Ducted and central recharge
AC refrigerant charging in Al Mahjar
In Al Mahjar, south Jeddah, uneven cooling across central and multi-head split units is common. Proper refrigerant charging starts with pressure and temperature readings, not straight gas top-up.
- 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 Mahjar is a dense residential area of villas and mid-rise apartment blocks, housing large families running central AC or multi-head split systems to cover wide spaces. These bigger networks are prone to slow leaks in the long copper runs or at joints, steadily dropping pressure and leaving some rooms cooler than others. Before any refrigerant charge, the source of the leak must be found and fixed, then the moisture must be evacuated, then the unit charged with the refrigerant type on its nameplate.
Al Mahjar sits in residential south Jeddah, a dense area of villas and apartment blocks with large central cooling systems.
Most systems here are central units or multi-head splits with long copper runs that develop slow leaks over time.
The AC setup in Al Mahjar
- 1
Central systems with long copper runs
Villas and apartment blocks in Al Mahjar rely on outdoor units far from the rooms, requiring long copper runs prone to leaks.
- 2
Multi-head splits serving multiple rooms
Many villas use one outdoor unit with several indoor heads across rooms, and each copper joint can be a leak point.
- 3
Outdoor units exposed to intense heat
Outdoor units in Al Mahjar face extreme summer heat and coastal humidity, speeding wear on the copper joints.
Before the visit
Before our visit in Al Mahjar
- 1
Locate the outdoor unit and pipe runs
Tell us before the visit where the outdoor unit sits and whether the pipes are exposed or hidden, so we can plan the inspection.
- 2
Ensure safe access to the outdoor unit
The outdoor unit may be on the roof or external wall, confirm it is safely accessible for the team before the visit.
- 3
Gather any earlier pressure readings
If you have earlier pressure or temperature records, bring them so we can compare current data and detect if leakage is happening.
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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.
Two of three rooms in my villa cool poorly, does the AC need refrigerant?
Not necessarily. There may be a leak in the pipes or a blockage in the distribution. We measure pressure and temperature first to confirm if there is a real leak, then fix it before any charge.
The outdoor copper runs at my villa are very long, does that increase leak risk?
Yes, longer runs increase connection points and exposure to coastal humidity and extreme heat outdoors. Regular inspection helps catch small leaks early.
How do you ensure you add the correct refrigerant type?
We read the refrigerant type from the nameplate on the outdoor unit before charging, and match it exactly, because mixing refrigerant types damages the system.
After charging, how long should it last before needing it again?
If there is no leak, refrigerant does not deplete and stays in the cycle for years. If you need charging every year or sooner, there is a leak that must be stopped, otherwise you keep adding gas with no result.
