Professional Refrigerant Services in Wake Forest, NC

The most common reason your AC blows warm air is low refrigerant. Refrigerant is the chemical that absorbs heat from inside your home and releases it outside. When levels drop, the system can't transfer heat effectively, and you get lukewarm air from the vents even though the system is running full blast. But low refrigerant is a symptom, not the actual problem. The real problem is a leak somewhere in the system, and until that leak is found and repaired, recharging is just a temporary fix.

There are other causes of warm air — a failed compressor, a bad capacitor, a tripped breaker, a stuck reversing valve — but refrigerant issues account for the majority of "my AC isn't cooling" calls we get across Apex, Cary, and the rest of the Triangle.

How Refrigerant Works (The Short Version)

Your AC doesn't create cold air. It moves heat. Refrigerant circulates between the indoor evaporator coil and the outdoor condenser coil, absorbing heat inside and dumping it outside. When the system has the right amount of refrigerant (called the charge), this cycle works efficiently. When it's low, the system struggles. When it's significantly low, the evaporator coil can freeze, the compressor can overheat, and you're looking at a breakdown.

AC systems are sealed. Refrigerant doesn't get "used up" like gasoline. If your levels are low, it's because refrigerant is leaking out somewhere. Common leak points include brazed joints at the evaporator and condenser coils, service valve connections, and the refrigerant line set running between your indoor and outdoor units.

The R-22 Problem for Triangle Homeowners

If your AC was installed before 2010, there's a good chance it uses R-22 Freon. R-22 production was banned in the United States because it damages the ozone layer. The remaining supply is recycled or reclaimed, and the price reflects the scarcity.

Here's what that means in real dollars. R-22 recharges now run $150 to $300 per pound, depending on supply. A typical system might need 3 to 7 pounds to go from low to full. That's $450 to $2,100 for a recharge that may only last a few months if the leak isn't repaired.

By comparison, R-410A (the current standard refrigerant) costs $50 to $80 per pound. Many Apex and Cary homes built in the early 2000s still run R-22 systems that are now 20-plus years old. At some point, the cost of repeatedly recharging R-22 exceeds the cost of replacing the system with one that uses R-410A.

We help homeowners do that math honestly. Sometimes one more R-22 recharge plus a leak repair buys you another two to three years while you plan for replacement. Sometimes the numbers say replace now. We give you both options with real prices and let you decide.

R-410A and Newer Refrigerants

R-410A has been the standard since 2010 and operates at higher pressures, which means the system components are built differently than R-22 systems. You can't just swap R-410A into an R-22 system — the compressor, coils, and line set aren't rated for it.

Starting in 2025, new systems are transitioning to R-454B (also called Puron Advance), which has a lower global warming potential than R-410A. If you're replacing your system now, ask us about equipment that uses the newest refrigerants. It future-proofs your investment.

Our Refrigerant Service Process

Our $49 diagnostic starts with measuring your system's pressures to determine the current refrigerant charge. If it's low, we move to leak detection.

Finding refrigerant leaks requires methodical work. We use electronic leak detectors, UV dye testing, and visual inspection to locate the source. Some leaks are obvious — a corroded coil connection or a damaged line set. Others are tiny pinhole leaks that take careful detective work.

Once we find the leak, we explain your options:

Repair the leak and recharge. For newer systems with small, accessible leaks, this is usually the right call. Repair the joint, pull a vacuum to remove moisture and contaminants, recharge to manufacturer specifications, and verify operation.

Replace the leaking component. If the evaporator or condenser coil has corroded to the point of multiple leaks, replacing the coil is more reliable than patching it.

Replace the system. If you're running R-22, the system is 15-plus years old, and the leak is in an expensive component, replacement often makes more financial sense.

All refrigerant work must be performed by EPA-certified technicians. Venting refrigerant is a federal violation with serious fines. Our techs are EPA Section 608 certified and handle every refrigerant type properly — recovery, recycling, and disposal all follow federal regulations.

Same-Day Service Across the Triangle

Warm air in a Triangle summer isn't something you can ignore for a week. We offer same-day refrigerant diagnostics and repairs across Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Raleigh, and Durham. Element Service Group is veteran-owned with over 700 five-star reviews, and our trucks carry the equipment and refrigerant to handle most jobs in a single visit.