In Episode 423 of the Refrigeration Mentor Podcast, Bueno Analytics founder Leon Wurfel joins host Trevor Matthews to discuss how refrigerant leak detection is changing as new US regulations take effect. The conversation covers what the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act means for supermarket operators, and how analytics helps technicians get ahead of problems before they turn into callouts.
Key facts
- Episode: 423, The Refrigeration Mentor Podcast
- Guest: Leon Wurfel, Founder, Bueno Analytics
- Host: Trevor Matthews, Founder, Refrigeration Mentor
- Released: August 27, 2026
- Length: 36 minutes
- Topics: refrigerant leak detection, AIM Act requirements, predictive maintenance, energy drift, advice for technicians
- Listen Here: [Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts]
What is this Refrigeration Mentor Podcast episode about?
This episode of the Refrigeration Mentor Podcast explores how refrigerant leak detection is evolving as regulations change across the US. Leon shares how Bueno moved from commercial building analytics into grocery refrigeration, and what a decade of work with supermarket systems has taught the team about finding leaks and faults earlier.
Trevor brings two decades of field and training experience to the conversation, which keeps the discussion practical and grounded in what technicians actually see on site.
What are the highlights of this Refrigeration Mentor Podcast episode?
This episode of the Refrigeration Mentor Podcast covers five practical topics for anyone working in supermarket refrigeration, from how leak detection works today to what the AIM Act means for stores across the US.
How refrigerant leak detection has changedÂ
Leak detection has moved from simple low level alarms to models that predict how a system should be behaving. Leon explains the difference, and Trevor shares how technicians used to track receiver levels by hand between summer and winter.
What the AIM Act means for supermarketsÂ
New commercial refrigeration systems with a full charge of 1,500 pounds or more have required automatic leak detection since January 1, 2026, with existing systems of that size due by January 1, 2027. Leon and Trevor discuss how the rules are phasing in, why some states go further, and what it means for stores with high leak rates. For full compliance details, refer to the [EPA Emissions Reduction and Reclamation program].
Predicting alarms before they happenÂ
Predictive maintenance can forecast issues such as case ice up five to seven days in advance. Leon explains why that matters for technicians’ quality of life, and how Woolworths, supported by Bueno since 2016, achieved a 37% reduction in refrigerant leaks.
Using data to justify maintenanceÂ
One of the most practical parts of the episode. Leon and Trevor talk about why technical people often find selling difficult, how data changes that conversation, and why setpoint and alarm drift deserve more attention.
One piece of advice for techniciansÂ
Leon closes with a simple step technicians and in house teams can take on sites that already use analytics software. It costs nothing and can be done straight away.
Why should you listen to this episode?
This episode is worth your time if you work anywhere near a supermarket refrigeration system. It’s a practical conversation between two people who understand both the data and the realities of the field.
For technicians, it’s a look at how analytics can reduce after hours callouts and help you arrive on site knowing what to look for. For contractors and service managers, it offers a clearer way to use data when recommending maintenance to clients. For store operators and facilities teams, it’s a straightforward explanation of how AIM Act requirements are changing refrigerant management.
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