Lidl
Commercial Refrigeration
Watton, Norfolk
5 Days
- Project Overview
Restoring reliable Freezer operation at Lidl Watton through a complete drainage system redesign
- Client Brief
Resolving persistent issues within a business-critical freezer facility
Recurring operational faults
Since its original installation, the store’s backup freezer cold room had experienced recurring operational issues, including persistent ice accumulation and inconsistent defrost cycles. These longstanding problems caused ongoing disruption to a critical part of the store’s infrastructure.
A long-term solution
Lidl required a reliable, long-term solution to eliminate recurring faults rather than continue relying on reactive maintenance. The objective was clear: identify the root cause, address existing installation deficiencies and fundamentally improve the freezer cold room’s reliability and operation.
A tightly co-ordinated shutdown
- Our Solution
Identifying the root cause. Engineering a lasting solution.
Following a detailed technical assessment, KS Cooling identified fundamental deficiencies within the original condensate drainage arrangement.
All four evaporators discharged into a single undersized drain with inadequate gravity fall. We developed a comprehensive redesign to improve drainage capacity, prevent freezing and deliver reliable long-term operation.
Complete drainage redesign
Replaced the original common 21 mm drain with two independent 28 mm drainage runs, each serving two evaporators, incorporating improved gravity falls and immediate drops from the evaporator outlets.
Trace heating and insulation
Installed permanently energised, self-regulating trace heating along the new drainage pipework, extending back to each evaporator outlet, with comprehensive insulation to prevent condensate freezing.
Dedicated condensate pumping
Installed two independent five-litre condensate pump tanks externally to the freezer, discharging to the existing drainage upstand.
Electrical controls and protection
Planned installation and recommissioning
- The Results
Reliable freezer operation restored
Since completion in early May 2026, there have been no recurrences of the original reported issues.
Subsequent temperature monitoring, supported by store feedback, has confirmed a significantly tighter operating temperature band and consistently timed defrost cycles.
The redesigned system has substantially improved reliability, eliminating the recurring drainage-related disruption previously experienced by the store.
5 Days
Project completion
-24 Degrees
Stable operating temperature
Reliability Restored
No recurring related issues
Peace of mind, with KS PriorityCare
PLANNED. PROTECTED. PRIORITISED.
More than routine maintenance. KS PriorityCare is a tailored service and asset-management package built around your business, your equipment and the way you operate.
Following an initial assessment, we create a maintenance programme around the individual requirements of your Commercial Refrigeration and Commercial Air Conditioning equipment, bringing planned maintenance, proactive scheduling, ongoing asset management and priority breakdown support together under one tailored package.
