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Northcote is full of renovated Victorian cottages where splits were added into rear extensions and open-plan living zones. When one of those units stops cooling or throws an error, FreshDuct works out the real fault — gas, electrics or board — and repairs it properly, all major brands.
A split added to a new extension can be undersized or badly sited — we diagnose whether it is a fault or a load problem.
Northcote is a suburb of renovated Victorian and Edwardian cottages, most extended out the back into open-plan living, and the splits were usually added during those renovations. A unit that once cooled a modest room may now be pushing air across a big glassy kitchen-diner, so it runs long and hard through the warmer months.
When one of those splits underperforms, it pays to separate a real fault from a sizing issue. We test the refrigerant charge, the capacitor and fan motor, and read the error history to see whether the unit has developed a leak or an electrical fault, or whether it is simply outmatched by the room it was later asked to cool.
The faults we see most on Northcote split systems — based on the local homes, install styles and conditions.
A split added to a Northcote extension can struggle to cool a big open-plan zone. We test whether it is a genuine fault — low gas or a tired compressor — or a unit undersized for the renovated space.
Splits run into rear extensions often have long line-sets chased through new walls. We pressure-test to find where the charge is escaping and repair the leak before re-gassing to spec.
A condensate drain run through a renovation can block and trip the unit into a safety shutdown. We clear the blockage and check the fall so it stops cutting out mid-cycle.
Real photos from FreshDuct split-system diagnostics, refrigerant work and repairs. We document every job with clear before-and-after photos.
One local team for the whole system — from a not-cooling diagnosis and re-gas to parts, board repairs and an annual tune. Need a hygiene clean instead? We do that too.
Not cooling or heating? We fault-find the whole system — refrigerant, electrics, sensors and board — and tell you plainly what it needs.
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Low on refrigerant means a leak. We pressure-test, find and repair the leak, then re-gas to the correct charge — not just a top-up.
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A full service and tune — pressures, electrics, capacitor, fan and drain checked so the system runs efficiently and reliably.
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Capacitors, fan motors, PCBs, sensors and contactors sourced and replaced for all major brands, with a clear quote first.
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Need a hygiene clean instead? Deep coil and barrel-fan cleaning, mould treatment and sanitising for cleaner, healthier air.
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Ducted, evaporative and multi-head systems too — one local team for heating, cooling and ventilation across Melbourne.
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When a Northcote split is not keeping up we run it and measure the output rather than guessing. We check the refrigerant pressures, the capacitor, the fan motor and the drain, and read any stored faults, so we can tell whether the unit has an actual defect or is simply working beyond its capacity.
If it is a repairable fault — a leak on a retrofit line-set, a failing capacitor or a blocked drain — we fix it and re-test the cooling on the spot. If the unit is genuinely undersized for a big new extension, we will say so honestly rather than sell a repair that will never quite solve the comfort problem.
FreshDuct repairs and services split systems across Northcote and Thornbury seven days a week, and we are frequently working nearby in Fitzroy, Brunswick, Preston and Coburg, so a Northcote booking drops easily into the day.
From the cottages around High Street to the family homes near Merri Creek, we can usually offer a quick appointment and prioritise a unit that has failed in an occupied home during a run of hot weather.
A methodical diagnosis and repair — we find the actual fault, quote it clearly, and fix it right the first time.
We run the system, read any error codes and test the electrics, sensors and refrigerant pressures to find the real fault, not just the symptom.
If it is low on gas we pressure-test to find the leak — a re-gas without fixing the leak just fails again in a season.
You get a clear, itemised quote before any part is fitted — capacitor, fan motor, PCB, sensor or a re-gas, with honest advice on repair-versus-replace.
We fit the part, repair the leak and re-gas to the manufacturer charge, then re-test cooling and heating output.
Electrics, contactor, fan, drain and airflow checked and tuned so the system runs efficiently and reliably.
A clear report with photos and honest advice on whether to keep servicing or plan a replacement.
Verified 5-star reviews from across FreshDuct’s split-system, heating and cooling services.
“Our split stopped cooling in a heatwave. FreshDuct found a leak on the outdoor unit, repaired it and re-gassed it — icy cold again the same day.”
Verified
“Bedroom head was throwing an error code and shutting down. They diagnosed a faulty PCB, quoted it and had it running the next visit.”
Verified
“Honest team — the outdoor fan motor had failed and they replaced it rather than pushing a whole new system. Saved me a fortune.”
Verified
“Great communication. They tested the capacitor and pressures, showed me the readings and explained exactly what was wrong.”
Verified
“Multi-head system, one room never cold. They tracked it to a blocked drain and low charge on that circuit and sorted both.”
Verified
“Quick, professional and tidy. The report and photos showed exactly what they checked and fixed on the unit.”
Verified
We cover Northcote and the surrounding suburbs. Explore nearby areas and related FreshDuct services.
Not necessarily. We test the refrigerant charge, capacitor and fan motor first to rule out a genuine fault like a leak or a failing compressor. If the unit is mechanically sound, the issue is often that it was sized for the old room, not the big glassy extension it now has to cool, and we will tell you which it is.
A common cause is a blocked condensate drain. When the drain backs up, a safety switch cuts the unit to stop water overflowing, so it shuts down mid-cycle. We also check the sensors and control board, but on renovated homes a drain run with poor fall is often the culprit. We clear it and confirm the unit runs through.
Yes. FreshDuct diagnoses and repairs split systems across Northcote and the surrounding inner north, 7 days a week — not-cooling and not-heating faults, re-gas and leak detection, error codes and parts for all major brands. Call 04 3191 8137 or request a free quote.
It is usually one of a few things: low refrigerant from a slow leak, a failed capacitor or fan motor on the outdoor unit, a blocked filter or coil, or a fault on the control board. We diagnose the actual cause rather than guessing, and quote the repair before we start.
We do, but a split system is a sealed circuit — if it is low on gas it has a leak. A top-up alone just leaks out again within a season, so we pressure-test to find the leak, repair it, then re-gas to the correct manufacturer charge.
It depends on the age, the brand and the fault. A capacitor, fan motor or sensor on an otherwise sound unit is well worth repairing; a failed compressor or a leaking coil on a 12-to-15-year-old system often is not. We give you honest, itemised advice either way.
Not-cooling & not-heating diagnostics, gas re-gas and leak detection, error-code faults, capacitor, fan-motor and board repairs, and an annual tune — a clean, documented service with photo proof. Available 7 days.
Tell us the fault and your split system — we respond fast, 7 days.
