A refrigerant leak is one of the more serious faults a commercial refrigeration system can develop, and it rarely fixes itself. It’s also one of the most common reasons businesses end up searching for Commercial Refrigeration Repairs Perth technicians, usually after noticing a fridge or cool room struggling to hold temperature. Knowing the early signs, and what proper repair actually involves, helps you act before a slow leak turns into lost stock or a full system failure.
This guide covers how to tell if your commercial refrigeration has a gas leak, what causes refrigerant to escape, how technicians find the leak, and why a simple regas is rarely the full answer.
How Do I Know If My Commercial Fridge Has a Refrigerant Leak?
The most common sign is a gradual loss of cooling performance. A fridge or freezer that takes longer to pull down to temperature, struggles during busy service periods, or runs almost constantly without reaching its set point may be low on refrigerant.
Other warning signs include ice forming in unusual places on the evaporator coil, higher electricity bills without a clear reason, a hissing or bubbling sound near the pipework, and oily marks around joints or fittings. One of these on its own doesn’t confirm a leak, but several together are a strong reason to have the system checked.
What Does a Refrigerant Leak Look Like?
Refrigerant itself is usually invisible once it escapes, so you won’t typically see the gas. What you’re more likely to see are the side effects: oily residue or staining around pipe joints, valves, or coil connections, frost or ice build-up in uneven patches on the evaporator, and in some cases, bubbles forming at a fitting if moisture is present.
On larger systems with sight glasses fitted to the refrigerant lines, a technician may also notice bubbles in the sight glass during operation, which can indicate the system is undercharged.
Why Does a Commercial Fridge Lose Refrigerant?
Commercial refrigeration systems are sealed, so refrigerant shouldn’t be lost through normal operation. When it is, there’s a physical path for it to escape. Common causes include:
- Vibration loosening fittings and flare connections over time
- Corrosion on copper pipework or coils, particularly in humid or chemical-heavy environments
- Wear on valve cores, seals, and service ports
- Physical damage from impacts, trolleys, or careless cleaning around exposed pipework
- Poor brazing or workmanship during the original installation
- Rubbing or chafing where pipes contact brackets or other surfaces
Commercial kitchens and food production areas are particularly tough on refrigeration pipework, given the heat, cleaning chemicals, moisture, and constant movement around the equipment.
Does Refrigerant Run Out?
No. Refrigerant isn’t consumed or used up the way fuel is. It circulates continuously in a closed loop, changing between liquid and gas as it absorbs and releases heat. A properly installed and undamaged system should hold its refrigerant charge for its entire working life.
If a system needs more refrigerant, that’s a clear sign it has leaked somewhere. It’s never a normal maintenance item in the way an oil change on a vehicle might be.
Why Is My Commercial Fridge Low on Gas?
A commercial fridge that’s low on gas almost always has a leak, even if it’s very small. Slow leaks can take months to noticeably affect performance, which is why some businesses only discover the problem once cooling has already started to suffer.
Less commonly, a system may have been undercharged at installation or after a previous repair. A licensed technician can confirm whether the charge was ever correct, but in most cases, low gas points to a leak that still needs to be found.
Can a Refrigerant Leak Cause Poor Cooling?
Yes, and it’s one of the most common causes. Refrigerant is what carries heat out of the cabinet or cool room, so with less of it circulating, the system can’t remove heat as effectively. The result is warmer internal temperatures, longer run times, and a compressor that’s working much harder than it should.
Poor cooling has a number of possible causes beyond refrigerant, including dirty condenser coils, failed fans, and faulty thermostats. If you’re still working out what’s behind a temperature problem, our guide on why a commercial refrigerator might not be cooling covers the wider list of causes.
Can You Smell a Refrigerant Leak?
Usually not. Most fluorocarbon refrigerants used in commercial fridges and freezers have little to no noticeable odour at normal leak rates, so smell isn’t a reliable way to detect them. Some people report a faint, slightly sweet or chemical smell near a larger leak, but many leaks go completely unnoticed by smell.
Systems running on ammonia, which is more common in larger industrial refrigeration, are the exception, since ammonia has a strong, pungent smell. Any noticeable ammonia odour should be treated as urgent, and the area should be ventilated and cleared until a technician has assessed it.
What Does Hissing From a Commercial Fridge Mean?
A hissing sound coming from the pipework, fittings, or coils can indicate refrigerant escaping under pressure, particularly if it’s localised to one spot and doesn’t stop. A larger leak may also produce a bubbling or gurgling sound.
