Balanced air distribution
AC duct installation in Harat Al Yemen
In Harat Al Yemen, old downtown Jeddah, ductwork in cramped heritage buildings needs bespoke solutions. Alrabih designs compact duct for tight cavities, heavily insulated against downtown humidity, balancing airflow despite architectural constraints.
- Sized branches
- Sealed insulation
- Clean return path
Clients We're Proud to Serve
Organisations and companies that trusted Alrabih with their projects.
When you need a properly designed duct fit
- 1
One room cold, another warm
The unit runs but one room is too warm while the next is too cold. The cause is usually unbalanced branches or a diffuser that was never adjusted, not a fault in the unit itself.
- 2
Moisture and sweating on the ceiling
In Jeddah's humid air, uninsulated cold duct sweats on the outside and water collects on the plasterwork. Proper insulation with Armaflex or Kimmco stops the problem before it damages the ceiling finish.
- 3
Installing a concealed unit in a new build
The right time to fit duct properly is during the fit-out, before the false ceiling closes. We agree plenum dimensions, branch sizes and the return-air route at the survey before any work starts.
Who it's for
Fitting a concealed unit in your new villa
Before the false ceilings close, we design the plenums, branches and return-air route to suit the unit and each room in the villa.
Ask on WhatsAppSweating ceiling and uneven airflow in your building
We inspect the existing branches and return-air path, re-insulate the cold duct, and set the dampers so temperature evens out across every section of the building.
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What the duct installation covers
- Supply and return plenums
- Sized branch to each room
- Armaflex or Kimmco insulation
- Diffuser balancing with dampers
- Airflow check before ceiling closes
How we work
How we work
- 1
Site and unit survey
We measure the rooms and study the unit's data and plenum spec, and we settle the return-air route before deciding on branch sizes.
- 2
Design branches and plenum
We size each branch so it takes the right share of air without starving rooms farther from the unit, and we plan a return path with a correctly sized intake opening.
- 3
Fit and insulate
We fix the plenums and branches using SMACNA-standard duct, then insulate every cold surface with a sealed layer that stops sweating in Jeddah's high humidity.
- 4
Balance and hand over
We set each diffuser damper and check airflow in every room with you before the false ceiling is closed, then leave the site clean.
Designed duct or just connected duct?
| Alrabih | The usual way | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch sizing | Calculated per room | Connected without sizing |
| Return air | Routed with a sized intake | Left to chance |
| Duct insulation | Sealed against sweating | Thin or absent |
| Diffuser balance | Damper set per room | All diffusers fully open |
| Pre-closure airflow check | Done with you before closing | Faults found after ceiling closes |
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
Harat Al Yemen is a historic district in old downtown, tightly packed ancient buildings with narrow ceiling cavities and tight passages between walls. Old heritage architecture never intended central ducting, so most older homes use window or split units. Some owners now want concealed duct but space is severely limited, requiring clever design with narrow pipes and precise balancing to avoid noise and weak airflow. Coastal humidity and deep old masonry mean mould and water pooling in the duct are genuine risks.
Harat Al Yemen sits in historic downtown Jeddah, a district of tightly packed heritage buildings with narrow ceiling cavities and tight passages.
Most old buildings here were not designed for central duct, relying on split or window units. Those wanting duct need smaller-diameter pipes and custom balancing to avoid noise and weak airflow.
The AC setup in Harat Al Yemen
- 1
Small-diameter duct pipes in tight cavities
In old houses, we use smaller diameters than standard to fit narrow gaps between ceiling and floor structure.
- 2
High-efficiency split units as an alternative
If central duct is impractical, we recommend modern high-efficiency split units that distribute cooling adequately for the space.
- 3
Extra acoustic insulation for narrow pipes
Smaller diameters can increase noise, so we add extra acoustic insulation around the pipes to minimise it.
Before the visit
Before our visit in Harat Al Yemen
- 1
Measure the ceiling cavity depth
Before the visit, measure the gap between your ceiling and the floor above, and send us the figure.
- 2
Identify nearest parking and easiest entrance
Streets are extremely tight, so identify with us the nearest possible parking spot and the easiest route to your house.
- 3
Confirm access to the roof or external cavity
If you need an outdoor unit, confirm the roof is safe and accessible. If it goes in a tight external space, tell us the location beforehand.
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FAQ
Questions about AC duct installation
Why does duct in Jeddah sweat more than elsewhere?
Jeddah's outdoor air carries high moisture because of its coastal location. When that air touches a cold duct surface, the moisture condenses immediately. Insulating with a thick enough layer of Armaflex or Kimmco, with all joints sealed, raises the outer surface temperature above the dew point and stops the sweating.
Does a longer branch deliver less air to the room?
Yes, a longer branch resists airflow more than a short one. This is why we size each branch individually, so near and far rooms receive balanced quantities of air, and we complete the adjustment with dampers during start-up.
How do you size the return-air opening?
The intake opening must be large enough so the unit does not work against negative pressure that strains it. We check the unit data and plenum requirements and decide size and position at the survey, because placing it behind a closed door or away from occupied areas changes the calculation.
Does a large room need more than one air outlet?
Usually, yes. A long majlis or a wide living room cannot be served by one outlet, because the air cools one end and leaves the other. We spread the outlets along the room, split the branch between them, and keep them away from the return grille so cool air does not go straight back to the unit.
Does the duct material affect sweating and airflow balance?
Yes. Sheet metal duct holds its shape under air pressure, so flow quantities stay as designed. Flexible duct can compress or sag, changing its cross-section and upsetting the balance. We therefore fabricate the main branches from galvanised sheet in our workshop and use flexible duct only for the shortest possible connection at each diffuser.
Can ductwork fit through the narrow cavities in old house ceilings?
The cavities are very tight, but we can run smaller-diameter pipes than normal. We visit first to measure the space and confirm feasibility, then design a bespoke solution to fit the available gap.
The streets are extremely narrow, how do you transport equipment and pipes?
The passages are extremely tight, so we carry pipes and equipment by hand and disassemble large pieces if needed. We coordinate with the owner beforehand on the nearest parking and best access route.
Mould and humidity in old houses are a problem, how do you protect the duct?
We insulate the duct very heavily to prevent condensation, provide a separate drain with strong slope to prevent water pooling, and recommend inspection every three months.
Do narrow pipes cause noise or weak airflow?
Narrow pipes can increase air speed and noise. We calculate diameters precisely and balance flow in each branch to avoid noise, and use acoustic insulation if needed.
