If it was bone dry, are you saying that you drained the system while doing the work? If so, then before recharging, you must evacuate the system. Leaving air will prevent it from cooling and the moisture in the system will combine with the refrigerant creating an acid the will eat up the system from the inside out.

If OTOH you mean that it was bone dry without your taking anything apart, there is a leak that must be located and repaired before evacuation and charging.

Hope this helps.

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