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Explore air conditioning installations, planned maintenance and responsive repairs completed by Norton Facilities across Leicester and the Midlands.

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Air Conditioning Installations

Comfort designed around the building.

Correctly sized, carefully positioned systems installed with performance, appearance and long-term reliability in mind.

Commercial Air Conditioning

Shredfast Fitness Studio · Leicester

Two-zone Samsung air conditioning for a new fitness studio

As part of the new Shredfast fitness studio fit-out in Leicester, Norton Facilities installed two Samsung systems tailored to the different demands of the main training space and reception area.

10kWSamsung 360 cassetteMain studio area

3.5kWSamsung WindFree™Reception area

The solution

A 10kW Samsung 360 cassette system was installed centrally in the main studio to provide effective, even air distribution throughout the open training area. A 3.5kW Samsung WindFree™ wall-mounted system was installed in reception, giving the front-of-house area comfortable temperature control without strong direct draughts.

Separate systems matched to each area
Neat black services coordinated with the studio finish
Simple local controls for day-to-day operation
Outdoor units securely mounted to maximise available space

Black Samsung WindFree wall-mounted air conditioning unit at Shredfast reception — Samsung WindFree™ system in reception

Samsung 360 round-flow cassette installed in the main Shredfast fitness studio — 360 cassette serving the main studio

Samsung wired air conditioning controller installed at Shredfast — Easy-to-use local controller

Two Samsung outdoor air conditioning units mounted outside Shredfast fitness studio — Securely mounted outdoor units

Air Conditioning Maintenance

What regular servicing prevents.

These are real examples of issues found during routine servicing. Dirt and contamination restrict airflow, reduce efficiency and can eventually cause leaks, poor performance or component failure. Planned maintenance finds and corrects these problems before they become expensive breakdowns.

Heavily contaminated air conditioning filters removed for cleaning

Heavily contaminated filters

The issue: A thick layer of dust is restricting the air that can pass through the filters.
Typical causes: Normal airborne dust, busy premises, nearby building work and filters left too long between cleans.
Remedy: Remove and thoroughly clean suitable reusable filters—or replace disposable filters—then check airflow and condition.

Air conditioning fan and coil heavily contaminated with dust

Contaminated fan and coil

The issue: Dust has built up across the indoor heat exchanger and fan assembly, reducing airflow and heat transfer.
Typical causes: Dirty or missing filters, long service intervals and dust bypassing the filtration system.
Remedy: Isolate the system, dismantle as required and safely clean the coil, fan assembly, casing and filters using appropriate products.

Close-up of an indoor air conditioning scroll fan with heavy bacterial build-up

Bacterial build-up on the indoor scroll fan

The issue: Heavy bacterial and biological contamination has built up across the fan blades. The fan can no longer cut and move the air correctly, resulting in poor airflow, low operating pressures and reduced system performance. Contaminated airflow can also create unpleasant odours and an unhygienic indoor environment.
Typical causes: High-humidity conditions, continual condensation, airborne dust and organic matter combining inside the indoor unit—especially when deep cleaning is overdue.
Remedy: Isolate and dismantle the unit as required, then thoroughly clean and disinfect the scroll fan, surrounding casing, coil and drain components. Reassemble and confirm airflow, temperatures and operating pressures.

Burnt neutral terminal discovered inside an outdoor air conditioning unit rotary isolator

Burnt neutral in an outdoor rotary isolator

The issue: Severe heat damage was found at the neutral terminal inside the outdoor unit’s rotary isolator. The system was still operating, but the damaged connection presented a serious risk of sudden failure and further electrical damage.
Typical causes: A loose, poorly terminated or deteriorating connection can create high electrical resistance. Heat then builds at the terminal and progressively damages the isolator, cable and insulation.
Remedy: Safely isolate the supply, replace the damaged isolator and any heat-affected cable, remake and correctly tighten all terminations, then complete the appropriate electrical safety and operational checks before returning the system to service.

Air conditioning engineer using digital instruments to test refrigerant pressures, temperatures and electrical current

Performance testing—not guesswork

Cleaning is only part of a proper service. Norton Facilities uses the correct calibrated tools and manufacturer data to confirm that the system is operating safely and efficiently.

Digital refrigerant instruments to assess system pressures and operating conditions
Temperature probes to check air and pipe temperatures, superheat and subcooling where applicable
Clamp meter to measure electrical current and compare it with expected values
Manufacturer software and data to review live operation, fault history and system performance where supported

These readings are considered together—along with airflow, cleanliness and visual checks—to identify problems such as restricted airflow, incorrect refrigerant charge, failing components or abnormal electrical load.

