Restaurant & cafe HVAC
Restaurant & cafe HVAC in Jawharat Thuwal
In Jawharat Thuwal, far north Jeddah, upmarket beachfront restaurants and cafés face harsh climate challenges from wind, humidity and salt. Alrabih designs powerful, corrosion-resistant HVAC systems built to survive rigorous coastal conditions.
- Pressure balance
- Make-up air
- Coil protection
Clients We're Proud to Serve
Organisations and companies that trusted Alrabih with their projects.
When your restaurant needs a specialist
- 1
Kitchen smells reaching diners
When the extract hood pulls out more air than is replaced, the kitchen goes negative and draws air from the dining room, bringing smells with it. The answer is calculating the volumes and delivering make-up air close to the hood.
- 2
Dining room stays warm despite the AC
A full dining room in Jeddah's humid summer raises heat and moisture load noticeably. Design must account for peak occupancy, and the right diffuser layout achieves even cooling across tables, not cold near the duct and warm in the corners.
- 3
Repeated breakdowns in kitchen AC units
Grease vapour from the burners settles on evaporator coils and blocks airflow, raising pressure and stressing the compressor. Placing the unit away from grease currents and scheduling coil cleaning reduces this damage significantly.
Who it's for
Opening a new restaurant that needs a full HVAC system
We design the cooling and make-up air system from scratch to match your kitchen and dining layout before you open.
Ask on WhatsAppYour restaurant is running but smells are reaching the tables
We survey the existing system, measure pressure between kitchen and dining, then correct the fault by adding make-up air or adjusting the air balance.
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What the work covers
- Kitchen and dining pressure survey
- Make-up air for hood
- Diffuser layout for dining
- Ductwork to SMACNA standards
- Air balance commissioning
How we work
How we work
- 1
Site and kitchen survey
We visit, measure the spaces, review the existing extract hood and burner positions, and find where negative pressure is occurring before any design work.
- 2
Design and equipment selection
We design the make-up air and cooling systems together, and select units from Carrier, YORK, General, Midea, Gree or Smart Gold to suit the space and the load.
- 3
Duct fabrication and installation
We fabricate ducts in our workshop from G90 galvanised sheet to precise sizes, install the units, and run Mueller copper in runs of up to 30 metres without welded joints, insulated with Armaflex.
- 4
Balancing and handover
We run the system and adjust dampers until the kitchen sits at slight negative and the dining room at slight positive, confirming that doors open easily and no kitchen smell crosses to the guests.
Integrated design or separate units with no balance?
| Alrabih | The usual way | |
|---|---|---|
| Make-up air | Calculated and delivered to the hood | Usually not addressed |
| Dining pressure | Slight positive, no smell transfer | Negative, pulls kitchen air in |
| Coil protection | Unit placed away from grease | Repeated breakdowns |
| Cooling spread | Diffusers sized for full occupancy | Uneven, warm corners |
| Kitchen ductwork | Fabricated in-house from G90 sheet | Off-the-shelf sizes, poor fit |
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”
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
Jawharat Thuwal is an upmarket coastal resort on the seafront with premium restaurants and cafés enjoying direct sea views. The climate here is harsh: strong winds carry high humidity and sea salt that corrode metals and electrical components quickly. Central air conditioning must be powerful enough for large, open spaces and extensive glazing, but materials must resist corrosion and salt exposure. Regular maintenance is essential to extend system life, and outdoor units need wind and salt protection.
Jawharat Thuwal is an upmarket coastal resort in far north Jeddah on the seafront with premium restaurants and cafés.
HVAC here is very powerful central systems to cover large spaces and expansive sea views, with materials chosen for coastal corrosion resistance.
The AC setup in Jawharat Thuwal
- 1
Very powerful central system for large open spaces
Luxurious open spaces and expansive sea views need a precisely sized powerful system to cover all areas without cold draughts.
- 2
Materials selected for coastal corrosion resistance
Piping, connections and outdoor units are all chosen in salt and humidity-resistant materials to extend system lifespan.
- 3
Heavy-duty mounting and wind protection
Heavy-duty mounting and steel anchors ensure stability under strong winds, and the position is chosen as sheltered as practically possible.
Before the visit
Before our visit in Jawharat Thuwal
- 1
Assess current unit condition and salt corrosion
We assess any existing units and salt corrosion damage to understand the coastal environment and suitable protection options.
- 2
Find a sheltered site for the outdoor unit away from direct wind
Outdoor unit placement is critical in coastal areas. We seek a sheltered spot from strong winds and direct spray of humidity and salt.
- 3
Agree on regular maintenance schedule before installation
Regular maintenance is essential to extend system life under coastal conditions. Set the maintenance schedule and fresh-water flushing routine before work starts.
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FAQ
Questions about Restaurant & cafe HVAC
What is the difference between make-up air and kitchen air conditioning?
Make-up air replaces the volume the hood extracts, its purpose is pressure balance not necessarily cooling. Kitchen air conditioning tackles burner heat and lowers temperature for the staff. Both may be needed, and the site survey determines which your kitchen requires.
Do outdoor seating areas need a different approach in Jeddah?
Yes. In Jeddah's heat and humidity, fans alone are not enough during peak months. The right option depends on whether the space has an open roof or a partial enclosure and how large the area is. We assess the spot and propose suitable units after the survey.
How are AC coils protected from kitchen grease?
The first step is design: we position kitchen units in airflow paths away from the grease rising off the burners. In preventive maintenance contracts we schedule pressure coil cleaning before build-up raises stress on the compressor, because early cleaning is simpler and less costly than a repair.
Can existing ductwork in an operating restaurant be repaired or does it need replacing?
The decision follows a duct inspection: we look for air leaks, grease build-up inside, and sheet corrosion from Jeddah's salty air. If the structure is sound we seal joints with Foster sealants and re-insulate with Kimmco. If not, we fabricate new sections in our workshop and replace the damaged runs.
Does a packed dining room during peak season affect how the AC performs?
Yes, every person in the room adds heat and moisture, and this is significant in Jeddah's summer. Design therefore accounts for full occupancy load, not average attendance, and diffusers are positioned to deliver even cooling across all tables. The exact layout is confirmed after the site survey.
Sea salt rapidly corrodes the outdoor unit, how do you protect it from corrosion?
We specify salt-resistant coatings and components rated for coastal humidity. Regular maintenance and fresh-water rinsing significantly extend the unit's life.
Strong winds shake the outdoor unit and ducts, how do you secure them?
We use heavy-duty anchoring and corrosion-resistant steel ties. We choose a location as sheltered as possible from direct wind exposure.
High coastal humidity increases electrical corrosion, what do you do?
We install corrosion and moisture protection on all outdoor electrical connections and wiring. Regular maintenance checks confirm the integrity of all connections.
Seawater and humidity enter the AC ducts, how do you prevent this?
We use moisture-resistant insulated ducts and fit outdoor air intakes with high-grade protection against water entry. We inspect seals at every maintenance visit.
