Hello. I had a Bryant 126BNA030000 single-stage air conditioner and Bryant CNPVP3617ALA evaporator coil installed in March 2017 as part of a total HVAC system. There were problems with the furnace and humidifier, but I think these have been ironed out. About three weeks ago, a technician checked my air conditioner. When his visit extended beyond an hour, I figured, this wasn't going to be a routine visit. The technician told me that the air conditioner was losing refrigerant last year and that it was losing more refrigerant this year. He added that oil is leaking around the fittings.

He said he would have to return to inject a fluid into the AC line in hopes that it would stop the refrigerant leak. He returned a couple of days later, injected the fluid, and explained that we would have to wait 8 to 10 months to see if the fluid would stop the leak.

Should I be concerned about the long-term viability of this central air conditioner? A friend told me that it costs $100 a pound to replace refrigerant.