Outdoor air conditioning heat exchanger blocked with dirt

Restricted outdoor coil

The issue: Dirt across the outdoor heat exchanger restricts airflow and makes it harder for the system to reject or absorb heat.
Typical causes: Traffic pollution, dust, leaves, airborne debris and nearby vegetation or industrial activity.
Remedy: Clean the coil with suitable methods and products, straighten damaged fins where practical and verify clear airflow around the unit.

Air conditioning condensate pump installed with dirt and sludge in its reservoir

Close-up of biological contamination and sludge inside an air conditioning condensate pump reservoir

Contaminated condensate pump

The issue: Sludge and biological contamination are collecting in the pump reservoir and drainage system. The close-up shows how this build-up can surround the pump components and restrict reliable operation.
Typical causes: Moisture, dust and microbial growth naturally combining over time inside the condensate system.
Remedy: Clean and disinfect the reservoir, pump and drain line, then test pump operation, float switches and safe discharge to prevent water leaks.

The result

Cleaner equipment. Better airflow. Lower risk.

Regular maintenance supports efficient operation, improves comfort, protects components and gives developing faults a chance to be corrected before they interrupt the customer’s business.

Refrigeration Maintenance

Protecting stock and critical temperatures.

Refrigeration problems often develop gradually and remain hidden until cabinet temperatures rise or equipment fails. These real maintenance findings show how planned inspection, cleaning and testing protect stock, efficiency and reliability.

Refrigeration evaporator found partially frozen after removal of an evaporator fan

Evaporator coil frozen on one side

The issue: Removing the evaporator fan exposed uneven ice formation across part of the coil. A partially frozen evaporator reduces airflow and cooling capacity and can hide an underlying system fault.
Typical causes: Restricted airflow, a fan or defrost issue, uneven refrigerant distribution, low refrigerant charge or a restriction in the refrigeration circuit.
Remedy: Defrost and inspect the full coil, confirm fan and defrost operation, check airflow and then test pressures, temperatures and superheat to identify and correct the underlying cause.

Refrigerated cabinet condenser coil blocked with dust

Blocked cabinet condenser

The issue: Dust is blocking the condenser fins, preventing the cabinet from rejecting heat efficiently. This increases operating pressure, energy use and compressor strain.
Typical causes: Airborne grease and dust drawn into a low-level condenser, particularly in busy kitchens and retail environments.
Remedy: Isolate the cabinet, clean the condenser safely without damaging its fins, clear surrounding ventilation and confirm temperatures and operating pressures.

Commercial freezer cabinet overstocked in front of its internal air outlets

Overstocking restricting airflow

The issue: Product is packed tightly against the internal fans and air outlets, preventing cold air from circulating evenly around the cabinet.
Typical causes: Cabinets filled beyond their intended capacity or stock placed above load lines and directly in front of return-air paths.
Remedy: Rearrange and reduce stock to restore clear airflow, explain correct loading to staff and verify that product temperatures recover consistently.

Torn door seal on a commercial refrigerated cabinet

Torn cabinet door seal

The issue: A damaged gasket allows warm, moisture-laden air to enter the cabinet. The system runs longer and may develop condensation or excessive ice.
Typical causes: Age, repeated use, trapped debris, aggressive cleaning products or the seal being pulled and damaged during loading.
Remedy: Replace the damaged gasket, clean and inspect the mating surface, check door alignment and confirm an even seal around the full perimeter.

Gradual ice build-up around a freezer cabinet air grille

Ice building around the air grille

The issue: Progressive icing is beginning to obstruct the freezer’s air path into the cabinet, reducing circulation and creating uneven temperatures.
Typical causes: Moisture entering through doors or damaged seals, loading that blocks airflow, defrost or drainage faults, or long periods of door opening.
Remedy: Safely defrost the cabinet, clear the grille and drain, inspect door seals and loading, then test the defrost system and operating temperatures.

Digital refrigeration manifold and temperature probe being used to measure superheat

Measuring superheat

Why we test: Superheat compares refrigerant saturation temperature with the actual suction-line temperature. It helps show whether the evaporator is being fed correctly and whether refrigerant is fully vaporised before returning to the compressor.
How it helps: Accurate pressure and temperature measurements can highlight underfeeding, overfeeding, airflow problems, incorrect charge or restrictions.
The result: Readings are assessed alongside cabinet temperature, airflow, equipment condition and manufacturer data—never used in isolation.

