Ducted and central recharge
AC refrigerant charging in Al Farouq
In Al Farouq, south Jeddah, mid-rise residential buildings and flat blocks share centralised AC systems serving multiple units. Alrabih's team measures the distribution line pressures and temperatures, checks for leaks, then evacuates and cleans before charging with the correct refrigerant type.
- 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.
Split AC installation
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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 Farouq has mid-rise residential buildings and flat blocks from one or two decades ago, many relying on unified centralised AC systems serving whole floors or groups of units. These systems are older and moisture and mould have accumulated inside due to the coastal climate, affecting the remaining refrigerant quality. Precise charging here demands a clean vacuum and moisture removal before fresh refrigerant is added.
Al Farouq lies in Jeddah's residential south, a district of flat blocks and mid-rise residential buildings with shared centralised AC systems.
Most of Al Farouq's centralised AC systems need periodic charging every few years due to coastal humidity and small leaks in the older piping.
The AC setup in Al Farouq
- 1
Shared centralised system across multiple flats
Al Farouq systems serve a floor or group of flats, so a small leak affects multiple units and requires precise unified charging.
- 2
Older copper lines with mould buildup
The piping in older buildings has accumulated moisture and mould, requiring deep vacuum and cleaning before new refrigerant charging.
- 3
Outdoor units mounted on building roofs
Most outdoor units in Al Farouq are on shared roofs, requiring coordination with building management for safe access.
Before the visit
Before our visit in Al Farouq
- 1
Coordinate with building management for roof access
The outdoor unit is on the shared roof, so confirm the visit time with the caretaker or management to ensure door access and safety.
- 2
Have keys ready for interior units and vents
We may need to open interior distribution vents to check pressure and airflow, so have keys ready for all interior unit access points.
- 3
Check the electrical circuit before the visit
Check that the AC system's breaker is working properly, as we need to run the unit during pressure checks and charging.
More districts for AC refrigerant charging
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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.
My flat is cold but the next unit is warm, is the refrigerant low?
It may be uneven distribution between units or a small leak in the shared lines. We check each branch's pressure separately to pinpoint the issue before charging.
The building is old and the pipes are tight against the walls, how do you reach them?
We locate the pipe route and outdoor unit with the building management or caretaker beforehand and clarify any safe-access needs for the gauge ports and pressure points.
The humidity here is high, does it affect the new refrigerant?
Coastal humidity enters the system through leaks and weakens the refrigerant. That is why we do a deep vacuum evacuation before charging to remove all accumulated moisture.
The upper floor is hotter than the ground floor, does it need more refrigerant?
Not always. There may be an airflow balance problem or partial blockage in the upper distribution vents. We check pressure and temperature at each floor to identify the root cause.
