---
title: "The Warning Signs: Seven Signs Your Cooling or Enclosure Infrastructure May Need Attention"
description: Unplanned downtime costs UK manufacturers millions. Discover how Rittal’s 360° Service helps prevent failures and keeps your production running.
image: https://blog.rittal.co.uk/hubfs/Rittal%20Service3.jpg
---

[![Rittal](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Rittal_Theme_Feb2023/images/header-mb-logo.png)](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en)

<https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/websearch>

- [Products](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/products)
- [Software](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Software)
- [Solutions](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Solutions)
- [Configuration](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Rittal-Configuration-System)
- [Services](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Services)
- [Company](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Company)
- [References](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/References)
- [Make An Enquiry](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Company/Main-Contact)

[![Rittal Logo](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/hubfs/Logos%20Rittal/Rittal%20Logo.svg "Rittal Logo")](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en)

- [Contact](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Company/Main-Contact)
- [Feedback](https://lohservices.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gBNr9lypSetg0Z)
- [Blog](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/)
- Rittal UK

    - [UK,EN](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/)
    - [Rittal International](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Laenderauswahl)
- [Login](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/shop/my-rittal)
- [Shopping cart](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/shop/cart)

- [Products](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/products)
- [Software](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Software)
- [Solutions](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Solutions)
- [Configuration](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Rittal-Configuration-System)
- [Services](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Services)
- [Company](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Company)
- [References](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/References)
- [Make An Enquiry](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/Company/Main-Contact)

![](https://www.rittal.com/imf/x1280/80_912/)

The platform for everything.

Infinite possibilities for industry and IT.

[Find spare parts](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/uk-en/Services/Spares-parts-management)[Configure products](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/uk-en/Rittal-Configuration-System)[Login Online Shop](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/shop/login)

<https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/websearch>

# Blog

![The Warning Signs: Seven Signs Your Cooling or Enclosure Infrastructure May Need Attention](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/hubfs/Rittal%20Service3.jpg)

## The Warning Signs: Seven Signs Your Cooling or Enclosure Infrastructure May Need Attention

 21-10-2026

# Why pay attention to your enclosure cooling?

Industrial enclosures, sometimes called control cabinets, house many of the automation and electrical systems that run global production facilities.

These enclosures protect sensitive circuitry from conditions on the factory floor, while also protecting staff from any accidental contact with the electrical equipment inside.

However, this equipment, which includes PLCs and variable speed drives, also generates heat continuously while operating and that heat can be very damaging to their electrical circuitry. So much so that without adequate cooling, temperatures inside an enclosure can eventually exceed component operating limits, increasing the likelihood of intermittent faults and premature deterioration. If left unchecked, it can eventually lead to the complete failure of all the equipment.

But heat generated from inside the enclosure is only part of the equation, because the temperature surrounding it will also have an impact. This became particularly relevant during recent UK heatwaves. The summer of 2026 is a case in point. It was provisionally [the UK's warmest summer](https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2026/summer-2026-provisionally-hottest-on-record-for-the-uk) since national records began in 1884, surpassing the previous record set only the year before. Global temperatures are rising and need to be taken into account when specifying and maintaining cooling unit.

Right now, these hotter conditions can expose cooling systems already operating close to their limits, particularly if your production requirements have changed since installation.

Whatever cooling method you choose (from fans to the latest liquid-based systems) their performance needs attention throughout its working life, rather than only when something eventually stops working.

![Rittal Service2](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Rittal%20Service2.jpg?width=647&height=432&name=Rittal%20Service2.jpg)

## Can cooling problems arrive without warning?

Cooling equipment tends to work away in the background, which makes it relatively easy to overlook if everything on your production line is apparently running normally.

However, any problems are likely to be almost imperceptible at first, and their impact may only become apparent over time. Examples include filters that become clogged, or components that are wearing out. Their impact is likely to be cumulative so it may be some time before the cooling unit actually stops, giving you an important window during which any planned maintenance programme can identify and deal with the issue.

Unfortunately, if these issues are not picked up, they can become very expensive. The “2024 Maintenance Engineering Report” from RS Group and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers found facilities lose around 15 hours each week to unscheduled downtime. Respondents put the average cost at £5,471.95 per hour, which highlights that relatively small changes in cooling performance can have consequences well beyond the enclosure.

So, what should you be looking out for?

Below, we’ve identified seven indications that your cooling equipment may need attention. If you are experiencing any of these, then [Rittal’s Maintenance Service](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/service) team can assess your equipment and help establish what is causing them.

Our engineers are trained specifically on Rittal equipment and its industrial applications, providing troubleshooting and system efficiency support based on the condition and performance of your installation.