Dirty cellar cooler evaporator coil before deep cleaning — 1 · Initial condition

Cellar cooler evaporator coil during chemical cleaning — 2 · Deep cleaning

Cellar cooler evaporator coil after contaminants have been removed — 3 · Cleaned coil surface

07 · Before, during & after

Deep-cleaning a cellar cooler evaporator

The issue: Dirt and contamination had accumulated across the evaporator fins, restricting airflow and insulating the heat-transfer surface.

The process: The cooler was safely isolated and accessed, then the coil was treated and thoroughly cleaned using suitable products and methods while protecting surrounding components.

The result: Removing the contamination restores airflow and heat transfer, helping the cellar cooler reach temperature more efficiently and reducing unnecessary strain on fans and refrigeration components.

Planned refrigeration care

Small findings prevent costly stock losses.

Regular maintenance combines cleaning, visual inspection, temperature checks and refrigeration measurements to find developing faults before they become emergency callouts.

Ventilation Maintenance

Cleaner airflow and dependable extraction.

Effective ventilation depends on the whole air path—from grilles and filters to fans, belts, ductwork and controls. These examples show the cleaning, inspection and testing that help ventilation systems operate safely and as intended.

Ventilation grille heavily blocked with dust and debris

Heavily blocked ventilation grille

The issue: Dust and debris have substantially obstructed the grille, reducing the volume of air that can pass through it.
Typical causes: Airborne fibres and dust accumulating over a long service interval, particularly where no effective upstream filtration is present.
Remedy: Remove and thoroughly clean the grille, inspect the duct behind it, check associated filters and confirm that airflow has been restored.

Ventilation controller displaying indoor carbon dioxide and temperature readings

Air handling unit control panel with operating status indicators

Air-quality and control checks

What we check: CO₂ and temperature readings help indicate whether a space is receiving appropriate fresh air, while the control panel confirms operating modes, status signals and any active faults.
Why it matters: A fan can appear to be running while sensors, controls, dampers or staged heating components are not operating as intended.
Maintenance action: Review live readings and setpoints, confirm sensor response and operating sequence, inspect alarms and prove the system through its available modes.

Clean stainless-steel baffle filters fitted to a commercial kitchen extract canopy

Large commercial kitchen extract canopy and baffle-filter system

Commercial kitchen extract canopies

What we inspect: Baffle filters, canopy surfaces, lighting, accessible duct connections and overall extraction performance.
Why it matters: Grease loading restricts airflow, creates odours and increases fire risk throughout the extract path.
Maintenance action: Clean or replace filters as appropriate, remove grease from accessible surfaces and arrange specialist deep cleaning where contamination extends into ductwork.

Belt-driven centrifugal ventilation fan opened for inspection

Ventilation fan, motor and belt drive covered in heavy dust

Fan, motor and belt-drive inspection

The issue: Belts, pulleys, motors and fan impellers wear and collect contamination. Loose or worn belts can slip, while dirty impellers lose aerodynamic efficiency and become unbalanced.
Typical causes: Normal mechanical wear, dust ingress, poor belt alignment and extended intervals between inspections.
Remedy: Safely isolate the fan, clean accessible components, inspect belt condition and tension, check pulleys, bearings and fixings, then verify rotation, vibration and operation.

Panel filter correctly fitted inside an air handling unit

Air-handling unit filter care

What we check: Filter condition, correct fit, sealing and pressure drop where monitoring is available.
Why it matters: Loaded or poorly fitted filters reduce airflow, increase fan energy and allow contamination to bypass into coils, fans and occupied spaces.
Remedy: Replace filters with the correct specification, clean the housing and ensure each filter is seated properly without bypass gaps.

Damaged and poorly sealed flexible ventilation connection beneath a rooftop fan

Damaged rooftop fan connection

The issue: The connection beneath the rooftop fan is torn and heavily patched, leaving an unreliable air path and exposing the system to leakage and contamination.
Typical causes: Weathering, vibration, ageing materials and previous temporary repairs.
Remedy: Replace the damaged connection with a suitable properly supported component, seal all joints, inspect the fan and surrounding roof opening and confirm effective airflow.

Large commercial air handling unit installed in a plant area

Full air-handling unit inspection

A planned AHU visit looks beyond a single filter or fan. Each accessible section is checked so the complete system can operate together effectively.

