Ducted and central recharge
AC refrigerant charging in Al Shara'i
In Al Shara'i in the north-east, modern residential blocks rely on unified central AC systems for multiple units. When some flats cool well and others retain heat, the cause may be a pipe leak or a pressure imbalance, not necessarily low refrigerant overall.
- 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”
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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 Shara'i is a modern district with residential blocks holding multiple flats connected to one central AC system, with copper runs stretching far from the outdoor unit to each flat. That distance may hide a small leak at one joint, affecting refrigerant pressure in just part of the system. Measuring pressure and temperature at different points is vital here before any charge, because adding refrigerant without close inspection may mask the leak and leave a warm flat cool only temporarily.
Al Shara'i is in north-east Jeddah, a district of modern residential blocks with unified central AC systems.
Refrigerant pipes in the multi-unit blocks here run from the outdoor unit to several flats, making leak inspection along the entire line a mandatory step before any charge.
The AC setup in Al Shara'i
- 1
One central system serving multiple indoor units
Most blocks in Al Shara'i have one outdoor unit that branches to indoor units in each flat, requiring precise balance in refrigerant pressure.
- 2
Long pipe runs from the outdoor unit
Pipes extend long distances from the roof to flats lower down, raising the risk of leaks at joints along the way.
- 3
One indoor unit per flat
Each flat has one indoor unit, making it easy to read its pressure and temperature to tell if it is getting enough refrigerant.
Before the visit
Before our visit in Al Shara'i
- 1
Confirm access to the rooftop
Tell us whether the rooftop is open or locked or if there are access restrictions, as the outdoor unit is there and our team needs time to read the pressure.
- 2
Note where your indoor unit is located
Tell us where your flat's indoor unit is (bedroom, living room, kitchen), as our team will also read its pressure and temperature.
- 3
Take a photo of the nameplate
Take a clear photo of the nameplate on the outdoor unit showing refrigerant type and capacity, and send it via WhatsApp with your visit request.
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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 warm but the neighbour's is cool, are we on the same system?
Yes, most blocks here have one AC system serving several flats. If one flat is warm and another cool, there may be a leak in the pipes serving your unit or an imbalance in the distribution vents, which needs separate pressure checking.
The copper pipes run through the walls, how do you check them for leaks?
We use a pressure gauge on both the outdoor and indoor units to locate the leak, then inspect visible pipes and joints in the wall where accessible.
The area is humid and our building is older, does that speed up leaks?
Humidity and age can accelerate corrosion on copper joints, especially on older pipes. Regular pressure checks help detect a leak early before it harms the system's performance.
What is the total refrigerant capacity for the whole block?
The correct capacity is on the nameplate beside the outdoor unit. But how that capacity divides among the flats depends on the pipe length to each one, so pressure and temperature checks at different points reveal whether there is a true shortage or a leak.