---

| **1. Your enclosure is getting warmer** | One of the clearest warning signs of a problem with your cooling unit is a gradual rise in temperature inside an enclosure. The cooling unit may still be running, however, particulate contamination or restrictions to its filter’s airflow could mean it removes less heat than previously. A temperature increase can also follow other changes in your infrastructure, notably if you have added electrical equipment without reviewing the enclosure's original cooling specification. Comparing current temperatures with previous operating data can help you establish whether conditions inside the enclosure have started to change. |
| --- | --- |
| You might also notice that your cooling unit takes longer to bring an enclosure down to its required operating temperature. Again, dirty filters and/or contaminated heat exchangers may be to blame because both restrict the unit's ability to move air or transfer heat effectively. Both are particularly common problems in industrial environments where airborne dust can accumulate steadily even when your facility itself appears relatively clean. Replacing a filter is a relatively minor maintenance issue, but it can have a noticeable effect on the performance of your whole cooling system. | **2. Your cooling equipment runs for longer** |
| **3. Cooling equipment energy consumption rises** | Longer operating cycles also have financial consequences, because a cooling unit that is starting to work harder will generally consume more electricity. An increase in your unit’s energy consumption may be an early indication of its declining performance, even when your enclosure temperatures still appear acceptable. If you compare its energy consumption with its maintenance records it may help you to identify changes that a visual inspection might otherwise miss. |
| Team members who work around machinery every day often develop a surprisingly good ear for equipment that no longer sounds quite right. If your fan becomes louder or develops an unfamiliar vibration, it may have bearing wear or there could be an obstruction that affects its normal operations. We recommend investigating these (apparently minor) changes because deteriorating fan performance can slowly reduce airflow and place a greater demand on the rest of the cooling system. | **4. Fans noise changes** |
| **5. Alarms keep returning** | Occasional alarms may have identifiable causes, but repeated temperature warnings need further investigation. These indicate to you that your system is operating outside its optimal parameters, so it gives you something specific to investigate. If you record when alarms occur, you may be able to reveal patterns around warmer weather or perhaps particular processes within your facility that are impacting on the temperature within the enclosure. |
| You might also notice a problem with your production line rather than within the cooling unit. So, for example, intermittent PLC errors or unexplained drive problems might indicate that electrical components are operating outside their intended temperature conditions. Essentially, if you are having recurring electrical faults, it’s worth checking the enclosure temperature and cooling unit performance alongside any investigations into the component causing concern. Otherwise, you could find yourself replacing or resetting individual components but not addressing the environmental condition/s that led to the problem in the first place. | **6. Your electrical equipment behaves unpredictably** |
| **7. Your installation has changed since you specified the cooling** | This final warning sign is easily missed because it doesn’t necessarily mean the cooling equipment has developed a fault. Production facilities evolve over time, which means you may have added new drives or control equipment to an enclosure during its working life. Each new addition can alter an enclosure’s internal heat loading. Equally, changes to equipment situated around the enclosure can affect the ambient conditions that were used for any original cooling calculation. Your cooling system can therefore remain mechanically sound while becoming increasingly unsuitable for the job you need it to perform. |

 

### Acting before a warning becomes a breakdown

None of these signs automatically means your cooling unit is approaching failure, although each gives you a pressing reason to investigate what has changed.

If you schedule regular inspections you can soon identify if your equipment needs cleaning or servicing, or whether the installation now requires a more detailed cooling assessment.

[Rittal's Maintenance Service](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/service) provides maintenance, troubleshooting and system efficiency support using engineers trained specifically around Rittal equipment and its industrial applications.

We operate 150 service sites with more than 1,000 service specialists worldwide, backed by spare-parts provision and round-the-clock service availability.

Their skills and experience can help you distinguish between a cooling unit that needs maintenance, and an installation whose requirements have moved beyond its original specification. And with UK summer temperatures continuing to break records, you may need to look more closely at all your cooling equipment, even if it has operated reliably for many years.

Your cooling unit does not have to stop working before it needs attention. Quite often, it will give you useful information much earlier.

[![Service CTA 2026 2027](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2675301/interactive-225049742851.png)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJkULRhuT%2FLnflAOfnEnxfpWCRK4nPWKrorqodU0qQRciKwUzLPOnSdekDLbBb33aQ0%2FME8naweWXuEK%2B10%2BnI1Y6RflE0SGcXrG6akLIyF%2F4Lz3sLmdxriGF7WS3xx%2BlHhmotHRmubT6bQSeLa1eZIaouwIkQ6hcQqnvFidAkId00IBd1gjjtdzPzXDANOXNrK2552ovIAGC9%2B&webInteractiveContentId=225049742851&portalId=2675301)

FAQ's

 What are the warning signs that an industrial enclosure cooling system needs maintenance?

Common warning signs include rising enclosure temperatures, longer cooling cycles, increased energy consumption and recurring system alarms.

Intermittent production problems can also point to deteriorating cooling performance. Early investigation can help identify contaminated filters or worn components before temperatures reach levels that affect sensitive electrical equipment.

 How often should industrial enclosure cooling systems be serviced?

Service frequency depends on the cooling technology and its operating environment.

