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 · 4,400+ reviews
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4.9★ on Google
4,400+ reviews
24/7 Emergency
60–90 min dispatch
Licensed & insured
LA Master Plumber #1874
North Louisiana
Ruston to Shreveport
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, Shreveport, Bossier City, 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 Classic Membership — 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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Current coupons
View allWAIVED
Service call waived with any refrigerant repair
$89–$129 diagnostic 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 Classic Membership members
Requires active Classic Membership. 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, Shreveport, Bossier City, 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
What refrigerant service costs in North Louisiana
Flat-rate, quoted before work. Service call waived with the repair. Classic Membership members get 15% off.
Diagnostic / service call
Waived with the repair
Standard
$89–$129
Member · save 15%
$76–$110
Electronic leak detection
Sniffer walk of coil, lines, and fittings
Standard
$125–$350
Member · save 15%
$106–$298
Nitrogen pressure / dye leak test
For slow or intermittent leaks
Standard
$150–$450
Member · save 15%
$128–$383
Leak repair (valve, fitting, line)
Depends on the source and access
Standard
$250–$900
Member · save 15%
$213–$765
Schrader valve / core replacement
A common and inexpensive leak point
Standard
$150–$300
Member · save 15%
$128–$255
Refrigerant recharge (R-410A, per system)
Weighed in to spec after the leak is repaired
Standard
$250–$650
Member · save 15%
$213–$553
Newer refrigerant (R-454B) recharge
Current low-GWP equipment
Standard
$300–$800
Member · save 15%
$255–$680
Evaporator coil replacement (leaking coil)
When the leak is in the indoor coil itself
Standard
$1,200–$2,800
Member · save 15%
$1,020–$2,380
After-hours emergency service
Added to the repair for nights, weekends, holidays
Standard
$175–$500
Member · save 15%
$149–$425
Member pricing reflects the Classic Membership 15% repair discount. Service call fees are separate.
We repair the leak before recharging. Ranges are typical for North Louisiana homes; your exact price is quoted flat-rate after diagnosis. R-22 systems quoted separately — usually a replacement conversation.
Classic Membership
One plan. Whole-home peace of mind.
For $189 a year, members get 15% off every HVAC and plumbing 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
Classic Membership
$189/year
One flat yearly price covers your whole home — everything listed, no per-visit fees, no surprises.
Questions? (318) 319-0220
Cancel anytime · 1-yr min
FAQ
Refrigerant Recharge FAQs
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.
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