Refrigerant Recharge
AC REFRIGERANT LEAK REPAIR & RECHARGE
An AC that's low on refrigerant has a leak — it doesn't burn it off. We find the leak, fix it, and recharge to spec instead of topping off a problem. Flat-rate, 24/7 live.
4.9 · 3,569 reviews (2 profiles)
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4.9★ on Google
3,569 reviews · 2 profiles
24/7 Emergency
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Licensed & insured
LA Master Plumber #1874
North Louisiana
Ruston to Monroe
Flat-rate pricing
Quoted before we start
Overview
Low Refrigerant Is a Symptom, Not a Service
Here's the honest truth a lot of homeowners never get told: a properly working air conditioner never "uses up" refrigerant. It's a sealed loop. If yours is low, it's leaking — and simply topping it off sends your money into the ground and vents refrigerant into the air. Mark Johnson & Sons finds and fixes the leak first, then recharges to the manufacturer's spec, across Ruston, Monroe, West Monroe, and Grambling.
In our long, hard-running summers a small leak that a shop "recharged" last year comes back worse this year — the system runs longer, the pressures swing, and the leak grows. Chasing the recharge without fixing the cause is a bill you'll pay again every June, and a low charge doesn't just cost you cooling — it makes the compressor run hot and starved, which is how a $400 leak repair turns into a $2,000 compressor or a whole new system.
How we find the leak
- Electronic detection — a calibrated sniffer walks the coil, line set, and fittings for escaping refrigerant
- Nitrogen pressure test — for a slow or intermittent leak, we pressurize with dry nitrogen and watch it hold
- UV dye — added to the system when a leak only shows up under load, then traced with a UV light
- Common culprits — a corroded evaporator coil, a worn Schrader valve, a rubbed-through line, or a loose flare fitting
Refrigerant types we service
We charge both R-410A systems, which are on most homes installed in the last 15 years, and the newer low-GWP R-454B refrigerant on current equipment. We do not top off the old R-22 systems the way some shops still do — R-22 is phased out, wildly expensive, and a system still on it is usually a replacement conversation. We'll tell you straight where yours stands.
What Mark Johnson & Sons does differently
We repair the leak, pull a proper vacuum to boil out moisture, verify the system holds pressure, and then weigh in the exact charge — not "beer-can cold" by feel. An overcharged or undercharged system runs inefficiently and dies early, so we get it to spec and confirm the temperature drop before we leave. Every quote is flat-rate, and we'll always tell you when chasing a leak on an old system isn't worth it versus replacement. Ask about our service savings agreement plans — the Spring AC tune-up catches a small leak in the spring instead of stranding you in July.
Free quote
Book a leak check
Weak cooling or a system that needs 'a little freon' every summer? Tell us what it's doing — we'll find the leak and quote the fix flat-rate before any work.
4.9★
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View allWAIVED
Service call waived with any refrigerant repair
Diagnostic fee applied to the repair.
Expires 12/31/2026
$50 OFF
Electronic leak detection
Must mention at booking. One offer per household.
Expires 12/31/2026
15% OFF
Leak repairs for service members
Requires active service savings agreement. Cannot combine with other offers.
Expires 12/31/2026
Mention coupon when booking. One offer per household.
Warning signs
Signs your AC is low on refrigerant
Low charge shows up in a few consistent ways — all of them point to a leak, not to normal wear.
AC runs all day but the air is only mildly cool
Ice or frost on the copper line set or indoor coil
A hissing or bubbling sound near the lines
Cooling that gets worse each summer despite past 'recharges'
Higher electric bills as the system struggles to keep up
The system takes far longer than it used to to cool the house
The outdoor unit runs but the vents blow near room-temperature air
An oily film or residue on the line set or at a fitting
The house never really dries out — poor dehumidification
Fix it right
We won't just top off a leaking system.
Recharging without fixing the leak is money down the drain — and it's bad for the environment. We find the leak, repair it, and charge to spec so your cooling actually lasts.
Then recharge
Leak first
Across Ruston, Monroe, West Monroe, and North Louisiana.
The Process
How we handle a refrigerant call
On the truck
Professional tools, parts, and diagnostics — every call.
Confirm the charge
We measure the actual refrigerant charge and system pressures to confirm low refrigerant is really the problem — not airflow or a failing part.
Find the leak
Electronic detection, UV dye, or nitrogen pressure testing pinpoints exactly where it's leaking — no guessing.
Flat-rate options
We quote the leak repair up front, and give you the honest repair-versus-replace picture if the system is old.
Repair & evacuate
We fix the leak, pull a proper vacuum to remove moisture, and verify the system holds pressure before charging.
Charge to spec & verify
We weigh in the correct charge and confirm a proper temperature drop and full cooling before we leave.
