“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
Richmond is high-density terraces and warehouse conversions where condensers sit on rooftops and in shoebox courtyards, running hot through summer. When one overheats or a system stops cooling, FreshDuct diagnoses the real fault and repairs it properly, all major brands.
A rooftop or courtyard condenser baking all afternoon will trip on high pressure — we find the true cause.
Richmond is one of Melbourne’s most tightly packed inner suburbs — rows of single-fronted terraces, converted warehouses and infill townhouses on slivers of land. With no room at ground level, split condensers get lifted onto rooftops and parapets or squeezed into brick courtyards that trap heat like an oven through the afternoon.
A unit baking in that heat runs at high head pressure and trips out, and a rooftop condenser hides its faults until it stops. We read the error codes and test the refrigerant charge, the capacitor, the outdoor fan and the board to separate a true defect from a unit simply cooking in a bad spot, then repair the real cause.
The faults we see most on Richmond split systems — based on the local homes, install styles and conditions.
A Richmond condenser on a hot roof or in a sun-trap courtyard climbs to high pressure and shuts down. We check the siting and airflow, then test the fan, gas and sensors to find what is really tripping it.
Condensers mounted on Richmond rooftops cop full sun and weather, and coils and fan bearings suffer for it. We inspect for corrosion and worn bearings and advise on repair before a small fault strands the unit.
A hard-run inner-city condenser loses its outdoor fan motor or capacitor first, and in a hot spot that ends cooling fast. We test both and carry the common parts to restore cooling the same visit.
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 Richmond split keeps shutting down we look hard at where the condenser lives. A rooftop or courtyard unit soaking up afternoon sun runs far hotter than its rating allows, so we assess the siting, shading and airflow before writing off a component.
With that ruled in or out, we test the refrigerant pressures, the capacitor, the outdoor fan motor and the PCB, and read the stored faults. We then repair the actual cause — a leak, a failed motor, a heat-stressed capacitor — and re-check the output so the unit holds through the hottest part of a Richmond afternoon.
FreshDuct services and repairs split systems across Richmond and Cremorne seven days a week, and we work the surrounding inner suburbs constantly — Carlton, Fitzroy, Prahran and Hawthorn — so a Richmond booking fits easily into the day.
From the terraces off Bridge Road to the warehouse apartments near Church Street, roof and courtyard access can be awkward, so we plan for ladders and tight laneways and still complete the diagnosis in one visit.
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 Richmond and the surrounding suburbs. Explore nearby areas and related FreshDuct services.
A condenser on a hot roof or in a sun-trap courtyard runs well above its rated conditions, so on a hot afternoon it climbs to high head pressure and trips out to protect the compressor. We assess the siting and airflow first, then test the fan motor, refrigerant charge and sensors, because shading or better airflow sometimes matters as much as any repair.
It can. A unit fully exposed on a roof cops sun, rain and wind year-round, which is harder on the coil fins, fan bearings and casing than a sheltered spot. That does not mean it will fail early, but it is worth checking for corrosion and worn bearings during a service so a small problem is caught before it strands you in a heatwave.
Yes. FreshDuct diagnoses and repairs split systems across Richmond and the surrounding inner city, 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.