Preventative maintenance is essential when it comes to keeping equipment and appliances in the best condition possible. Investing in routine maintenance is hands-down the best way to extend the lifespan of equipment while boosting its efficiency and performance.
Oftentimes, business owners neglect preventative maintenance in an effort to save money—but the reality is that putting off maintenance will only delay expenses and will result in far more complicated and costly problems.
Keep reading to learn about how to take care of reach-in freezer repair and maintenance to get the most out of your freezer equipment.
Tips for reach-in freezer repair and maintenance
Here are some of the best tips to keep in mind when it comes to reach-in freezer repair and preventative maintenance:
Check temperature settings: Many of the problems that commonly come up with reach-in freezers are caused by issues with temperature settings. If a freezer’s thermometer is programmed to the wrong settings, it will increase the risk of ice buildup, food spoilage and leaks. Check your freezer’s thermometer to see what the temperature is, and check what it is set to. Read your freezer’s owner’s manual for an accurate temperature recommendation so that you can make sure that your freezer’s thermometer is set to the right temperature.
Reorganize stored food: Packing food into a freezer without any effort to organize items can result in overcrowding and restrict airflow, leading to ice buildup and inconsistent cooling of food items. Take time to reorganize stored food, and make sure that there is plenty of room in between items for air to circulate through the freezer. Reorganizing a freezer also offers the perfect opportunity to find and throw away old food that was lost in your freezer.
Check gaskets, seals, hinges and latches for damage: Without a proper seal, reach-in freezers won’t work properly to keep food products at the right temperature. Gaskets, seals, hinges and latches all play essential roles in maintaining an airtight seal for a freezer door, so inspect these components regularly to check for signs of wear, tear and damage. If you notice that any of these things are damaged, invest in replacement to keep your freezer working as effectively as possible.
Contact a professional for maintenance and repairs: A lot of business owners take on DIY freezer maintenance and repairs in an effort to save money, but going the DIY route is often more trouble than it’s worth. To make sure that you get the best repairs possible, always hire a professional who is trained to work on reach-in freezers.
We offer comprehensive commercial refrigeration services to keep equipment of all kinds in the best working condition possible. Our team has been proud to serve customers with high-quality services since 1995, and we are committed to providing the best customer service experience possible. Find out more about our services and request a consultation and a quote today by giving us a call.
There are many benefits to converting your R-22 air conditioning system to an R-410A system. These benefits range from the legal to the financial to the environmental. R-410A air conditioning systems are better for the ozone layer and will eventually be the norm in all homes once R-22 systems are successfully phased out.
But the thought of R-22 conversion costs might be the thing stopping you from making the switch, which is understandable. However, knowing the extent of R-22 conversion costs could help you make a more informed decision—read on to learn more.
Do I legally have to convert my R-22 air conditioning system to an R-410A system?
Technically, no—but R-22 gas is going to be much harder to find going forward. This is because the United States has legally barred manufacturers from making new R-22 systems. The government has also outlawed the importation or manufacturing of R-22 gas in the United States. All existing R-22 AC systems are allowed to stand, but it’s going to be harder to have them serviced or refilled going forward.
Can I convert my R-22 system to an R-410A system myself?
Not unless you’re an EPA-certified HVAC technician with experience performing that specific conversion process. This is because R-22 conversions are an intricate procedure that involves the complete removal of R-22, which is a harsh chemical gas. It’s better to leave a tricky operation like this to the certified professionals.
How will I know whether I should have my air conditioner converted or replaced?
This could be a matter of personal preference or budgetary concerns, but as a general rule of thumb, if you have an R-22 HVAC system that is eight years or older, you might be better off having it replaced with an R-410A system. This is because AC units typically last between 10 and 12 years, so paying to have your system converted at the end of its lifespan doesn’t make much fiscal sense.
What does the R-22 conversion process entail?
It is an involved, multi-step practice that will begin by having an HVAC technician remove all traces of R-22. The technician will “flush” the system several times to ensure all the R-22 is gone. The technician will then replace the accumulator, compressor and expansion valve with parts that can tolerate the R-410A gas. The professional may or may not have to install a new refrigerant line set. The tech will then recharge the AC system with R-410A and finish the conversion by testing it extensively.