Pricing
How We Price Refrigerant Service
Flat-rate, quoted before work. Service call waived with the repair. Service members get 15% off.
Flat rate, quoted before we start
You get the full price for the job up front — not an hourly meter you watch climb. You approve it before a tool comes out of the truck.
The quote is the price
It doesn't move once work begins. If something unexpected turns up behind a wall or under a slab, we stop and talk it through with you before going further.
Service members save 15% on every repair
Service savings agreements start at $189 a year and take 15% off all plumbing, heating, and cooling repairs, with priority scheduling on every call. The Premium Service Savings Agreement Plan adds same-day service and drops after-hours charges entirely.
Financing available
Bigger jobs — a system replacement, a repipe, a sewer line — can be financed through GoodLeap. Apply online in a few minutes.
Every job is priced for your home and what it actually needs — tell us what's going on and we'll get you a firm number, free and with no obligation.
Service Savings Agreement Plans
Two plans. Whole-home peace of mind.
From $189 a year, service members get 15% off every plumbing, heating, and cooling repair, two complete HVAC tune-ups, a free plumbing and drain check-up, and priority scheduling on every call.
- 15% off repairs
- Priority scheduling
- 2 HVAC tune-ups/yr
- After-hours discounts
- $25 savings certificate
- Guaranteed flat-rate
Service Savings Agreement Plan
$189/year
Everything it takes to keep the house maintained and your repairs discounted.
Each additional HVAC unit is $89/year
Premium Service Savings Agreement Plan
$389/year
Everything in the Service Savings Agreement Plan, plus no after-hours charges, no travel fees, and same-day service.
Each additional HVAC unit is $89/year
Questions? (318) 319-0220
1-year term · does not auto-renew
FAQ
Refrigerant Recharge FAQs
Why does my AC need refrigerant every year?
It shouldn't. Refrigerant runs in a sealed loop — a healthy AC never needs a 'refill.' If yours is low every summer, it has a leak that's been topped off instead of repaired. We find and fix the leak so you stop paying for the same problem.
Can't you just add more refrigerant?
We can, but on a leaking system it's a temporary, wasteful fix — and venting refrigerant is bad for the environment and increasingly restricted by law. We'd rather find the leak, repair it, and charge it properly so the money actually sticks.
How much does a refrigerant leak repair cost?
Leak detection is a flat fee, the repair is priced by the source, and the recharge after that is priced by refrigerant type — R-454B costs more than R-410A. We quote it all flat-rate before work.
Is it worth repairing a leak on an old AC?
Sometimes not. If the leak is in an aging evaporator coil or the system is over 10–12 years old, the honest math often favors replacement over a costly coil-and-recharge. We'll show you both numbers and let you decide — no pressure.
My line is frozen — is that low refrigerant?
Often, yes. Low charge or restricted airflow can freeze the coil and line set. Turn the system to fan-only to thaw it and give us a call — running a frozen AC can damage the compressor, which is the expensive part.
What refrigerant does my system use — and does it matter?
It matters a lot. Most homes from the last 15 years use R-410A. New equipment uses low-GWP R-454B. Older systems on R-22 are phased out and the refrigerant is expensive and scarce — we don't just top those off. We'll check the data plate and tell you exactly what you have and what it means.
How long does a recharge take, and how long will it last?
Once the leak is repaired, evacuating and weighing in the charge is usually the same visit — a couple of hours. And because we fixed the leak instead of topping off, it lasts: a properly sealed system holds its charge for the life of the equipment, not one summer.
Can I buy a recharge kit and do it myself?
In Louisiana you need EPA certification to buy and handle most refrigerants, and the DIY 'stop-leak' cans sold for cars can gum up and ruin a home system's metering device and compressor. Overcharging is just as damaging as undercharging. It's genuinely a job for a licensed tech with gauges and a scale.
Does the service savings agreement help with refrigerant issues?
Yes. The Spring AC tune-up under the $189/year Service Savings Agreement Plan checks your charge and catches a small leak before the July heat turns it into a no-cooling call. Service members also get 15% off any repair and priority scheduling.
How fast can you come out if my AC quit cooling?
Same-day is standard during business hours, and we answer live 24/7. A no-cooling call in a Louisiana heat wave is treated as urgent — an after-hours surcharge applies on top of the repair.
Related services
Related cooling services
Low refrigerant rarely travels alone — these come up on the same call.
Available Around the Clock
Emergency?
We answer 24/7.
Burst pipe, water heater out, sewer backup? Real plumbers pick up — no answering machines. Mark Johnson & Sons Plumbing serves North Louisiana any time, day or night.
LA Master Plumbing #1874 · Backflow Cert #28131 · Master Natural Gas Fitter #LMNGF9062 · State Contractors #35794