Al Faisal HVAC · Dubai · Wholesale Export
R22 Refrigerant Gas Kenya —
Wholesale Supply from Dubai
R22 refrigerant for Kenya’s large installed base of older split AC, window units and commercial equipment — supplied wholesale from Dubai, shipped by sea freight to Mombasa with full DG documentation.
R22 is not a refrigerant in decline for the Kenyan HVAC market — it is the refrigerant that keeps a very large portion of Kenya’s existing AC infrastructure running. Every residential building, hotel, office block, school and government facility fitted with split AC or window units before the mid-2010s almost certainly contains R22 equipment. That equipment continues to operate, continues to require service, and continues to develop leaks that need topping up or full recharge.
Kenyan HVAC workshops that write off R22 as yesterday’s refrigerant leave a significant service revenue stream on the table. Al Faisal supplies R22 from Dubai to Kenyan buyers in consolidated LCL shipments to Mombasa — alongside R410A, R32 and R134a — so workshops can cover their entire refrigerant requirement in a single monthly order.
💡 R22 pricing has increased and will continue to tighten. Global R22 production has declined significantly under the Montreal Protocol phase-down schedule. Dubai remains a supply point for R22 for East and West Africa, but availability is no longer as consistent as it was five years ago and pricing reflects tightening supply. Kenyan buyers who stock R22 in adequate quantity when it is available — rather than ordering hand-to-mouth — manage their workshop economics better than those who depend on spot supply at variable pricing.
R22 in Kenya’s HVAC Market — The Scale of the Installed Base
Understanding why R22 remains commercially important requires a clear picture of Kenya’s AC installed base. The country’s cooling infrastructure was built largely through the 1990s and 2000s, when R22 was the universal refrigerant in residential and commercial AC. That installed base does not disappear when new R410A equipment arrives — it continues operating in parallel, and it continues needing service.
Residential Buildings
Nairobi’s apartment stock — particularly the large-scale residential developments built through the 2000s in areas like Kilimani, Westlands and South B — was fitted predominantly with R22 split AC units from brands including LG, Samsung, Hitachi and Carrier. Many of these units remain in daily use. The residents who own or rent them expect them to work, and when they develop faults, they expect repair — not replacement. R22 top-up and system service is a recurring, dependable revenue stream for Nairobi workshops.
Commercial & Office Buildings
Nairobi’s commercial property — offices, retail, hotels and hospitality — was largely air-conditioned with R22 cassette and ducted systems through the late 1990s and 2000s. These systems are maintained under service contracts that require annual servicing and refrigerant top-up. Commercial building managers do not replace entire AC systems on a refrigerant phase-down schedule — they service what they have until it fails. Workshops holding R22 service contracts with commercial properties in Nairobi have long-term, predictable revenue from this installed base.
Government & Institutional
Government offices, hospitals, schools and institutions throughout Kenya — Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and regional towns — were equipped with R22 systems at a time when it was the standard specification. These systems are rarely replaced proactively; they are serviced and kept running. Government and institutional contracts for R22 system maintenance represent a stable segment of the Kenyan HVAC service market that will persist for years.
Window Units
Window AC units — fitted in hotels, guesthouses, smaller offices and older residential buildings — almost universally run on R22. They are simple, long-lasting and commonly still in service after 15–20 years of operation. Window units in Mombasa’s coastal hotels and guesthouses represent a significant service volume — the combination of salt air corrosion, high ambient operation and ageing systems produces regular refrigerant leaks and compressor failures that require R22 for service.
Servicing R22 Systems — What Kenyan Technicians Need to Know
R22 is a straightforward refrigerant to work with compared to R410A and R32 — lower operating pressures, vapour-phase charging, wide compatibility with standard manifold gauges and service tools. But there are important technical points that affect the quality of R22 service work in Kenya.
Charging Method — Vapour Phase
R22 is a single-component refrigerant and charges correctly as vapour from an upright cylinder. Unlike R410A, there is no fractionation risk with vapour charging — the cylinder and system receive the same refrigerant composition. Use the low-side (suction) service port with the system running for top-up charging. For a full system charge after vacuum, charge to the nameplate specification weight using a charging scale — pressure alone is an unreliable guide in Kenya’s varying ambient conditions.
