Checking for refrigerant leaks in air conditioning and refrigeration systems is a regular part of a service technician’s job. And it’s an important one, as refrigerant leaks not only represent a financial and operational burden to end users, they’re not great for the environment either.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways to check for leaks, including everything from soap bubbles to fluorescent dyes to feature-laden handheld electronic detectors that can be used with a wide variety of refrigerants. There are arguments to be made for each method, but for technicians trying to decide which handheld model to purchase, there are some important factors to consider.