Professional duct routing

Duct installation in Al Balad

In Al Balad's cramped downtown buildings, duct installation requires careful planning because the old residential and commercial blocks have tight ceilings crammed with water and power lines. Alrabih's team maps the route beforehand, seals every joint with Foster sealant and insulates with Armaflex to ensure even airflow to every room.

  • Sealed joints
  • Proper insulation
  • Balanced branches

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

When you need a specialist duct installer

  1. 1

    Rooms that cool unevenly

    One room freezing, another barely cool, even though they share the same system. The cause is usually a wrong branch takeoff or an unbalanced diffuser. We inspect the existing route and fix the fault at its real source, not at the thermostat.

  2. 2

    Adding a room or a new wing

    You have added a room or extended office space and need to connect it to the existing duct network. We inspect the current network to confirm it can carry the extension, then connect the new branch in a way that does not reduce airflow to the other rooms.

  3. 3

    Air leaking above the false ceiling

    You can hear air above the suspended ceiling, or some diffusers have grown weak since a previous maintenance visit. Unsealed joints waste cold air in the ceiling void before it reaches the rooms. Sealing them with Foster sealants solves the problem at its source.

Who it's for

  • Fitting out a new office that needs duct runs

    We survey the ceiling voids before they are closed and route duct runs with correct hangers and branch takeoffs.

    Ask on WhatsApp
  • Some rooms barely cool and you suspect the duct

    We inspect the duct route and fix wrong branch takeoffs and open joints at their exact location.

    Ask on WhatsApp

What the work covers

  • Duct routed above false ceiling
  • Hangers and supports fitted
  • Branch takeoffs and diffusers connected
  • Joints sealed with Foster
  • Duct insulated with Armaflex
Request a quote

How we work

How we work

  1. 1

    Site survey

    We inspect the ceiling void, plan a route clear of electrical and plumbing conflicts, and measure the actual dimensions of every section of the network.

  2. 2

    Hang and route the duct

    We fix hangers at correct spacing to prevent sag, then mount duct sections, connect branch takeoffs, and fit diffusers and grilles in the positions agreed at the survey.

  3. 3

    Seal and insulate

    We seal every joint with Foster sealants to stop air leakage, then insulate the duct with Armaflex or Kimmco to prevent condensation in Jeddah's humid air and keep the air cold along its full run.

  4. 4

    Check and hand over

    We run the system and confirm that air comes from every diffuser, then address any diffuser that seems weak before the false ceiling is closed and the site is handed over.

Planned routing or quick routing?

AlrabihThe usual way
JointsSealed with Foster sealantsTape that fails in heat
InsulationFull Armaflex or KimmcoPatchy or missing
HangersCorrect spacing, no sagToo few, duct sags
Branch takeoffsPositioned to balance airflowWherever space allows
Duct routePlanned at surveyDecided on site

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 Balad's old buildings have low false ceilings and tight gaps between beams, so duct installation needs precise planning to avoid existing water and power pipes. Most shops and flats here were not designed for a central system, so we adapt the run to fit the available space and seal every joint carefully because any leak leaves a room without cooling. Coordinating with the building management or shop owner is essential since fitting takes time and may disrupt business or occupancy temporarily.

Al Balad is in the heart of historic Jeddah, a dense district of old buildings used heavily for both residential and retail around the popular souks and old market.

Most duct work here converts existing split units into a central system for a flat or shop, rather than a new build installation.

The AC setup in Al Balad

  1. 1

    Converting split units to a central system

    Most customers here convert existing split units to a central ducted system to cover a whole flat or shop without multiple outdoor units.

  2. 2

    Tight routes between false and original ceiling

    The gap between the false ceiling and the structural slab is very tight, so we choose duct diameter carefully and adapt the route to fit.

  3. 3

    Individual branches to small rooms

    Flats and shops here are often small with many rooms, so we design separate branches to each room with dampers to control flow.

Before the visit

Before our visit in Al Balad

  1. 1

    Survey existing spaces and pipes

    Before the visit, ensure the building manager or shop owner can safely access the false ceiling for route assessment.

  2. 2

    Coordinate timing with business or occupancy

    Fitting may take several hours or spread over days, so agree with us on visit times that do not disrupt shop hours or flat occupancy.

  3. 3

    Prepare safe access to the ceiling and outdoor unit

    Ensure the team can safely reach the false ceiling and the planned outdoor unit location before fitting begins.

FAQ

Questions about Duct installation

How do you know the existing network can carry an extension?

Before any extension the technician checks the main duct dimensions and existing branch takeoffs, and measures air velocity at the current diffusers. If velocity is already low or the main run is narrow, he explains what must be corrected first. The site survey determines whether the extension is feasible on the existing network or whether the supply section needs to be enlarged.

Why does moisture form on the duct above the false ceiling?

Warm humid air trapped above the false ceiling meets the cold duct surface and moisture condenses on the outside of the duct wall. The most common cause is torn insulation or open joints that let warm air reach the bare metal. Armaflex or Kimmco insulation is fitted around the full perimeter and every joint is sealed with Foster sealants so no path remains for outside air to reach the duct surface.

Can you re-hang sagging duct without replacing the whole network?

Usually yes. The technician first identifies the cause of the sag: a failed hanger, a loose anchor point in the ceiling structure, or deformation of the duct itself. If the duct is undamaged, hangers are repositioned and spaced to prevent the sag from recurring. If the duct is deformed or the insulation has failed, the technician explains what needs replacing before re-hanging proceeds.

When is a damper needed at a branch takeoff?

A damper is fitted at a branch takeoff when the cooling load differs between zones connected to the same main duct run, for example a room with a large window compared with an interior corridor. Without a damper the path of least resistance takes most of the air and the other rooms receive less. The site survey identifies which branch points require a damper and which can be balanced by adjusting the takeoff size alone.

Can duct runs be extended after the false ceiling is closed?

It is usually possible by opening access panels or cutting limited sections in the false ceiling to reach the void above. The technician maps the route before starting to keep the number of openings to a minimum. Once the duct run, insulation and sealing are complete, panels are refitted or the cut sections are restored. The complexity and number of openings depend on the false ceiling type and any obstructions present, which the site survey establishes.

Our building is very old, can duct work really fit it?

Yes, we adapt the route to fit the existing gaps between beams and pipes. A site visit confirms whether fitting is possible and identifies the best path.

The street is too narrow to bring in materials, how do you manage that?

We bring materials and equipment in stages and store them on site, and coordinate with you beforehand about the best delivery and access point.

Does Al Balad's high humidity affect the duct insulation?

Yes, the coastal humidity demands thick Armaflex insulation to prevent condensation on the duct surface and ensure long-term performance.

The building's wiring is weak and water pipes are tangled, does that complicate fitting?

That requires extra planning. We survey the existing pipes and connections before fitting to avoid any conflicts.

The Jeddah corniche in cool weather

Book a duct routing survey

WhatsApp a brief description of the space and a photo of the false ceiling if you can, and we will book a survey in your district, Saturday to Thursday.

CallWhatsApp