If you are an owner or manager of any type of commercial property, you will know how important it is that you take care of the facility the right way. One part of any commercial property that requires quality care is the HVAC system. While most people know that a commercial HVAC system requires proper maintenance and repairs, there are several common misconceptions and myths that you should be aware of as well.
You Do Not Need to Change the Filter Too Often
Most people know that an HVAC system needs to have a quality filter to ensure it is working well and efficiently. However, many do not realize how frequently it needs to be replaced. Most would believe that a filter needs to be replaced between once every 3 and 12 months. However, depending on your climate and other factors, you should look to replace it at least once every month. This simple form of HVAC maintenance could help you avoid far more significant repair needs in the future.
Frequent Repairs Are a Waste of Money
Another common myth with any HVAC system is that frequent maintenance and repairs are a waste of money. This is false as delaying maintenance, cleaning, and standard repairs will lead to the HVAC system breaking down faster. Ultimately, avoiding and delaying HVAC repairs will cost more in the long run.
HVAC Is the Only Way to Cool a Property
Many commercial property owners also make the mistake of relying on their air conditioners too much during the warm months of the year. While this can be an effective way to cool a building, it can also be expensive and add stress to your HVAC system. Using windows, fans, and other cooling strategies can help keep your property safe and comfortable without putting too much strain on the HVAC.
Bigger Systems Are Better
Eventually, you will want to upgrade your HVAC system. Many property owners will believe that upgrading to the largest system possible is the best option. However, having too large of a system can actually be bad for the building and HVAC unit. Choosing one that is a good match based on your property size and usage expectations is a much better option.
Maintenance and Repairs Need to be Expensive
One reason that someone may hesitate to make an HVAC repair is the concern over cost. While there are costs with any form of maintenance, many issues are not too expensive to resolve if you catch and fix them early enough. It can also help improve efficiency, which can make the repairs even more cost-efficient.
Anyone that owns or manages a commercial property will want to know that their HVAC system is properly maintained. When it comes to HVAC maintenance, these are some of the most common myths and misconceptions. Having a firm understanding of the benefits of proper HVAC maintenance and repairs will help you make more informed decisions moving forward.
Here at American Refrigeration Inc., we offer our customers the best possible service when looking for commercial ice machines and commercial ice makers, among other products. When customers are looking for information about these products, we always stand by to answer their questions and help them get the assistance that they need. Today, we want to talk about some of the most reliable commercial ice machines that we offer to our customers. First, though, we need to look at what one needs to look for in a reliable ice machine.
Ice Shape
Believe it or not, the shape of the ice is a very big deal to people who use those machines. They care if they are receiving ice cubes, shredded ice, ice chips, ice flakes, etc.
Different shapes of ice are useful for different purposes. For example, cube-shaped ice is best for serving most everyday drinks. People want to put those cubes in their cups of just about any beverage. Thus, these may be the best choice in many workplaces, but they don’t always work for everyone.
Getting ice chips or ice flakes is a great choice as well because they cause less splashing and less mess when they come out of the machine. If the splashing and mess are a big deal for your company, then it is time to look at ice chips and ice flakes instead of the classic ice cubes that you have been using up to this point.
Capacity
The amount of ice that your machine puts out is a big deal as well. You need to look at what the demand for ice is in your office. If you have a lot of people who are using the machine, then you will clearly need one that can put out a significant amount of ice. You may need to pay more for an ice machine that can put out the kind of capacity that you need from it. That said, this can pay off in a big way when you get the kind of machine that you need to take care of your office.
Make sure you consider the capacity of your ice machine before you spend significant money on it.
Maintenance Needs
Yet another consideration to deal with when looking over ice machines is the maintenance needs of those machines. Does the machine you are considering have good reviews in terms of being low maintenance? If that is not the case, then it may be time to look at switching to something else. After all, you don’t want to sink a huge amount of money into an ice machine via maintenance when you don’t need to do so.
Look at the total maintenance needs of your ice machine and roll that into consideration of the total cost of the machine itself. If you can stomach the maintenance costs, then you should move forward with purchasing that machine. However, you don’t want to make any move until you have added this to the total cost of the machine.
What are the different types of refrigeration for restaurants? Refrigeration is important when it comes to keeping your perishable ingredients safe and fresh to eat. With so many options, it is not easy to know exactly the one that will be right for your business.
A good first step is deciding whether you prefer a reach-in or walk-in refrigerator. While the choice may seem easy, there are various factors to consider when making a decision.
Reach-In Refrigeration
When it comes to reach-in vs. walk-in there are a few different things to consider. Here are some reasons why reach-in refrigeration may be the perfect fit for your business.
Not enough space in your kitchen. Reach-in refrigerators and freezers have smaller footprints. This is why kitchens have several different units at various locations, so staff has the ability to grab the required ingredients quickly without having to go too far from their station or spend time searching for them in a large walk-in unit.
Flexibility is important to you. Reach-ins are easier and smaller to install than walk-ins and can be put in whatever position you need them to be put in. If you are thinking about changing the layout of your kitchen in the future, you can take comfort in knowing that reach-in units are easier to move.
Walk-In Refrigeration
If you are considering walk-in refrigeration instead, it may be the right fit for you if:
Your business serves a lot of guests at a single time. Few things are more annoying to guests than ordering a meal only to find out that the kitchen doesn’t have the ingredients available. Restaurants with high front-of-house seat counts should always have large amounts of ingredients in the kitchen. This helps them to avoid running out of them in the future. A walk-in of good size will allow enough space to do just that in an organized fashion.