Normal Operating Pressures — Kenya Climate
In Kenya’s ambient conditions, typical R22 operating pressures are: suction (low side) 65–80 PSI, discharge (high side) 180–240 PSI. Higher ambient in Mombasa pushes high-side pressure toward the upper end of this range. Significantly higher discharge pressure — above 280 PSI — indicates a dirty or blocked condenser, overcharge, or non-condensables in the system. Significantly lower suction pressure — below 50 PSI — indicates undercharge, a restriction, or a faulty expansion device.
R22 Compressor Oil Compatibility
R22 systems use mineral oil or alkylbenzene oil — not the polyolester (POE) oil used in R410A and R32 systems. These oils are not compatible. When replacing a compressor in an R22 system, confirm the replacement compressor contains the correct oil type. Adding a POE-lubricated compressor to an R22 system, or contaminating an R22 system with POE oil during service, creates a mixture that does not separate cleanly and reduces lubrication effectiveness.
Finding and Fixing R22 Leaks
A system that repeatedly loses R22 charge has a leak — topping up without finding and fixing the source wastes gas and money and will never produce a lasting repair. Common leak points in older Kenyan R22 systems are flare connections that have vibrated loose, corroded copper pipe at wall penetrations, and Schrader valve cores that have degraded. UV dye leak detection — injecting dye, running the system, then inspecting with a UV lamp — finds leaks at joints and fittings that visual inspection misses. Fix the leak, then evacuate and recharge correctly.
⚠️ Do not mix R22 with R407C, R427A or any drop-in substitute refrigerant
Several refrigerants are marketed as R22 replacements or drop-in substitutes — R407C, R427A and others. These are blended refrigerants with different pressure-temperature characteristics, different oil requirements and different charging procedures from R22. Adding any of these to a system that still contains R22 creates an undefined mixture that cannot be serviced predictably and may damage the compressor. The only correct approach when switching a system from R22 to an alternative refrigerant is full recovery of the R22, system flush, oil change to POE, and complete recharge with the new refrigerant. In Kenya’s service market, where the supply of genuine R22 remains available from Dubai, there is no practical reason to use substitutes — stock and use R22 for R22 systems.
R22 Compressors for Kenyan Systems
Replacing a failed compressor in an R22 system requires an R22-rated compressor — a unit filled with mineral or alkylbenzene oil and with internal clearances designed for R22’s refrigerant properties. Al Faisal stocks GMCC, Highly and LG compressors in R22 variants across the capacity range most commonly found in Kenya’s older installed base.
1-Ton R22 Compressors
The most common capacity in Kenya’s older residential window unit and small split AC stock. GMCC and Highly rotary compressors in 1-ton R22 variants are direct replacements for the failed units in a wide range of older LG, Samsung and Hitachi residential systems. Always confirm the original compressor’s voltage (220–240V single phase for residential Kenya) and the R22 refrigerant oil specification before ordering.
1.5-Ton R22 Compressors
The 1.5-ton capacity is the most widely specified residential split AC in Kenya — and the most common compressor replacement in the Kenyan service market. GMCC, Highly and LG rotary compressors in 1.5-ton R22 variants cover the majority of older Kenyan residential split AC systems. For Mombasa coastal installations, confirm T3 rating — the original 1.5-ton unit in a Mombasa property may have been T1, but replacing with T3 is the upgrade that prevents the next early failure.
2-Ton and Above R22 Compressors
Larger R22 compressors — 2-ton, 2.5-ton and above — are found in commercial split AC, cassette units and older packaged systems in Kenyan office buildings and hotels. Al Faisal stocks R22 compressors in the commercial capacity range from GMCC and Highly. For larger commercial R22 systems — 5-ton and above — enquire directly with your system specifications and we advise on availability and sourcing options.
Ordering R22 Gas and Compressors from Dubai to Kenya
R22 gas and R22-compatible compressors ship in the same consolidated LCL container from Jebel Ali to Mombasa. Gas is DG Class 2.2 — non-flammable compressed gas — and Al Faisal prepares all required DG documentation. Most Kenyan buyers order R22 alongside R410A, R32 and R134a in one consolidated shipment, covering their full refrigerant requirement in a single order.
R22 Gas — What to order
Specify the cylinder size and quantity. R22 is available in 13.6kg cylinders standard for workshop use. Given R22’s tightening supply and rising pricing, consider ordering a larger quantity than your immediate requirement when the price is favourable — properly stored cylinders have a long shelf life.
R22 Compressor — What to send us
The compressor model number from the nameplate, or the AC unit brand and model. The installation location — Mombasa coast or inland Kenya — determines T3 vs T1 specification. Quantity required. We confirm availability and pricing within 24 hours.
