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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.
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.
Putnam Mechanical, headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, provides professional commercial refrigeration and HVAC services across Florida’s Gulf Coast, proudly serving Bonita Springs, Bradenton, Brandon, Cape Coral, Clearwater, Estero, Fort Myers, Lakewood Ranch, Largo, Naples, North Port, Riverview, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Venice, as well as Collier County, Hillsborough County, Lee County, Manatee County, Pinellas County, Sarasota County, and surrounding areas.
Our experienced team partners with business owners, property managers, facility teams, restaurants, grocery stores, healthcare facilities, hospitality properties, and retail operators to deliver essential repairs, replacements, system upgrades, and ongoing maintenance with minimal disruption to daily operations.
When refrigeration, HVAC, or ventilation equipment fails, the clock starts immediately. A walk-in cooler losing temperature, a freezer alarm going off, an ice machine failure, a rooftop unit shutting down, or a ventilation issue affecting airflow and building pressure can quickly impact inventory, comfort, safety, and revenue.
Putnam Mechanical provides 24-hour emergency commercial refrigeration, HVAC, and ventilation service with fast dispatch, on-site diagnostics, and clear repair recommendations.
Experiencing equipment failure right now? Call for priority dispatch.
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.
REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION SARASOTA | COMMERCIAL HVAC REFRIGERANT REPAIR | EPA-CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS