Professional Refrigerant Recharging & Recovery in Norwalk & La Mirada
Refrigerant recharging is not a maintenance item — if your AC system is low on refrigerant, it has a leak. Refrigerant doesn't get consumed like gasoline; a properly sealed system holds the same charge indefinitely. When our technicians perform refrigerant recharging in Norwalk and La Mirada, we always locate and repair the leak first to prevent the refrigerant from simply escaping again after the recharge.
Our technicians hold EPA Section 608 certification, which is required by federal law for any work involving refrigerants. We handle R-410A (the current standard refrigerant), R-22 (the older refrigerant now phased out of production), and R-32 and R-454B used in newer high-efficiency systems. Proper refrigerant handling includes leak detection, recovery of old refrigerant for recycling, evacuation, and precise charging by weight or by superheat/subcooling measurements.
Adding refrigerant without fixing the leak is at best a temporary fix and at worst an environmental violation. We find the leak, fix it properly, and then recharge the system to manufacturer specifications.
Our Refrigerant Recharging & Recovery Process
System Pressure Check & Leak Detection
We connect manifold gauges to check suction and discharge pressure relative to outdoor temperature. Low suction pressure indicates low refrigerant. We then perform electronic leak detection at service valves, flare fittings, the evaporator coil, and the condenser coil to locate the leak.
Leak Repair
We repair the leak using appropriate brazing technique, flare fitting replacement, or Schrader valve core replacement depending on the leak location. Larger coil leaks may require coil replacement.
Refrigerant Recovery (When Needed)
If the system is being converted to a new refrigerant type or the charge needs to be fully removed for a major repair, we recover existing refrigerant using EPA-approved recovery equipment for proper recycling.
Recharge to Specification
We evacuate the system to 500 microns or lower, then recharge refrigerant by weight to manufacturer specification. We verify correct charge using suction superheat, liquid subcooling, and ambient/return air temperature measurements.
We serve Norwalk, La Mirada, and 20 surrounding Southern California cities. Learn more about all our HVAC services or call 562-219-4085 for same-day service.