Equipment operating in dusty or demanding manufacturing environments may need more frequent inspection and filter maintenance. Regular checks should examine filters and cooling performance, while recurring alarms or rising temperatures warrant earlier investigation by an engineer familiar with industrial enclosure cooling systems.

 

[facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/RittalLimited) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/Rittal_Ltd) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/rittal-ltd-uk?goback=.nmp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1&trk=nmp_rec_act_company_photo) [youtube icon](https://www.youtube.com/user/RittalLtdUK)

### Posts By Topics

- [Enclosures (76)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/enclosures)
- [IT Systems (50)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/it-systems)
- [rittal (49)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/rittal)
- [Data Centres (37)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/data-centres)
- [Cooling (34)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/cooling)
- [Climate Control (30)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/climate-control)
- [Operational Efficiency (28)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/operational-efficiency)
- [Automation (24)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/automation)
- [Power Distribution (21)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/power-distribution)
- [Manufacturing (19)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/manufacturing)
- [Panel Building (19)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/panel-building)
- [IT Rack (18)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/it-rack)
- [Engineering (16)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/engineering)
- [Energy (15)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/energy)
- [Food & Bev (15)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/food-bev)
- [Maintenance (15)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/maintenance)
- [Outdoor application (14)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/outdoor-application)
- [Enclosure Cooling (12)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/enclosure-cooling)
- [EPLAN (11)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/eplan)
- [HD (10)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/hd)
- [Value Chain (10)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/value-chain)
- [Industrial Cooling (9)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/industrial-cooling)
- [Wiring (8)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/wiring)
- [Busbar (7)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/busbar)
- [Panel Modifications (7)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/panel-modifications)
- [RiAssure (6)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/riassure)
- [Service (6)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/service)
- [VX25 enclosure system (6)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/vx25-enclosure-system)
- [Case Study (5)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/case-study)
- [Industry 4.0 (4)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/industry-4-0)
- [Traffic Management (4)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/traffic-management)
- [WeAreRittal (4)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/wearerittal)
- [Network rack (3)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/network-rack)
- [Data Exchange (2)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/data-exchange)
- [F-Gas (2)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/f-gas)
- [NetworkDistributor (2)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/networkdistributor)
- [Railways (2)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/railways)
- [Sustainability (2)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/sustainability)
- [Thermal Design (2)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/thermal-design)
- [IT cooling (1)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/tag/it-cooling)

see all

### Articles

[The Warning Signs: Seven Signs Your Cooling or Enclosure Infrastructure May Need Attention](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/the-warning-signs)

[Compliance Without Complexity: Why Rittal Chose R-1234yf](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/compliance-without-complexity-why-rittal-chose-r-1234yf)

[How Will Revised F-Gas Regulations in the EU and GB Affect Enclosure Cooling?](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/how-will-revised-f-gas-regulations-in-the-eu-and-gb-affect-enclosure-cooling)

[The Evolution of Industrial Enclosures: From Metal Boxes to Intelligent Infrastructure](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/the-evolution-of-industrial-enclosures)

### Subscribe to our blog

### Search

[![Safeguard\_Infrastructure](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2675301/ba2eca57-473e-4d75-83e7-cb4ce76f1fd6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2675301/ba2eca57-473e-4d75-83e7-cb4ce76f1fd6)

[![Rittal - enclosure - Small CTAs (New)](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2675301/interactive-199093896329.png)](https://blog.rittal.co.uk/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLLsdZinxR0WiSTinl9UVMcZrEGykaYJUkTGTsVwDqoxIou%2BtGMiMxRFFVQI5%2BLkMJ2OFbNHXcXDqDu86bOg%2F57oqhBML9ylrXGeZCKow8IndzlsbY%2Fvz6TSV9vNGKC%2Fbd7CENEX6qLYjt6gw6seQQdU%2B%2BErBssVhlSG%2FGfz7fIQwrlfsrDlsWYa%2FyzWiKilFg5oWn3xYwy77edxwRtEUVq6WE3PyfHrGeP6ct9uD3q%2FaLHT&webInteractiveContentId=199093896329&portalId=2675301)

© Rittal 2026

- [Privacy Policy](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/content/eng/impressum/impressum.jsp)
- [Legal Notice](https://www.rittal.com/uk-en/content/eng/impressum/impressum.jsp)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Kelly Moore",
    "url" : "https://blog.rittal.co.uk/author/kelly-moore"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-10-21T15:09:03.072Z",
  "datePublished" : "2026-10-21T15:09:03.000Z",
  "headline" : "The Warning Signs: Seven Signs Your Cooling or Enclosure Infrastructure May Need Attention",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.rittal.co.uk/hubfs/Rittal%20Service3.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.rittal.co.uk/the-warning-signs",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.rittal.co.uk/hubfs/email-template/claim_en_new.png"
    },
    "name" : "Rittal GmbH & Co. KG"
  }
}
```