Shipping
Sea freight LCL, Jebel Ali to Mombasa — 10–16 days transit. R22 gas cannot ship by air (IATA prohibited). Compressors can ship by air freight Dubai to Nairobi in 48–72 hours if urgently needed independently of the gas order.
Consolidate your order
R22 gas ships in the same container as R410A, R32, R134a, compressors, copper pipe and spare parts. One invoice, one shipment, one Mombasa clearance process — consolidating all product categories is the most efficient approach for Kenyan buyers.
🌍 Al Faisal — R22 Refrigerant Wholesale Export to Kenya
R22 gas & compressors — consolidated with your full Kenya order
R22 gas · R22 rotary compressors · T3-rated for coastal Kenya · weekly LCL sea freight Jebel Ali → Mombasa
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will R22 remain available from Dubai?
Al Faisal currently holds R22 stock and continues to supply Kenyan buyers. The honest picture is that global R22 production is declining under the Montreal Protocol phase-down, and Dubai’s R22 supply derives from production allowances in markets that retain manufacturing rights and from reclaimed/recycled stock. Supply is available now but is not guaranteed at consistent pricing or volume indefinitely. Kenyan buyers who have significant R22 service commitments — commercial building contracts, hotel maintenance agreements — should consider building a strategic stock position when pricing is favourable rather than relying on spot supply as needed.
What is the current R22 gas price per kg from Dubai to Kenya?
R22 pricing changes regularly as global supply fluctuates. WhatsApp us for a current price — we respond with the product price and a Jebel Ali to Mombasa freight estimate for your quantity within 24 hours. We recommend requesting pricing when you are ready to order rather than weeks in advance, as R22 spot prices can move meaningfully in a short period.
Should I advise my customers to replace their R22 systems or keep servicing them?
This is a commercial and technical judgement that depends on the age and condition of the specific system. A well-maintained R22 split AC or cassette unit in a Nairobi office building that has had regular service and a clean condenser can continue operating reliably for years. The argument for replacement is primarily around rising R22 service cost as gas prices increase, and the energy efficiency improvement from newer R410A or R32 inverter equipment. For a customer with a 15-year-old R22 system that has a failed compressor, the calculation is straightforward — new compressor and recharge versus new AC system. In most cases in Kenya, a compressor replacement and proper recharge is the commercially sensible choice unless the customer specifically wants to upgrade.
Can R22 gas be imported into Kenya legally?
Yes. Kenya has obligations under the Montreal Protocol but import of R22 for servicing existing equipment is permitted under the protocol’s servicing tail allowances. Refrigerant gas clears Mombasa port as DG Class 2 cargo with the correct documentation — commercial invoice, DG declaration, MSDS and packing list. Al Faisal prepares all required DG documentation. Buyers should confirm the current KRA import duty rate for refrigerant gas with their Mombasa clearing agent before shipment to ensure accurate landed cost calculation.
Related Pages
- Refrigerant Gas Wholesale Kenya — all four refrigerant types, one shipment
- R410A Refrigerant Kenya — wholesale pricing, liquid charging guide
- R32 Refrigerant Gas Kenya — A2L safety, pricing, compatible systems
- R134a Refrigerant Kenya — fridge gas, automotive AC
- Refrigerant Gas Types Guide Kenya — R22 vs R32 vs R410A comparison
- AC Compressors Wholesale Kenya — R22 compressors available
- T3-Rated Compressors Kenya — coastal installations
- AC Compressor Price Guide Kenya 2026
- Manifold Gauges & HVAC Tools Kenya — R22 service tools
- AC Spare Parts Wholesale Kenya — full product range hub
- How to Order & Ship from Dubai to Kenya
- About Al Faisal — Dubai HVAC exporter since 2005
Order R22 Refrigerant Gas for Kenya from Dubai
R22 gas in workshop cylinder quantities · R22 rotary compressors — 1-ton, 1.5-ton, 2-ton and above · T3-rated for Mombasa coastal installations · Consolidate with R410A, R32, R134a, copper pipe and spare parts in one LCL shipment. Full DG Class 2 documentation prepared by Al Faisal. Sea freight Jebel Ali → Mombasa, 10–16 days transit.
📞 +971 55 874 7919 · ☎ 04 2340 337 · Shop No S03B, Al Wasl Building, Deira – Al Rigga, Dubai · Mon–Sat 8AM–8PM (GMT+4)