Ducted and central recharge
AC refrigerant charging in Al Andalus
In Al Andalus, west Jeddah, coastal buildings face high humidity and salt air, affecting refrigerant and copper piping. Careful leak and pressure checks are essential before charging, especially after major maintenance.
- Accurate pressure readings
- Charge recovery
- Nameplate-type charge
Clients We're Proud to Serve
Organisations and companies that trusted Alrabih with their projects.
When your system needs a refrigerant charge
- 1
Uneven cooling across zones
One office or floor feels hot while the rest of the building is cool. Before adding any refrigerant, the technician reads pressures and temperatures at several points to confirm that a low charge is actually the cause.
- 2
After a repair or component swap
Replacing a compressor, a valve or any part that opens the circuit means the old charge escapes. It must be recovered with a dedicated machine, then the line is vacuumed and recharged after the repair is done.
- 3
A system restarted after long shutdown
A central or rooftop unit shut down for a full season in Jeddah's salty coastal air may have lost part of its charge. We verify with pressure readings before adding anything, and look for a leak if the readings point to one.
Who it's for
Your villa's ducted system has lost its cooling
We read system pressures and line temperatures, find any leak in the long pipe runs, then vacuum and charge to the refrigerant type on the unit nameplate.
Ask on WhatsAppYour building's rooftop unit cools unevenly across floors
We inspect the system and its drawings, measure pressures and temperatures at multiple points to find the cause, then recover the old charge if a repair is needed and recharge to the nameplate type only.
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What the charging work covers
- Suction and discharge pressure readings
- Liquid and suction line temperatures
- Old refrigerant charge recovery
- Line vacuum before recharging
- Charge to nameplate refrigerant type
How we work
How we work
- 1
System check and readings
The technician checks the unit nameplate and system drawings, then reads suction and discharge pressures and line temperatures to judge the actual charge condition.
- 2
Find and fix the leak
If readings show a low charge, the technician finds the leak in the long line set, joints or components, and repairs it before any refrigerant is added.
- 3
Recovery and vacuum
The remaining old charge is recovered with a dedicated recovery machine, then a vacuum pump removes all air and moisture from the line before the new charge goes in.
- 4
Charge and verify
The system is charged with the refrigerant type on the nameplate only, never mixed with another type, then pressures are read again and cooling is checked across all zones.
Careful charge or a random top-up?
| Alrabih | The usual way | |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosing the cause | Pressures and temperatures first | Add refrigerant straight away |
| The leak | Found and fixed before charging | Left to repeat the problem |
| Old charge | Recovered by machine | Vented to atmosphere |
| Refrigerant type | Nameplate type, no mixing | Whatever is to hand |
| Long line sets | Joints checked along the full run | Checked at the unit only |
Everything your AC needs, from one team
From system design and duct fabrication to installation, commissioning and maintenance.
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Some of our work
Ductwork, rooftop units and diffusers, from work we've completed in Jeddah.
Customer reviews
What our customers say
- 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”
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 reviewService 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.
What sets this district apart
Al Andalus is a modern waterfront residential zone with villas and sea-view apartment blocks, where high humidity and salt air accelerate corrosion of copper piping and connections, causing quiet slow leaks. Systems here are typically multi-split or central, but pressure may drop gradually from corrosion-induced leaks. Before charging refrigerant, thorough leak and pressure checks are needed on each branch or cooling zone.
Al Andalus lies in west Jeddah on the coast, a modern residential zone of villas and sea-view blocks exposed to high humidity and salt air.
Most units here are multi-split or central systems with long copper piping exposed to coastal humidity and corrosion.
The AC setup in Al Andalus
- 1
Multi-split units on a sea-facing balcony
Coastal flats and villas here have multi-split units on sea-facing balconies, with piping exposed to salt and humidity.
- 2
Central unit with long ducts exposed to corrosion
Some large villas have a central unit on the roof with long ducts extending across multiple rooms, humidity accelerates copper corrosion.
- 3
Long copper pipes from outdoor to indoor unit
The long distance from outdoor units on roofs or balconies to indoor units means extended copper runs exposed to humidity and corrosion.
Before the visit
Before our visit in Al Andalus
- 1
Clean the outdoor unit of salt and dust
Before our visit, clean the outdoor unit of any salt or coastal dust buildup so we get accurate pressure and temperature readings.
- 2
Ensure safe access to the unit from the sea-facing balcony
If the unit is on an external balcony, ensure safe access and that the balcony railing does not obstruct team movement.
- 3
Switch off the unit 15 minutes before our arrival
Pressure readings need settling time after shutdown, especially in humid coastal conditions where condensation is higher.
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FAQ
Questions about AC refrigerant charging
Why can't a second refrigerant type be mixed into a ducted system?
Every refrigerant type is matched to a specific compressor, lubricating oil and operating pressures. Mixing two types shifts the pressures and contaminates the oil, straining the compressor and ruining cooling performance. We read the nameplate type and use only that.
Can a rooftop unit be recharged without shutting the whole building down?
In most cases one rooftop unit can be worked on while the others keep running, but this depends on how the system is designed and how many units it has. The technician reviews the system drawings at the survey and decides the approach that causes least disruption.
What do pressure and temperature readings tell you about a central AC system?
Suction pressure and gas line temperature show how well the evaporator coil is absorbing heat, while discharge pressure and liquid line temperature reveal condenser performance. Comparing both sets against the manufacturer's values shows whether the charge is low, high or whether another component is the real problem.
Why is the old charge recovered rather than just released?
Releasing refrigerant to the air damages the ozone layer and is prohibited. Recovery keeps the gas for proper recycling or disposal. In large systems the charge is substantial, so recovery both protects the environment and avoids losing a costly material before the repair is complete.
How does charging a ducted system differ from charging a standard split unit?
A ducted system has much longer refrigerant line sets and a larger charge, so a shortage takes longer to appear and leak-finding covers a much greater length of pipe and joints. Pressure readings must also be compared against the manufacturer's values for the whole system, not just a single indoor unit.
Al Andalus is near the sea, does salt damage the refrigerant?
Salt and humidity do not damage the refrigerant itself, but accelerate corrosion of copper pipes and fittings, causing slow leaks. So we inspect pipes and fittings for corrosion and leaks before charging.
My units sit close on the sea-facing balcony, does humidity affect pressure readings?
Yes, high coastal humidity may condense on the outdoor unit parts and affect readings. We choose a less humid time slot to measure, and dry any condensation before reading pressure.
I see salt droplets on the outdoor unit, should it be cleaned before charging?
Yes, salt and dust buildup on the outdoor unit reduces cooling efficiency and affects temperature readings. We clean the outdoor unit before checks and charging.
Does humidity damage the inside of the indoor unit?
High humidity may promote mould growth in the drain pan and indoor coil, reducing air flow and cooling efficiency. We clean internal parts during inspection and maintenance.
