Moved without losing refrigerant

AC removal & refitting in Al Balad

In Al Balad, Jeddah's historic heart, AC removal and refitting is common when tenants move between flats and shops in the older closely built blocks. Alrabih pumps the refrigerant to the outdoor unit before disconnecting, fits new copper at the new site with the correct run length, vacuums the line and tests it before handover.

  • Refrigerant saved
  • Fresh copper
  • Holes sealed

Clients We're Proud to Serve

Organisations and companies that trusted Alrabih with their projects.

  • Saudi Aramco
  • Ministry of Energy
  • Royal Saudi Land Forces
  • Royal Saudi Naval Forces
  • Al Baik
  • Centro Hotels by Rotana
  • King Abdullah Economic City
  • First Mills
  • Juffali
  • eXtra
  • Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Medical Center
  • Alesayi Motors
  • Abu Zaid
  • Water Desalination
  • Attieh Steel
  • SSCO
  • Creet
  • Emad Rizq
  • Alfaneyah
  • Rawat Alam Al Tasmeem
  • IBI Magix Arabia — Construction Services
  • Midtown for Construction
  • Petra Engineering Industries Co.
  • Hyrmas
  • Batterjee Medical College
  • Advanced Horizons Contracting Company
  • D.Metals
  • Benchbox — Masters of Space
  • Sadafco
  • Umm Al-Qura University
  • Saudi Arabian Drug Store (SADS)
  • Foamco
  • Ahmad A. R. Bin Afif Industries Co. (Sandwich Panel Factory)
  • Namariq
  • ALS

When you need removal and refitting

  1. 1

    Moving to a new home

    You want to take your units to the new home without losing the refrigerant charge or arriving with a unit that no longer cools properly. The right removal keeps the charge locked in the outdoor unit until refitting.

  2. 2

    Renovation or repainting

    Contractors need a clear wall for painting or plastering. We remove the indoor unit after saving the refrigerant, and once the renovation is done, we refit and close old holes that would otherwise spoil the fresh wall finish.

  3. 3

    Repositioning a unit in the same building

    The current position may no longer suit new furniture, or the old wall core is in the wrong place. We move it to the better spot and plan the new copper and drain route before drilling anything.

Who it's for

  • Renovating your flat and need walls cleared

    We remove indoor units after pump-down, seal old holes, then refit once finishing work is complete so your units are never handled by the renovation crew.

    Ask on WhatsApp
  • Relocating your business to new premises

    We survey both premises, pump down, remove the units from the current site, then refit them at the new location with copper runs and drain lines suited to the new building layout.

    Ask on WhatsApp

What the service covers

  • Pump-down into outdoor unit
  • Remove both units cap pipes
  • Seal old wall holes
  • Mueller copper insulated on site
  • Vacuum test and start-up
Request a quote

How we work

How we work

  1. 1

    Survey both sites

    We visit the removal site and the new location to plan the copper route, drain line and run length, and tell you if new copper or extra materials are needed.

  2. 2

    Pump down and remove

    We run the unit in pump-down mode until all refrigerant moves into the outdoor unit, then close the service valves and remove both units carefully.

  3. 3

    Seal holes and transport

    We close the old wall cores with suitable material so they do not let in hot air or insects, then transport both units to the new location.

  4. 4

    Refit, vacuum and start

    We mount both units, run Mueller copper in runs of up to 30 metres without welded joints, vacuum the line, test the joints, then release the saved refrigerant and verify cooling with you present.

Proper removal or an unprepared one?

AlrabihThe usual way
RefrigerantSaved by pump-downLost to the air
Copper pipesCapped at removalOpen, moisture enters
Old holesSealed after removalLeft open, air leaks in
New-site copperNew Mueller, insulatedOld copper reused
Drain at new siteDrain fall planned at surveyLeft to chance during fitting

Some of our work

Ductwork, rooftop units and diffusers, from work we've completed in Jeddah.

  • Galvanized rectangular duct trunk with branch takeoffs and round diffusers, hung from a black ceiling, a Carrier unit visible behind — interior finishing stage.
  • Round diffusers and a spiral duct trunk in a tiled stairwell service shaft.
  • Rooftop ductwork and an exhaust fan, with Jeddah buildings in the background.
  • Rooftop packaged AC units with rectangular duct transitions, city buildings behind.
  • Insulated rooftop duct run beside a packaged unit, a warehouse roof in the background.
  • A grid of round diffusers in an open-plan office ceiling, mid-construction.
  • An insulated rooftop duct elbow, against a mountainous backdrop.
  • Large insulated ductwork running along a factory ceiling, with workers visible below.
  • A yellow round diffuser mid-installation, with spiral duct and a suspended ceiling grid.
  • Duct insulation wrap in progress on a construction site, bare duct still exposed.
  • A black-painted duct trunk with round diffusers and track lighting, in a finished retail interior.
  • An indoor AHU unit connected to round ductwork in a mechanical plant room, exposed concrete ceiling.
Similar project? Send us the details

Customer reviews

What our customers say

4.8

From 10 Google reviews

  • Muhammadramzan 2641

    “MashaaAllah. Services are so good. Behaviour and kindness 100/100. Prices are less then Market. Fully recommended”

  • shahzeb armani

    “Wow. Prices are so comfortable. Outstanding services. People are so talented and nice”

  • Tawfik AlyawerLocal Guide

    “U can find all u need for air conditioning”

Read every review on Google

Your satisfaction matters to us! If you had a great experience with us, we'd love a 5-star rating and a kind review.

