I have an AC leak and I am having trouble finding a starting place of what to do. Attached are photos displaying the problem. It looks as though the leak is coming from the rear of the compressor.

There is no leaks on the pipes nearby, I refilled the refrigerant and within an hour it was spitting out hot air again. My current thought process is to take the compressor out and check it out to see where exactly the issue is. My thinking though is that it may just be smarter to replace the compressor. What are your guys' thoughts, any help would be appreciated.

 

Did you try using a soap and water solution to check for leaks around the compressor? At the rate of refrigerant loss that you are suggesting, the leak should be highly visible. The most likely leak would be at either the high-pressure cutoff switch or the o-ring seals at the inlet/ discharge ports.

That said, do you have the necessary equipment required to complete the job? Even if you just swapped out the compressor, you would still have to evacuate the system to remove air and moisture before charging with refrigerant. It is not as simple as unbolting the old and putting in the new...

I would recommend using the soap solution and see if you can pinpoint the actual source of the leak. Then you will have a better idea what to do next.