Ducted and central recharge
AC refrigerant charging in Al Fanar
In Al Fanar, far north Jeddah, large central AC units serve spacious villas and residential blocks, requiring pressure readings from multiple points before any refrigerant charging. Accuracy and diagnosis come first, then charging.
- 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.
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
Al Fanar is a modern residential district with large villas and mid-rise apartment blocks, where most buildings have powerful central cooling units distributing cold air across many rooms via extended ductwork. In such large systems, uneven cooling between wings or floors may reflect a leak in the long copper piping or partial blockage in the ducts. Initial checks require pressure readings from multiple points, including the condenser and evaporator, before any charging step.
Al Fanar sits in far north Jeddah, a modern sprawling residential zone of large villas and apartment blocks with broad central cooling systems.
Most buildings here have a single powerful central unit with extensive ductwork covering ten or more rooms from one outdoor point on the roof.
The AC setup in Al Fanar
- 1
Large central cooling unit with extended ductwork
Large villas and blocks in Al Fanar have powerful central units distributing cooling through long copper and fabric ducts to separate wings.
- 2
Ductwork with dampers controlling cooling distribution
Modern central systems here have dampers controlling cold air flow to each zone and may need damper inspection when diagnosing uneven cooling.
- 3
Single outdoor unit on the roof for an entire residential section
The outdoor unit on the roof supplies the whole building, requiring separate checks of discharge and suction pressure at the condenser and evaporator.
Before the visit
Before our visit in Al Fanar
- 1
Ensure safe roof access for the team
The outdoor unit is on the roof, ensure safe ladder access and a stable surface for the team before the visit, and tell us of any obstacles.
- 2
Switch off the central unit completely 20 minutes before
Large central systems need longer settling time after shutdown for pressure readings to stabilise across all villa wings.
- 3
Identify any closed or unoccupied zones
If some wings or rooms are closed off, let us know so we do not measure pressure from an isolated space that gives a false reading.
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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.
The east wing of the villa is cold, the west warm, is that always low refrigerant?
It may be low refrigerant, but could also be a small leak in the long piping or partial blockage in the warm wing's duct. We measure pressure at the condenser and evaporator and trace the ducts before charging.
The outdoor unit sits on the roof in full sun, does heat affect the readings?
Very much so. Direct sun on the roof rapidly heats the outdoor unit and distorts pressure readings. We prefer to check and charge in the early morning or evening hours.
The long ducts run under the ceiling, can they leak?
Yes, long copper ducts are prone to leaks from vibration and thermal expansion. If cooling is weak at both ends of the villa, there may be a small leak in the ducts. We check pressure and temperature at multiple points and look for oil spots or corroded sections.
Does overcharging refrigerant damage the unit?
Yes, overcharging raises pressure excessively and damages the compressor over time. We measure pressure and temperature accurately and charge to the exact quantity shown on the unit's nameplate, no more, no less.
