Refrigerant is not consumed like fuel. If the charge is low, it is escaping somewhere, and topping it off is not a repair.
Electronic leak detection · Valve, line and braze joint repair · EPA-compliant recovery and recharge
The short answer
If a commercial HVAC system is running but not cooling as effectively as it used to, low refrigerant from an undetected leak is one of the most common causes. Refrigerant does not get used up like fuel. In a properly sealed system, the charge should remain stable for the entire service life. If the charge is low, refrigerant is escaping somewhere, and simply adding more without finding the leak means paying for repeated top-offs every few months while the compressor operates under more strain than it was designed to handle.
Based in Sarasota and serving Collier County, Hillsborough County, Lee County, Manatee County, Pinellas County, Sarasota County and surrounding areas, Putnam Mechanical locates and repairs refrigerant leaks in commercial rooftop units, package systems, and split systems across Florida. Our commercial refrigeration and HVAC experts use electronic leak detectors and other diagnostic methods to identify the exact leak point, whether it is a worn valve, a corroded line, or a failed braze joint, rather than guessing or simply recharging the system and hoping the leak is small enough to ignore.
Putnam Mechanical LLC · 7228 21st St E, Sarasota, FL 34243 · 941-280-4440
Scope of work
Longer run times, ice on the coil or lines, or a hissing sound near refrigerant lines are worth a call before the compressor takes the damage.
What to know
Topping off refrigerant without finding the leak is a temporary patch, not a lasting repair. The system will lose charge again, performance will decline again, and the compressor will continue to run under the added strain of low refrigerant in the meantime, which shortens compressor life and increases the risk of a much more expensive failure later. Putnam Mechanical, headquartered in Sarasota and serving all of Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota Counties and surrounding areas, locates and repairs the actual leak source before recharging so the solution holds instead of needing to be repeated every few months.
Reduced cooling performance, longer run times to reach the same temperature, ice forming on the evaporator coil or refrigerant lines, and a hissing or bubbling sound near refrigerant lines can all indicate a leak. Rising energy bills without an obvious cause are also worth investigating, since a system working harder to compensate for low refrigerant uses more electricity to deliver the same result. If you notice these issues at your commercial facility in Sarasota or anywhere in Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota Counties or nearby, the refrigeration and HVAC experts at Putnam Mechanical can help.
No cooling, temperature loss or a system failure affecting your business? Call for priority dispatch.
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When a leak has already taken the cooling out, a live line answers any hour of any day.
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Headquartered in Sarasota and serving businesses throughout Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties and the surrounding areas, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Venice, Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Clearwater, Largo, Lakewood Ranch, North Port, Bonita Springs, Estero, Riverview and Brandon.
Putnam Mechanical LLC · License # CAC1819526 · 7228 21st St E, Sarasota, FL 34243 · Licensed, insured and EPA-certified
We use electronic leak detection equipment that can sense even small refrigerant leaks at connection points, valves, and line sets that aren't visibly damaged, rather than relying on guesswork.
This almost always means there's an active leak somewhere in the system. Refrigerant in a sealed system doesn't deplete on its own — if the charge keeps dropping, refrigerant is escaping through a leak point that needs to be located and repaired.
Repeated recharging without fixing the leak typically costs more over time than a one-time repair, and it puts ongoing strain on the compressor in the meantime. We can give you a direct cost comparison based on your specific system.
Yes. Low refrigerant forces the compressor to work harder and run hotter than designed, which accelerates wear and increases the risk of compressor failure if the leak isn't addressed.
Yes. Our technicians are EPA-certified for refrigerant handling and follow proper recovery procedures during any repair or system service.
From emergency walk-in cooler repair and refrigerant leak detection to rooftop unit service, compressor replacement, ductwork correction, ventilation support, preventative maintenance, and full system upgrades, our licensed Florida technicians are ready to respond.
Putnam Mechanical has proudly served commercial clients with dependable refrigeration and HVAC solutions. Headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, our experienced technicians specialize in commercial HVAC repair, refrigeration system installation and design, ice machine maintenance, compressor repair and replacement, controls and monitoring systems, energy efficiency upgrades, food safety and temperature compliance services, and 24/7 emergency service throughout Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota counties, and surrounding areas.
License # CAC1819526