How much will an R-22 to R-410A conversion cost?
The actual cost will depend on many things, including where you live, but most of the time R-22 conversions start at around $2,000 and go up from there. The higher end of that range is somewhere around $4,500 to $4,600. This is because of the necessary parts, products, expertise and labor required for an R-22 conversion. For context, a new air conditioner installation costs between $4,600 and $9,000.
Call for your R-22 conversion today
Now that you know the range of R-22 conversion costs, give us a call at American Refrigeration Inc. Our EPA-certified HVAC technicians can help you with any commercial air conditioning issues you may have, including installations, repairs and conversions.
If you’ve ever owned an older car or HVAC system, you’re probably familiar with Freon. It’s also known as R-22, and it’s a noncombustible gas that is integral to the process of air conditioning. For years, all air conditioning systems utilized R-22. But it is now being phased out due to environmental concerns.
This means there are many R-22 conversions happening around the United States. People are switching their air conditioning systems over from R-22 to R-410A, which is also known as Puron. Below we’ll take a look at the benefits of R-22 conversions and why using R-410A refrigerant is superior.
It’s the law
There has already been an initial wave of R-22 conversions, and there will likely be many more in the coming years. This is because, as of the year 2020, R-22 cannot be manufactured or imported into the United States. That doesn’t mean that everyone must rip out their air conditioners that currently use R-22, just that no new air conditioning systems using Freon will be manufactured in the U.S.
More cost-effective
Performing an R-22 conversion to R-410A could likely save you money in the long run. This is because, due to supply and demand, the cost of R-22 will surely go up. This is because it’s about to become scarcer. This is happening due to the laws mentioned above going into effect. Installing an HVAC system that uses R-410A means the technology you’re using will be newer, and the parts themselves should last longer than an outdated R-22-based system.
Better efficiency
In the same vein, an R-410A system does a better job of absorbing and emitting heat than an older R-22 system does. This, combined with the better equipment and technology, means it will run more efficiently than an R-22 system. There’s also a bit of a ceiling when it comes to an R-22 system’s seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). Most R-22 systems have a hard time getting above a 13 SEER rating, while R-410A systems can easily reach a 14.5 SEER rating or higher.
Saving the environment
This is the main reason the government looked to phase out R-22. When it leaks, the gas can do significant damage to the planet’s air quality and ozone layer. With so many millions of people using R-22 for various applications, continuing its use was unsustainable.
R-410A is still a chemical gas compound, but it’s not nearly as harmful to the earth’s ozone layer as Freon is. While it’s true that R-410A is not perfect, it’s the best material currently available to use in air conditioning systems. Someday an even safer gas might be discovered to replace R-410A, but until then you can confidently deploy it in your home knowing that it’s safe, legal and can be serviced for a reasonable price.
Call for your HVAC services today
Whether you require R-22 conversions or other types of HVAC services, give us a call at American Refrigeration Inc. We offer a plethora of commercial HVAC services, including HVAC installation, repair, commercial refrigeration and parts distribution.
When you’re looking into walk-in cooler installation for your winery, brewery, restaurant, grocery store or other type of business, flooring is a surprisingly important consideration. Floors contribute a significant amount of insulation—or not—depending on where and how your cooler is installed.
Before you can decide whether your walk-in cooler needs dedicated flooring, you’ll need to determine what kind of flooring it currently has and whether its thermal needs are conducive to your goals.
Here’s how to decide if you need a floor.
Where is your cooler installed?
When you’re trying to decide whether your cooler needs an actual floor, it’s important to determine where it will be installed. For example, your geographic location makes a big difference in whether you’ll need thermal insulation between the ground, a cement slab and your cooler. In Oregon, especially in areas where it gets warm in the summer, you will probably need to add additional insulation.
Does your walk-in cooler have a floor?
