locate the leak
We use electronic leak detection, UV dye, or a nitrogen pressure test to pinpoint the source — commonly a corroded evaporator coil, a Schrader valve, a fitting, or a line-set joint.
- 3
Repair or recommend replacement
We fix accessible leaks and, when the leak is a failing coil on an aging system, lay out repair-versus-replace options honestly with a written price before proceeding.
- 4
Evacuate, recharge & verify
We recover the old charge properly, repair, then evacuate and recharge to the manufacturer's exact spec — not by feel — and confirm the system is cooling and holding pressure.
Why 'Just Add Freon' Is Bad Advice
Topping off a leaking system without repairing the leak is a temporary patch that costs you every time — the refrigerant vents out again, the system freezes and strains, and you're back to weak cooling within weeks or months. It also releases refrigerant into the atmosphere, which is why the law requires it be handled properly.
Finding and fixing the leak costs more up front than a top-off, but it actually solves the problem and protects the compressor from running low and overheating. We won't sell you a recharge on a known leak and send you on your way.
R-22 and Older Systems
If your AC still uses R-22, a leak is a bigger decision. R-22 has been phased out, so what's left is expensive and getting scarcer, and a coil leak on an R-22 system often tips the math toward replacement with a modern, more efficient unit.
We'll tell you honestly where your system stands. Sometimes a repair and recharge makes sense to get another season or two; sometimes the smarter money goes toward a replacement. Either way, you'll have real numbers to decide with.
What Leak Repair & Recharge Costs in Kennesaw
A refrigerant recharge falls in the Atlanta-area $150–$650 range, but that's only the recharge — the leak repair itself depends on where the leak is. An accessible fitting is a modest fix; a leaking evaporator coil is a major component. These are context ranges, not quotes.
We price the leak repair and the recharge separately and clearly, so you can see what you're paying for. On an older system with a coil leak, we'll be honest about whether repair or replacement is the better value rather than pouring refrigerant into a lost cause.
What affects your price:
- Location and severity of the leak
- Refrigerant type — older R-22 is costly and scarce
- Amount of refrigerant the recharge requires
- Whether the leak is at a fitting or in a coil or line set
- Age of the system and repair-versus-replace economics
Why Kennesaw homeowners choose HVAC Kennesaw GA for refrigerant leak repair & recharge
We’ve spent 15+ years on Cobb County’s systems, and it shows in how we handle a refrigerant leak repair & recharge call: we test first, explain the reading, and put the price in writing before we touch anything chargeable.
- 4.9★ from 214+ Kennesaw & Cobb County homeowners
- GA Licensed Conditioned-Air Contractor · EPA Section 608 Certified Technicians
- Written options and your approval before any chargeable work
- Same-day service across Kennesaw & Acworth — 24/7 during ice storms and heat waves.
4.9★ Rated
214+ local reviews
Licensed & Insured
GA conditioned-air · EPA 608
24/7 Emergency
Same-day across Kennesaw
15+ Years
Serving Cobb County
Refrigerant Leak Repair & Recharge across Kennesaw & Cobb County
We bring refrigerant leak repair & recharge to homes and businesses throughout Cobb County — from Acworth and Marietta to the East Cobb and West Cobb subdivisions, plus every Kennesaw neighborhood. We’re dispatched from 3600 Kennesaw N Ind Pky, so response times stay short across the area.