A refrigerant leak is a loss of refrigerant from a sealed heating or cooling system. The refrigerant carries heat as it moves through the equipment. A leak can reduce cooling performance and may contribute to other operating problems.
What to do
Weak cooling or ice on part of the system can have several causes, so a technician should diagnose the equipment rather than assume a leak. If a leak is confirmed, the repair should address the source before the system is returned to proper operation. Simply adding refrigerant without fixing a leak is not a lasting solution.
See Stanley’s refrigerant leak service, or return to the glossary.