Filters and coils checked for loading, cleanliness and unrestricted airflow
Fans, motors and drives inspected for wear, condition, vibration and correct operation
Dampers, actuators and sensors checked against the intended control sequence
Heating and cooling sections inspected for condition, leaks and correct response
Drainage, panels and seals checked to prevent water problems and air bypass

Findings are recorded clearly so immediate defects and future planned remedial work can be prioritised.

Complete-system maintenance

Clean components are only part of the job.

Good ventilation maintenance combines hygiene, mechanical inspection, controls checks and measured performance to keep fresh air and extract systems dependable.

Breakdowns & Repairs

Fault found. Problem solved.

Breakdown work is more than replacing the first part that looks suspicious. These examples show methodical electrical testing, refrigeration diagnostics, safe refrigerant recovery and component repairs across air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation and catering equipment.

Meter testing & electrical diagnosis

Measured fault finding—not guesswork.

Professional meter testing gives our engineers clear evidence about what is happening inside a circuit. By checking the equipment methodically, we can isolate the actual fault before recommending a repair or replacing a component.

Insulation resistance testing being carried out during electrical fault diagnosis — Insulation-resistance testing

Electrical component being checked with a professional meter — Continuity and resistance testing

How meter testing helps diagnose faults

Insulation-resistance tests can identify electrical leakage through damaged insulation in motors, compressors, heaters and wiring
Continuity and resistance checks can confirm open circuits, failed components and broken electrical paths
Voltage and current measurements show whether components are receiving the correct supply and operating within their expected range
Results allow the fault to be narrowed down safely, helping avoid unnecessary parts and wasted repair time

Once the fault has been repaired, the relevant tests are repeated to help prove electrical safety and confirm that the equipment is operating correctly.

State-of-the-art fault diagnosis

Seeing problems that conventional testing can miss.

Our professional multi-test meters combine precise electrical measurements with thermal imaging, helping us quickly identify developing faults that may be difficult to find through visual inspection or conventional testing alone.

Engineer using a FLIR thermal-imaging multimeter on commercial equipment — Thermal-imaging multimeter in use

Thermal image revealing abnormal heat inside electrical equipment — Abnormal heat made immediately visible

How thermal imaging improves diagnosis

Quickly highlights overheating terminals, loose connections and overloaded components
Reveals unusual temperature patterns while equipment is operating under normal load
Helps focus further meter testing on the exact area where a fault is developing
Can identify hidden issues before they cause complete failure or costly downtime

Thermal images are interpreted alongside voltage, current, resistance and other appropriate tests. Combining advanced technology with experienced engineering gives a faster, more accurate diagnosis and clear evidence for the repair required.

Replacing failed components

The correct replacement, properly matched and tested.

When testing confirms that a component has failed, replacing it is about more than finding a part that looks similar. The replacement must be suitable for the equipment, its electrical supply and the duty it is expected to perform.

Two grey centrifugal blower motors prepared for component replacement — Replacement centrifugal blower motor

Replacing parts correctly

The original failure is diagnosed before a replacement is ordered
Voltage, phase, power, speed, rotation, mounting and operating duty are checked
Connections and mechanical fittings are installed securely and to the correct specification
Current draw, direction of rotation, vibration, airflow and overall performance are checked after installation

This disciplined approach helps ensure the replacement solves the original problem and gives the equipment a dependable return to service.

Refrigerant recovery during repairs

When the refrigeration circuit needs to be opened.

Some repairs cannot be completed safely or legally with refrigerant left inside the circuit. Norton Facilities uses the correct recovery equipment and cylinders to remove and contain the refrigerant before work begins.

Refrigerant being safely recovered from commercial refrigeration plant — Recovery from commercial refrigeration plant

Refrigerant recovery equipment connected to rooftop air conditioning units — Recovery from rooftop air conditioning equipment

When recovery may be required

Opening the circuit to replace a failed compressor, valve, coil or other refrigerant component
Removing the refrigerant before pressure-testing a system to locate leaks
Making repairs to damaged pipework or leaking joints
Decommissioning equipment or replacing a complete system

The refrigerant is recovered into a suitable cylinder rather than released. Once repairs are complete, the system can be pressure-tested, evacuated, correctly charged and recommissioned as required.

Our approach

Test first. Repair properly. Prove operation.

Every breakdown is different, but the process stays disciplined: understand the symptoms, test safely, identify the root cause, complete the repair and verify reliable operation before handover.

Planning a similar project?

Talk to Norton Facilities about air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation, maintenance or breakdown support across Leicester and the Midlands.

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