Your business has certain requirements for cold storage. Walk-ins, unlike reach-in units, are available in standard sizes and are much more customizable. You can create a well-built unit for your kitchen’s unique needs.
Your business plans on purchasing perishables in bulk. A great way to save money when securing supplies for your restaurant is to buy everything in bulk. However, this also requires your business to have a lot of storage. Walk-in units offer this additional room to keep your ingredients fresh until they are ready to be used.
The biggest thing is you shouldn’t be afraid to mix and match. When it comes to your restaurant equipment, you should always consider valuing simplicity in your restaurant equipment and limiting your kitchen to only what you really need.
Walk-in coolers help keep large amounts of products or food fresh for restaurants and groceries. That’s why you need to keep them running efficiently and properly at all times. At American Refrigeration Inc, we provide dependable heating and cooling services to customers in Eugene and Portland, OR. We can also handle any commercial HVAC repair, no matter your unit.
Learn the signs of a malfunctioning walk-in cooler to avoid losing money, time, and inventory. Here are some early warning signs of walk-in cooler trouble.
Door Damage and Wear
Inspect the door for any damage and wear on the seal if you suspect something is wrong with your unit. This problem can be costly to repair because air might leak out of the cooler and cause the unit to overheat. A walk-in-cooler experiences this problem, mainly when it’s continuously used in a fast-paced environment.
Odd Smells
A stale or strange smell usually accompanies coolant leaks. If you notice a smelly odor, your unit might be leaky, and its condensers are malfunctioning and old. So, ensure you call a refrigeration equipment services expert to fix the issue immediately.
Frost Buildup
Frost buildup indicates that temperatures in your unit are changing dramatically, causing it to melt and refreeze. It might also signal that the humidity levels are off and your unit faces excess condensation. If frost buildups near your door, this might signal that it isn’t sealed properly and might be leaking warm air in. Check the door gaskets for damage whenever you face this issue.
Water Leaks
Walk-in coolers typically have seals and insulation. If these are faulty and old, they can cause water leaks. This issue must be fixed immediately because water leaks might lead to mildew and mold growth in your unit.
Air Leaks
Air leaking from your unit signifies that it requires a professional repair. If your walk-in cooler leaks air, there are two possible causes, both of which need immediate attention:
The unit is experiencing rising temperatures
Your walk-in cooler is still maintaining temperatures but is being overworked. This might lead to costly breakdowns.
The Motor Constantly Runs
There is likely an issue if you can hear your unit’s motor running constantly. Of course, the motor might occasionally run to help maintain optimum temperatures, but your unit is faulty if it never turns off.
Fluctuating Temperatures
Walk-in coolers should maintain an optimal temperature to help function properly. At times, temperature fluctuations are caused by a faulty sensor. So, ensure its doors aren’t being propped open for long. This helps keep warm air out and ensures your unit doesn’t work harder than it should.
Strange Noises
If you hear off noises in your unit, this typically means there is a mechanical problem that needs immediate attention. Call your service technician to help find the root cause and recommend the next step in fixing the issue.
Let American Refrigeration Inc Keep Your Business Running
For all yourcommercial refrigeration requirements, turn to American Refrigeration Inc in Eugene and Portland, OR. We are your number one choice for fixing walk-in cooler malfunctions.Contact us today for your commercial refrigeration installation, maintenance services, and restaurant equipment repair.
At American Refrigeration Inc., we provide refrigerator and cooler services and products of all kinds. From walk-in cooler installation to commercial refrigeration equipment, we provide something for everyone. We assist our customers with an understanding of the best coolers and refrigerators for them. Today, we want to look at self-contained vs remote walk-in coolers to help make it possible for you to understand the differences between the two and why they are both important to consider.
What Are Self-Contained Cooler Units?
These are units that have all of the components to keep your food cool and fresh easily. This includes holding an evaporator and condenser within the cooler as well. These are widely popular cooler units, and they are used in 90% of commercial kitchens these days.
Pros of Self-Contained Cooler Units
Advantages of the self-contained cooler units include the following facts:
Easy to Set Up. These refrigerators are essentially a plug and play cooler unit. You can set it up easily from the moment that you receive the unit.
All in One Purchase. There is no need for you to continue to purchase more and more parts and pieces when you get a self-contained cooler. You buy everything that you need all in one purchase when you purchase a self-container cooler unit.
Simple to Move. You can move these units around your kitchen as necessary to put them in just the right place so you can get the most value out of them.
These are all upsides of a self-container cooler. If you are the kind of person who likes something that is truly set up to be easy to move where you need it to go, then this is the kind of cooler unit that is probably right for you.
Cons of Self-Contained Cooler Units
There are a few drawbacks to these cooler units as well, including:
They produce a lot of heat in the kitchen.
Your air conditioner may have to work harder to keep up with all of the extra heat.
What Are Remote Units?
Food service companies often use remote units as they can store bulk food and other products in them easily. This can be a great solution for someone who needs to get the most out of their unit without having to think about how they will store all of the bulk food that they have available.
Pros of Remote Units
Fewer components to deal with
Can bring down your electric bill
In cool climates, these units can be installed on the roof
At the same time, there are downsides to remote units as well, including:
Expensive to install because they require the help of a professional
Can be more time-consuming to repair
You should consider all of the facts that play a role in how remote units work when you are looking at which kind of unit you need to go with. Don’t take it for granted that you can get a better unit if you know what to look for. Always weigh out your pros and cons, and then make your final choice.