That said, some hissing or gurgling is normal as refrigerant moves through the expansion valve and lines, especially at start-up or shut-down. A new or unusual hiss that wasn’t there before, especially alongside reduced cooling, is worth having checked.
What Does Oily Residue Around Refrigeration Pipework Mean?
Oily residue is one of the most useful visual clues. Compressor oil circulates through the system along with the refrigerant, so when refrigerant escapes through a leak, it often carries a small amount of oil with it. Over time, that oil leaves a greasy film or dark, dust-attracting stain at the leak point.
Oily marks around brazed joints, flare nuts, service valves, or coil connections are a strong indication of where a leak may be. It’s worth pointing these out to your technician, since it can help narrow the search considerably.
Can a Commercial Fridge Simply Be Regassed?
Regassing on its own is not a proper repair. Adding refrigerant to a leaking system only restores performance temporarily, since the new charge will escape through the same leak. Depending on the leak size, the problem can return within weeks or even days.
A proper repair involves finding the leak, repairing it, testing the system to confirm it holds pressure, and then recharging it with the correct amount of refrigerant. Regassing is the final step of that process, not a substitute for it.
Does the Leak Need to Be Repaired Before Adding Refrigerant?
Yes. Beyond being poor practice, Australia’s refrigerant handling framework doesn’t support simply topping up a system that’s known to be leaking. The Australian Refrigeration Council specifically discourages “topping up” refrigeration systems, because it releases environmentally harmful gas into the atmosphere and leaves the underlying fault in place.
Repairing the leak first also protects your equipment, since repeatedly running a system low on refrigerant puts the compressor under strain and can lead to a far more expensive failure.
How Is a Commercial Refrigeration Leak Found?
Licensed technicians use a combination of methods depending on the system and how obvious the leak is:
- Electronic leak detectors that sense refrigerant in the air around pipework and components
- Bubble solution testing, where a soapy solution is applied to suspected joints and forms bubbles if gas is escaping
- UV dye detection, where a dye is added to the system and leaks show up under ultraviolet light
- Nitrogen pressure testing, where the system is pressurised with nitrogen and monitored for pressure drop
- Visual inspection for oil staining, corrosion, and physical damage
Small or intermittent leaks can take time to locate, particularly in systems with long pipe runs or pipework hidden behind walls and panels.
How Much Does Refrigerant Leak Repair Cost?
Costs vary widely depending on where the leak is, how hard it is to access, and how much refrigerant the system needs. As a general guide:
- Leak detection on its own typically ranges from around $200 to $600
- A straightforward repair to an accessible fitting or joint, plus regassing, often falls between $400 and $1,200
- Leaks in coils or major components, which may need replacing rather than repairing, can run from $1,500 to $5,000 or more
The type of refrigerant also affects the final cost, since some refrigerants are significantly more expensive than others, and larger cool rooms or multi-door systems hold considerably more gas than a single fridge.
Can Refrigerant Be Added Without Finding the Leak?
It’s not recommended, and as covered above, it doesn’t sit within accepted Australian refrigerant handling practice. Adding refrigerant without locating and fixing the leak means paying for gas that will escape again, while the system continues to underperform and the compressor continues to be strained.
If a technician offers to simply top up a commercial system without investigating why it’s low, that’s a good reason to ask more questions or get a second opinion.
Does Australian Law Require a Licensed Technician to Handle Refrigerant?
Yes. Under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995, anyone who handles fluorocarbon refrigerant or works on refrigeration and air conditioning equipment must hold a current Refrigerant Handling Licence. These licences are issued by the Australian Refrigeration Council on behalf of the Australian Government.
Handling these refrigerants without the appropriate licence is an offence, and the rules exist because fluorocarbon refrigerants can damage the ozone layer and are potent greenhouse gases. For businesses, using a licensed technician is both a legal requirement and an assurance that the work is being done safely and correctly. You can check whether a technician or business is licensed through the ARC’s online search.
Get Refrigerant Leaks Found and Fixed Properly
A refrigerant leak won’t go away on its own, and every week it’s left untreated means higher running costs, more strain on the compressor, and a greater risk of stock loss. Finding the leak, repairing it properly, and recharging the system correctly is the only reliable long-term fix.
If you suspect your commercial fridge, freezer, or cool room is losing refrigerant, get in touch with our team or call 1300 164 217 to arrange leak detection and repair by licensed technicians.
