Heat pump refrigerant leak repair in Toronto. Low charge means a leak. A heat pump is a sealed system, so it doesn’t “use up” refrigerant. Topping up without finding the hole is money down the drain. We locate the leak, repair it, nitrogen pressure test, pull a deep micron vacuum and weigh in the charge. $300-$1,200 depending on location and refrigerant. Certified for R410A, R32 and R454B.
Signs your heat pump has a leak
- Heating or cooling getting weaker over weeks
- Ice or frost on the indoor refrigerant lines or a heavily iced outdoor coil
- Longer run times and a higher hydro bill
- Hissing at the outdoor unit or a head
- An oily stain at a flare, joint or valve
- Another company “topped it up” and it came back
Where do leaks happen?
| Location | How common | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flare connections (ductless heads) | Most common | Under-torqued or cracked flares |
| Brazed joints | Common | Poor braze, no nitrogen purge |
| Indoor or outdoor coil | Moderate | Corrosion on older units |
| Service valves / cores | Less common | Easy fix once found |
How do we find it?
An electronic leak detector first, then a bubble test at every suspect fitting, then a hands-and-eyes inspection for oil trace, which shows up where refrigerant oil escapes. On hard cases, a nitrogen standing pressure test isolates sections of the system. Most leaks on multi-zone and mini-split systems turn out to be at a flare.
How is it repaired properly?
- Refrigerant recovered
- Leak repaired: re-flared, re-brazed under nitrogen, or component replaced
- Nitrogen pressure test, held long enough to prove it
- Micron vacuum to pull out air and moisture
- Charge weighed in to spec, then verified with superheat and subcooling
This is the same standard as a new install, and it’s done under CSA B52 practice by ODS-certified techs.
Liberty Village case
Condo-townhome mini-split losing heat every few weeks after another company topped it up twice. We traced the leak to a cracked flare at the indoor head. Re-flared, pressure-tested, recharged by weight. $780, one visit.
Repair or replace?
Leaks on corroded coils in older R410A units tend to come back, and R410A keeps getting pricier under the phase-down. If that’s your situation, we put a heat pump replacement price next to the repair. Regular maintenance catches slow leaks before they cost you a winter.
Our Toronto heat pump crews run leak repairs across downtown Toronto and Etobicoke. For other faults see heat pump repair, or book a leak search.
