Find the leak first

Refrigerant charging in Al Tawfeeq

In Al Tawfeeq, east Jeddah, modern villas and apartment blocks need refrigerant charging when cooling drops, but a leak is almost always the cause. Alrabih's team finds and repairs the leak first, then vacuums and charges to the correct type and amount.

  • Leak located
  • Vacuum and test
  • Accurate charge

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

Signs the charge is low

  1. 1

    Weak cooling and a compressor that runs on

    The unit runs for hours without bringing the temperature down, or cools very slowly. This is usually the first sign the charge is low and the circuit can no longer move heat efficiently.

  2. 2

    Frost on the pipes or evaporator coil

    Ice on the thin pipe or on the evaporator coil points to low refrigerant pressure. Continued running can damage the coil. Where the frost forms helps the technician narrow down the problem area.

  3. 3

    A refrigerator or cold room that will not hold temperature

    In commercial or industrial refrigeration equipment, a rising cabinet temperature means stock at risk. Low refrigerant is one possible cause, and confirming it needs pressure readings and a circuit check on site.

Who it's for

  • Your window or portable unit cools slowly

    We check circuit pressure, locate and repair the leak, then vacuum and charge to the type shown on your unit's nameplate.

    Ask on WhatsApp
  • Your cold room or commercial fridge will not hold temperature

    We measure pressure, identify why the cabinet temperature is rising, repair any leak found, then charge to the correct refrigerant type for that unit.

    Ask on WhatsApp

What the work covers

  • Pressure check and leak location
  • Leak repair before charging
  • Vacuum and tightness test
  • Charge to nameplate refrigerant
  • Run test and performance check
Request a quote

How we work

How we work

  1. 1

    Inspect and locate leak

    The technician measures circuit pressure and checks joints and components that corrode in Jeddah's humid, salty air, pinpointing the leak before any other step.

  2. 2

    Repair the leak

    The technician repairs the leak point, whether a loose joint, a cracked pipe or corrosion in part of the circuit. The unit is not charged until the repair is confirmed tight.

  3. 3

    Vacuum and pressure test

    The circuit is evacuated with a vacuum pump to remove air and moisture, then the reading is watched to confirm pressure holds before refrigerant is introduced.

  4. 4

    Charge and run

    The unit is charged to the nameplate type and amount, then run and checked for proper performance on site before handover.

Fix the leak or just top it up?

AlrabihThe usual way
The leakFound and fixed firstOften ignored
VacuumBefore every chargeSometimes skipped
Refrigerant typeAs the nameplate statesMay be mixed or swapped
CompressorProtected by correct chargeWorn by wrong charge
Refrigeration equipmentAC, fridges and cold roomsUsually AC only

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 Tawfeeq is a modern developing area with spacious villas and multi-storey apartment blocks with adequate outdoor space for unit placement, and most buildings have central or modern split systems. Refrigerant leaks in these larger systems often stem from the long copper pipe joints in villas with extended runs, or from solder joints in apartment blocks. Pinpointing the leak requires advanced detection equipment and experience with central systems.

Al Tawfeeq lies in east Jeddah, a newer district of spacious villas and residential blocks with open outdoor space for AC placement.

Central and multi-head split systems are common in villas and apartment blocks, with long copper pipe runs between indoor and outdoor units.

The AC setup in Al Tawfeeq

  1. 1

    Central systems with single outdoor unit

    Modern villas in Al Tawfeeq rely on a single central system distributing cool air through ducts to multiple rooms from one outdoor unit.

  2. 2

    Multi-head splits in apartment blocks

    Apartment blocks use multi-head split systems where one outdoor unit feeds several indoor units in different flats via extended copper lines.

  3. 3

    Extended copper pipe runs

    Long distances between outdoor and indoor units in villas and blocks increase joint count and solder points, raising leak risk.

Before the visit

Before our visit in Al Tawfeeq

  1. 1

    Tell us exactly where the outdoor unit sits

    Let us know the exact location of the outdoor unit (roof, garden, balcony) and whether it can be safely accessed before we visit.

  2. 2

    Ensure team access to all indoor units

    If the system is central or multi-head, ensure the team can reach the indoor and outdoor units and ducts without obstruction.

  3. 3

    Show us any leak signs you have noticed

    If you have seen oil stains or moisture around the pipes or joints, point them out to the team before detection begins.

FAQ

Questions about Refrigerant charging

Can you just add refrigerant without looking for the leak?

A sealed refrigerant circuit does not consume refrigerant. A low charge means there is a leak somewhere. Adding refrigerant without finding and repairing that leak brings the same fault back quickly and can damage the compressor. The correct sequence is always to locate the leak, repair it, pull a vacuum on the circuit, and then charge to the type and quantity shown on the unit's nameplate.

Where does refrigerant leak in commercial refrigeration equipment?

The most common points are expansion fittings and restrictions on the liquid line, flare joints at the evaporator and condenser, and service valves where the rubber seals have aged. In commercial refrigeration, old copper pipe welds weakened by continuous compressor vibration are also a frequent source. The exact location is found during the site inspection.

Does the refrigerant type affect how the unit performs?

Yes. Every unit is designed for a specific refrigerant type with defined operating pressures and heat transfer properties. Using a different type changes those pressures and can either overload the compressor or reduce cooling output. For this reason the unit is always charged with the exact type shown on its nameplate and no substitute is used.

Is the charging work different for a home AC unit and a commercial refrigerator?

Yes, they differ in several ways. Commercial refrigeration units operate at pressures and with refrigerant types distinct from those in air conditioners, and their target temperatures are much lower. The pipe circuits are also longer and often include multiple distributors and valves that require careful inspection before vacuuming and charging. The nature of each circuit determines the procedure.

Is the charging work different for a home AC unit and a commercial refrigerator?

The core steps are the same: locate the leak, repair it, vacuum the circuit, then charge to the nameplate type. Commercial refrigeration units sometimes have additional valves and components that require a different inspection approach. What each unit needs is determined by the technician on site after pressure readings and a circuit check.

My AC cools weakly, is the refrigerant low?

Weak cooling usually means there is a leak, because refrigerant does not run out on its own. We detect the leak with advanced tools and flush the line before recharging.

Our villa has very long copper runs, where do leaks usually happen?

In villas, leaks usually occur at welded copper joints or where the pipe is exposed to vibration or stress, and finding it takes a precision gas detector.

Al Tawfeeq gets very hot in summer, does that affect the refrigerant?

High heat and direct sun increase refrigerant pressure in the system and speed up leaks from weak joints, making regular maintenance and early detection essential.

After you recharge, how long does the charge last?

If we repair the leak properly, the refrigerant lasts as long as the circuit stays sealed. If the leak is not fixed, the charge will escape again and strain the compressor.

The Jeddah corniche in cool weather

Start with the leak

WhatsApp us a photo of the unit or describe what you have noticed, and we will book the inspection and repair in your district, Saturday to Thursday.

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