As a winemaker, you probably understand the importance of winery or glycol chillers in the overall winemaking process. The idea is to slow down the fermentation process to develop better flavor and finish. Winery chillers allow winemakers to precisely control the temperature of the wine so they can achieve a consistent, delicious result in every batch.
Here’s a brief overview of the winemaking process, to highlight why glycol and winery chillers are so important.
The winemaking process
Great wine starts with grapes, carefully harvested at the peak of flavor and ripeness. This ensures they have the right acids, tannins and sugars to create the wine. Once the grapes have been picked, the grapes are crushed or pressed to release the juices. Typically, this is done with mechanical presses, especially in larger wineries—grape stomping is more of a tourist attraction or special event these days.
Fermentation begins about 12 hours after the grapes are pressed, thanks to wild yeast floating around in the air. Modern winemakers tend to add precise amounts of their own yeast to each batch, which allows them more control over the final result. Some even kill off the wild yeast in order to add their own. The fermentation process converts all the natural sugars in the grapes into alcohol. This can take as little as 10 days, but can go on much longer, depending on the temperature. The higher the temperature, the faster the grapes ferment—but that’s not always a good thing. That’s why winemakers use winery chillers to control the process.
The clarification process is next, in which the winemaker will remove the sediment from the wine, using a filter or other methods. Finally, the wine is aged and bottled, depending on variety, and it’s ready to drink.
Temperature and winemaking
The basic steps to winemaking are simple, but when you want to consistently produce delicious wine, controlling the process is key. That’s where glycol chillers come in handy. Fermentation generates heat (it’s an exothermic process), which can speed up the process—but for better flavor, keeping the wine cool during fermentation is essential. It’s also important because each varietal requires different temperatures for ideal flavor and finish.
Plus, cool fermentation affects how much color is extracted from the grape skins—the next time you pour a glass of ruby red wine or a pretty pink rosé, you can thank glycol and winery chillers for making those vivid colors possible.
As you can see, the winemaking process depends on using winery chillers. If you care about the finished product, it’s crucial to invest in glycol or winery chillers—they’ll allow you to control the results and offer a superior product in every way.
The team at American Refrigeration Inc. is proud to offer high-quality commercial glycol and winery chillers. Call us today to learn more about our selection. We’ll be happy to help you find the right product for your facilities, and provide maintenance and repair services as needed. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Whether you own a hotel, restaurant, bar or other facility, having a commercial ice machine is an important part of your business. How do you know which size to get? Other than calling their ice machine sales, repair and maintenance company for advice, finding the answer to this question can stump business owners. If your machine is too large, it could take up valuable real estate. If it’s too small, you won’t be able to adequately supply customers, clients and employees as needed.
Here’s a quick guide to the right ice machine size.
General guidelines
You might already know how much ice you use on a daily basis—if so, that makes your decision a lot easier. If not, your ice needs depend on the type of business, the cubic feet of your cold bar and how many seats are in the establishment. Then you add 20 percent to the estimate to leave room for growth (and for rush crowds).
Typically, you want an ice bin that can hold about 75 to 80 percent of what your ice machine produces. The “head” or production unit might be able to make 500 pounds of ice per day. That means you’d need a bin that can hold 375 to 400 pounds—if you constantly use the ice, that is. For places like event halls and other places where ice isn’t constantly needed, look for a bin that holds 150 percent of the total production capacity. For 500 pounds of ice, you’d need a bin that could hold 750 pounds. Even if the ice has time to build up, you should be safe.
Restaurant sizing
To size a commercial ice machine for a restaurant, think about how many customers you serve per day and what types of service you offer. If you don’t have past sales data, you can use these guidelines to estimate. You may need multiple machines if your place includes a bar. Always add 20 percent to your estimate to account for rush crowds and growth.
A standard restaurant uses about 1.5 pounds per customer. If you serve cocktails or have a self-service beverage station, make it three pounds per customer. Meanwhile, drive-through customers use anywhere from five to 12 ounces per drink sold.
