The short answer: refrigerant doesn't get used up. A walk-in freezer or cooler runs on the same refrigerant for its whole life, in a closed system. If your system is low, there is a leak. Adding more gas without fixing that leak only buys you a few weeks, and then you're paying for the same problem again.
Why "just add gas" doesn't work
When a system is low, the quick fix is tempting: charge it up, the freezer gets cold again, everyone is happy. But the leak is still there. The new refrigerant escapes the same way the old one did, and soon you're back to ice on the coil, warm product and another service call.
That's why we tell our customers straight: if I only add the gas, you're going to have the next problem very soon. The right repair is to find the leak, fix it, and then charge the system.
We follow Ontario's rules
Refrigerant that escapes into the air is bad for the environment, and Ontario has rules about it. A leaking system has to be repaired before it's refilled. We're 313A licensed and ODP certified, and we follow those rules on every job.
If we can't find the leak on that visit, we don't add gas and leave. We explain what we checked and what the next step is. And if your freezer is full of product and can't wait, we'll talk you through the safe, legal way to protect your food while we track down the leak.
How we find leaks
Leaks can be tiny, so we don't rely on one method. Depending on the job, we use an electronic leak detector, a bubble test, a nitrogen pressure test or UV dye.
Here's a bubble test on one of our service calls. Watch the joint: the bubbles show exactly where the refrigerant is escaping.
Where we find leaks most often
In our experience, the most common place is the evaporator coil, the coil inside the freezer or cooler. The second is the condensing unit, especially at the joints, where vibration and weather take their toll over time.
This one was on an evaporator coil. Look at the joint just below the valve.
Signs your system may have a leak
- Ice building up on only part of the evaporator coil
- The freezer struggles to hold temperature
- The compressor runs much longer than it used to
- Refrigerant has been added before, and the problem came back
If refrigerant has been added more than once, that's the biggest warning sign of all.
Related: Why is my walk-in freezer icing up? The 6 causes we see most
Think your system has a leak?
Call Tech Cooling at 416-655-7672. We'll find the leak, fix it properly and tell you honestly what we find. We service all brands of walk-in freezers and coolers across Toronto and the GTA, and have since 2017. 313A licensed, ODP certified.