Tell us what has stopped working
Start with the basics: the equipment type, the site address, and whether the fault is on refrigeration, aircon, or a cold room. If the unit is tripping power, icing up, leaking water, not reaching temperature, or making a new noise, say so in plain terms. That helps us decide if the issue needs a refrigeration technician, an aircon installer, or a cold room specialist.
Please include the suburb or town, especially for call-outs in Cape Town, Montague Gardens, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Malmesbury or Vredenburg. Travel time matters in the Western Cape and a clear location lets us plan the route properly, particularly when the wind picks up, load-shedding hits, or a farm site is off the main road.
Useful details to send first
A short message is usually enough, but these details help us prepare before we leave the workshop:
- Equipment type and size if you know it, for example a split aircon, walk-in cold room, undercounter chiller, or packaged refrigeration unit
- What the fault looks like, such as warm product, high temperature alarm, poor airflow, water dripping, burnt smell, or repeated tripping
- When the problem started and whether it came on suddenly or got worse over a few days
- Any recent work done, including cleaning, power interruptions, a refit, or a compressor change
- Access details for the site, such as security gates, loading bay times, livestock areas, or after-hours entry arrangements
If you have temperature readings, please send them. A simple reading from the display or logger can save time, and it gives us a better starting point for diagnostics.
What happens after your message
Once we receive your fault report, Charlene or Bianca will check the details and pass them to the right person on the team. Morne coordinates the response, while Anele, Ruan or Lutho are assigned where the fault calls for specialist work. If parts are likely to be needed, we try to plan that before arrival so the first visit is as useful as possible.
For urgent breakdowns, we will ask a few direct questions. That may include whether the plant is still running, if product is at risk, whether the site can be safely isolated, and if there is a backup system in place. Straight answers help us choose the right priority, not every fault needs the same response.
How to protect stock before the technician arrives
If the unit has failed and you are waiting on us, there are a few practical steps you can take to limit damage:
- Keep cold room doors closed as much as possible
- Move stock only if there is a safer backup space available
- Check that breakers have not tripped before switching repeatedly
- Make note of any alarms, error codes, or flashing lights
- Do not open panels or handle refrigerant lines unless you are authorised and trained
On farms and in shops, small actions can buy time. A cold room with reduced traffic and a stable power supply can hold temperature longer, while an aircon unit may recover after a cleaned filter or cleared drain if the fault is minor.
Breakdowns we see most often in the Western Cape
We handle call-outs across the coast and inland, from humid areas near the Atlantic to dry Winelands sites and farm packing rooms. Common issues include blocked drains, dirty coils, low gas from a leak, failed fans, thermostat faults, controller problems, and equipment that struggles during hot spells or power cuts. Coastal humidity can cause corrosion and extra strain, while dust and pollen inland can reduce performance quickly.
If the problem keeps returning, ask us about planned maintenance and temperature logging. A system that looks fine on the day can still be drifting out of spec, and that is where regular checks make a difference. We also do shutdown preservation and seasonal start-up for sites that are not running year round.
Send a breakdown report to Kenny Cape West
Send your fault details to callouts@kennycapewest.co.za with the site name, contact number, location, and a short description of the issue. If you can, add photos of the plant room, controller screen, iced pipework, or the equipment label. That saves time and helps us match the job to the right tools and parts.
Kenny Cape West has been working in refrigeration and aircon since 2011, based in Montague Gardens and supporting customers across Cape Town, the Winelands and the West Coast. Whether it is a one-off repair, a repeat fault, or a cold room that needs attention before stock is lost, we will take the report, plan the call-out, and get the right technician moving.