Other establishments
If you run a different type of establishment, keep these guidelines in mind:
Convenience stores: Use the same guidelines as a drive-through establishment.
Healthcare facilities: Estimate 10 pounds of ice per bed per day.
Hotels and motels: You’ll need about five pounds per room per day, and up to eight pounds per room per day if you expect people to fill their ice chests.
Cafeterias: Typically, you’ll need one pound of ice per customer.
Grocery stores: Estimate 35 pounds of ice per cubic foot of display each day. If you offer a beverage station, also use the convenience store and drive-through guidelines.
Following these guidelines will help you determine just how much ice you need.
Are your commercial refrigerators or freezers holding food at appropriate temperatures? If you don’t store food at the right temperature, it could enter the danger zone and potentially contain foodborne pathogens.
Reach-in refrigerator installation and food-safe temperatures
The purpose of commercial refrigerator installation is to provide a space to keep foods at cooler temperatures to slow down the growth of bacteria. They’re ideal for perishable foods like produce and cooked meats.
The average operating temperature for a commercial refrigerator (whether reach-in or walk-in) should stay between 35°F and 38°F. If temperatures fall below this range, you run the risk of freezing food that shouldn’t be frozen, like milk or dairy products. If temperatures reach above this range, the food could enter the danger zone, i.e., a temperature range between 40°F and 140°F where dangerous bacteria, including campylobacter, E. coli, salmonella enteritidis and staphylococcus aureus, multiply incredibly quickly.
You should never let food linger in this temperature range, since the food could spoil and cause foodborne illness. This applies to leftover food, too, since bacteria still grows on food even after it’s cooked.
You and any employees working at your business need to monitor temperatures regularly to ensure food never enters the danger zone in terms of temperature. Always shut the door to the unit when you’re not using it, since this leads to instant cooling loss.
Keep in mind that the bigger the refrigeration unit you have, the longer it takes to stabilize temperatures. If you’re planning to adjust the temperature of the unit, wait a full day, and check for an appropriate temperature before storing food inside.
Walk-in freezer installation and food-safe temperatures
Unlike a commercial refrigerator, which only slows the growth of bacteria, a commercial freezer is meant to halt the growth of bacteria completely. Different types of freezers should be set at different temperatures, and your installation technician will be sure to discuss safe operating temperatures with you. Here are the general guidelines:
Reach-in freezers: Between -10°F and 5°F
Walk-in freezers: Between -10°F and 0°F
Ice cream freezers: Between -20°F and -10°F
The wrong temperatures impact food safety for frozen foods, too. You also need to account for food quality by preventing freezer burn. Freezer-burned foods lose their color, aroma, flavor and even texture—it’s completely unappetizing. Freezer burn occurs when food is exposed to too much frost or air as it sits in the freezer. Make sure you’re properly storing your food and that your freezer is running efficiently; otherwise, you run the risk of turning your inventory into wasted profit potential. Keep the freezer door closed, and you’ll avoid temperature fluctuations that can spoil food.
Want to know more about commercial refrigerator or walk-in freezer installation? If your current unit isn’t performing as well as it should, contact American Refrigeration Inc today. We’re the top choice for commercial refrigeration installation and repair, ensuring worry-free operation and protecting your inventory.
Need to invest in walk-in cooler installation for your business? Or is it time for a new walk-in freezer or a combo of the two? These are costly appliances, which means you need to be informed about the many things to consider before making a purchase.
Here are the basics you need to know regarding walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer installation, so you can make the best decision for your business.
Types of units
You first need to determine whether your business needs a walk-in refrigerator, a walk-in freezer or a unit that’s a combination of the two. Walk-in refrigerators keep foods cold but not freezing, typically around 41°F. Walk-in freezers keep frozen foods around 0°F. A combination unit includes a separate section for the foods that only need to be kept cold and a section for foods that need to be frozen.