The first thing to determine is whether the walk-in cooler you’ve chosen already comes with a floor installed. Many coolers present that option, but it might not be right for you. The most important thing to know is that if your walk-in cooler doesn’t come with a pre-installed floor, you’re probably going to need to install further weatherproofing—in the form of seals or “screeds”—to prevent air transfer from indoors to outdoors.
If your walk-in cooler will only be accessed by walk-in traffic, it might be fine to install it on a concrete slab. However, if the floors are made of a different material, it’s not perfectly level or there are other structural concerns, your winery equipment installation is probably going to require a different type of flooring.
Is there a thermal break pre-installed?
Heat transfer is the biggest problem for walk-in coolers. When warm and hot air meet, they flow toward each other until they eventually balance out. The same goes for when the cold temperature of your walk-in cooler meets the hot temperature of the ground in the summertime. Do you really want to pay to refrigerate the earth? If not, you’ll need to install a thermal break, which disrupts heat transfer and keeps the cold air where it should be: in your cooler.
What kind of floor should you choose?
Once you’ve decided that your walk-in cooler needs flooring, it’s important to choose a type of floor. Obviously, the most important part is the insulation, which impedes heat transfer from the earth to the cooler. However, reinforced and aluminum floors are popular. They help keep the floors as cold as possible while withstanding thousands of pounds of pressure per square foot.
Not sure which type of cooler or floor you should choose? The team at American Refrigeration Inc. is here to help. Call us today to learn more about our refrigeration options, including flooring types, whether you need a floor and specific installation requirements. Our winery and other walk-in cooler installation processes can be customized to suit your needs.
When you’re trying to decide which commercial refrigerators to buy, choosing between indoor and outdoor walk-in coolers can be difficult. While both types of coolers are a good choice for restaurants, bars, distilleries and other businesses that rely on large-scale refrigeration, indoor and outdoor coolers have distinct quirks. Depending on your building and property size, there may be a clear winner—but if you’re still trying to determine what to buy, read on.
Should you choose an indoor or outdoor cooler?
Here are some of the factors you’ll need to take into account when making a commercial refrigerator purchase:
Major differences: Since indoor and outdoor coolers are made differently, they require different features. When you buy an outdoor model, you’ll need extra weatherproofing. For example, rain roofs, weather sealing strips, panel protection and other weather protection is necessary to insulate the cooler and keep it safe from the elements.
Type of product: What will you store in your walk-in cooler? Depending on the product, the refrigeration needs may change. For example, most coolers “assume” that you’ll be storing the product at 33 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will enter the cooler around 55 degrees. For freezers, it’s assumed that the holding temperature is -10 degrees Fahrenheit, but the products will enter around 20 degrees. Because the models and refrigeration type can vary, make sure that your cooler can handle the size and type of product you need to store. If they’re entering or holding at different temperatures, you may not get the right type of cooler.
Flooring: Do you need special flooring? That depends on whether you have an indoor or outdoor cooler—usually. Unless you already have a concrete floor with thermal breaks, both your indoor and outdoor coolers will need flooring. Furthermore, if you plan to carry heavy loads in and out of your cooler, it’s best to install a thermal break, as it will help prevent condensation from forming.
Airflow: You’ll need at least two inches around the cooling panels. When you design your space, make sure there’s plenty of room for airflow. Otherwise, condensation will build up, which is not conducive to good operation of commercial refrigerators.
Location: Your location will also have a major effect on your cooler—depending on if you’re in a warmer or cooler part of Oregon, you’ll need to size your cooler accordingly. Check the ambient temperature in your cooler specifications to ensure it will work for your needs.
Delivery: When you have your cooler delivered, it can be difficult to move everything to where it needs to go—make sure you know whether you need to have a forklift available or if your refrigeration company will help deliver and install the cooler.
Refrigeration type: Finally, determine which type of refrigeration is right for you. Pre-assembled and remote refrigeration versions have their advantages and drawbacks. Ask your vendor about what’s best for your particular setup.
When you need commercial refrigerators and walk-in coolers, American Refrigeration Inc. is here to help. Call us today to learn more about our offerings and find out which type of cooler is best for you.