Worked with us? Leave a review

Service areas

We come to you anywhere in Jeddah

From Al Shiraa and Al Yaqout in the north to Al Thaghr and Al Quraiyat in the south, with our base in Al Aziziyah.

Map of Jeddah by sector, with Alrabih's base in Al Aziziyah
Don't see your district?Message us. We most likely cover it.

What sets this district apart

Al Balad's buildings are old and densely occupied, with higher tenant turnover than modern districts due to short rental periods and active trade. When moving an AC within the same building or to a nearby block, the refrigerant must be pumped first and the copper disconnected carefully, since old lines may be cramped or pressed into thin walls. The narrow stairs and passages mean the team carries units by hand up tight staircases.

Al Balad sits at the heart of historic Jeddah, an old closely built district centred on the popular markets and tight streets.

Most units in Al Balad are older splits, with copper runs often hidden inside thin walls or pressed against old facades.

The AC setup in Al Balad

  1. 1

    Moving a split from one shop to another

    Many Al Balad shops change hands, and the AC is moved from an old shop to a new one downstairs or in the building next door.

  2. 2

    Moving a split between older flats

    Old Al Balad flats are small, and many have just one unit. Moving it from one flat to another saves the cost of buying a new one.

  3. 3

    Fitting new copper in a tight location

    New sites may be tight balconies or building corners, so we carefully plan the new copper run to fit the available space.

Before the visit

Before our visit in Al Balad

  1. 1

    Tell us exactly where the new outdoor unit goes

    Specify the new outdoor unit location before the visit, and make sure it is safe and away from people and children's paths.

  2. 2

    Coordinate stairway and passage access

    If the ascent involves passing through shared passages or storage, make sure doors can be opened and there is enough space to carry the units through.

  3. 3

    Confirm access to the current location

    Make sure our team can safely reach the current outdoor unit before booking the visit date.

FAQ

Questions about AC removal & refitting

Can the old copper pipes be reused at the new site?

It depends on the condition of the pipes and the layout at the new site. If the pipes are free of oxidation and insulation cracking, and the length fits the new run, they can be reused after inspection. If the new site needs a longer route or the existing pipes show wear, fresh Mueller copper pipe at 99% pure copper is run to suit the new layout. The site survey decides.

Why not just remove the unit without pumping down first?

Before any connection is opened, the compressor is run to pump the refrigerant charge into the outdoor unit and the service valves are closed on it. If the connections are opened first, the refrigerant escapes into the air and is lost entirely, which is both costly and harmful to the environment. Pumping down first keeps the full charge sealed inside the outdoor unit, ready to use at the new site.

What happens to the old wall hole after the unit is removed?

Once the pipes and cable are pulled out, the hole is cleared of insulation remnants and sleeve material, then sealed with a filler suited to the wall type, whether concrete, brick or gypsum board. The aim is a tight closure that stops humid air and insects from entering and leaves the wall surface clean before the site is handed back.

Can a unit be moved to a different floor in the same building?

Yes, but moving to a different floor means a completely new pipe route, a different cable length, and possibly a changed drain line fall. The site survey defines the pipe path, the required run length and the outdoor unit position. Mueller copper pipe at 99% pure copper is then laid along a route that accounts for the floor difference, and a vacuum test and pressure test are carried out before the unit is started.

Can a unit be moved to a different floor in the same building?

Yes, but a different floor changes the copper run length, the drain route and where the outdoor unit is fixed. At the survey we establish whether extra copper is needed and where the drain can fall correctly, then plan the full route before any removal begins.

I'm moving flats in Al Balad, can you move my AC or should I buy a new one?

Moving the unit is cheaper and faster if it's working well. We safely pump out the gas, disconnect the copper, transport both units, and fit a new copper run at the new location.

My flat is on the third floor with a very narrow balcony, how do you get the unit up there?

We carry the units by hand up the stairs and passages, then fit them carefully on the balcony. Before the visit, let us know about narrow access and stairs so we can prepare.

My old copper lines are leaking, do new lines last longer?

New lines are high-grade solid copper and operate at full efficiency. We vacuum-test them before running to ensure there are no leaks.

Will the old building's wiring affect the new AC installation?

We check the circuit breaker and existing connections before installation. If the wiring is weak or very old, we suggest upgrading it before we start to ensure safe running.

The Jeddah corniche in cool weather

Move your unit without losing the charge

WhatsApp us your current and new locations and we will book a survey to plan the move, Saturday to Thursday.

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