Indoor vs outdoor units
Walk-in coolers can be installed either indoors or outdoors. Specially-made units are available for outdoor walk-in cooler installation, and the process involves pouring a concrete pad to support the unit. These units typically feature a rain roof and a door hood that keeps water from finding a way in. Some outdoor walk-in units also contain a heating unit that keeps food from getting too cold when temperatures outdoors hit the below-freezing mark.
Size and space of the unit
It can be tricky to calculate the size of the walk-in unit you need to hold food at your business. Start by checking the amount of open space available if you’re having the unit installed indoors. As a general rule, you can calculate the space you need by accounting for 1 cubic foot of space per 28 pounds of food you’ll be storing.
Keep in mind that the evaporator coil may take up some space inside the unit. There are several upgraded units that have these systems outside of the box to free up more space inside. Custom-made units are available, but you’ll need to have detailed drawings and be prepared to pay the expenses involved in custom work.
Size of the refrigeration system
You also need to determine the size and type of refrigeration system you need. This refers to how powerful the system is, as well as whether it’s for refrigeration, freezing or both. The overall size of the unit will determine the power requirements of your system—more cubic footage requires more power.
Energy and efficiency
In some cases, you’ll need to bolster your electrical system to account for a new walk-in cooler or refrigerator. Make sure you understand the specs regarding efficiency of the unit, and check with an HVAC pro to see if you’ll need the services of an electrician prior to installation.
Looking for more information on walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer installation? Contact American Refrigeration Inc today. We’ll guide you through the process of selecting the right unit for the needs of your business, and we’ll take care of professional installation and any maintenance concerns that may arise during the unit’s lifespan.
All appliances, no matter how durable, have a certain lifespan. Eventually, even the best appliances must be replaced due to waning performance, wear and tear or repair issues that come up after years of use.
Before the end of an appliance’s lifespan, however, chances are that there will be certain maintenance tasks that must be taken care of—including part replacement. One of the most common repairs for commercial food storage equipment is walk-in cooler compressor replacement.
Keep reading to learn about how long walk-in cooler compressors last and how to tell when it’s time for replacement.
What is a walk-in cooler compressor?
Walk-in cooler compressors are essential to the effective operation of commercial refrigerators and freezers. The compressor’s role in the refrigeration process is to compress and control the flow of refrigerant throughout the cooling system. Compressors can be mounted at the top or bottom of a commercial refrigerator or freezer. The optimal placement for a compressor depends on where the refrigeration equipment is placed and how it will be used.
Lifespan of walk-in cooler compressors
When a cooler compressor fails, it can cause all kinds of problems that prevent commercial refrigeration equipment from working effectively. The exact lifespan of a walk-in cooler compressor may vary depending on how frequently it is maintained and how much stress it is under as a result of everyday use; however, most technicians estimate that walk-in cooler compressors will last about 10 years.
The precise lifespan of a walk-in cooler compressor will depend on the type of compressor, the manufacturer, the size of the walk-in cooler, the level of use and the frequency of maintenance. Unsurprisingly, walk-in cooler compressors last longer when they are cared for and maintained properly, so it’s a good idea to keep up with regular maintenance of walk-in coolers to make sure that compressors stay in the best condition possible for as long as possible.
However, no matter how diligent you are when it comes to walk-in cooler maintenance, compressors will eventually have to be replaced, and it’s a good idea to be aware of the signs that it’s time for walk-in cooler compressor replacement.
Keep an eye on your walk-in cooler to check for signs of damage or performance issues that might indicate that something is wrong with your compressor or one of your other system components. Excessive ice accumulation, water leaks, inconsistent temperatures and noisy operation can all indicate that something is wrong with a walk-in cooler compressor. If you notice any of these problems, contact a professional refrigeration technician who can inspect your walk-in cooler and check the compressor to determine whether repair or replacement is necessary.
Walk-in cooler compressor replacement
For professional help with walk-in cooler compressor replacement, the team at American Refrigeration Inc is here to help. We have been providing commercial businesses throughout the area with comprehensive refrigeration repairs for over 25 years, and we continue to deliver the highest-quality services available to our customers. Call us today to learn more about everything that we have to offer.
