As long as your heating, cooling and refrigeration systems are up and running, you probably don’t pay much attention to them or even notice that they’re around. Though we certainly can’t blame anyone for ignoring them, we can’t say we feel the same way—our employees are focused on all things HVAC, all the time. This post will teach you what you need to know when it comes to commercial refrigeration and HVAC maintenance in Eugene, OR.
What does commercial freezer service entail?
There are a lot of different things involved when it comes to commercial freezer service. Here are a few of them:
Installation: The first thing we provide for all of our customers is expert installation service. Regardless of the type of equipment you need installed in your business, we’re the team for the job. You can rest easy knowing that your new product will be set up correctly and will work as intended.
Routine maintenance: You can’t just set up HVAC equipment and expect it to run properly throughout its lifetime. Instead, you need to maintain and care for it to ensure that it works as it should. Call us for annual maintenance, and you shouldn’t have to worry about fixing or replacing elements the unit very often.
Repairs: Though maintenance usually prevents the need for repairs, your unit can still break down unexpectedly. If and when that day comes, call us to fix it right away! Regardless of the make and model, you can count on us to have it back up and running in no time.
Why choose American Refrigeration Inc.?
Plenty of companies in town provide commercial HVAC maintenance in Eugene, OR, but here are a few of the reasons why our clients call American Refrigeration Inc. for all of their HVAC needs:
Full-service company: Would you rather have the phone numbers of a bunch of different businesses lying around when you have to have your HVAC system worked on, or would you prefer to have one number to handle all of your HVAC needs? If the latter option sounds more appealing, then choose American Refrigeration Inc. We can tackle any and all HVAC work.
Fast response time: Nobody wants to wait around for days to have their HVAC system worked on or their commercial refrigeration gear installed. That’s why we’re always the first on the scene when there’s a commercial HVAC or refrigeration mishap.
Affordable prices: Working with a speedy, full-service HVAC company is important. However, you can’t always afford to spend an arm and a leg on these services. That’s not an issue when you call us! We offer some of the most competitive rates in town for all of our installation, maintenance and repair services.
Nobody tops American Refrigeration Inc. when it comes to commercial HVAC maintenance in Eugene, OR! Whether you need a new product installed or your current one repaired, be sure to choose us for the job. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment or learn more about all of our services.
Even if you’ve been caring for your system and performing regularly scheduled seasonal or annual maintenance on your HVAC system, sometimes you still need repairs. From small repairs such as commercial cooler repairs to full-system remodels and replacements, all systems need maintenance. Read on to learn more about the types of HVAC repairs and services we can provide:
HVAC installation: If your HVAC system is more than 10 years old, you may need a completely new system. Constructing and installing a new HVAC system, whether for a new commercial building or replacing an older system, requires the help of the pros.
HVAC remodeling: If you’ve recently remodeled your space, you may be in need of an HVAC remodel so your system can handle the new layout and continue to cool and heat the space efficiently.
HVAC repair: When something major goes wrong, whether that means your system won’t turn on, or isn’t heating and cooling evenly or efficiently, you may be in need of a major repair. If your system is close to 10 years old, you may consider a completely new system, depending on how extensive the repair would need to be.
Gas heating unit repair: Independent gas heating units can also run into issues and may be in need of repair. Your heat pump could also be the problem, which would need to be looked at as well.
Refrigeration unit repair: Some people have independent refrigeration units for cooling their space, or independent appliances for specific purposes, such as wine chillers. If these stop working, you’ll need to get your refrigeration unit repaired.
Agricultural units: Large farms and other agricultural businesses have large walk-in units to help maintain proper storage temperatures. These specialty devices will need a specialist in agricultural units for their repair.
Walk-in cooler repair: Commercial or industrial walk-in coolers and freezers are essential to many businesses, and a break down could start costing money fast. You’ll need an expert on these systems to take care of your repairs.
Ice machine repair: Smaller ice machines and reach-in coolers also operate with a refrigeration system, and a refrigeration system specialist can help with repair on these types of machines.
Refrigeration warehouse repair: Large refrigeration warehouses operate with a powerful refrigeration system, and a breakdown could mean extensive repairs. You’ll need a specialist that has dealt with these types of systems to work on yours.
Custom wine vault repair: Specialty systems like custom wine vaults from independent manufacturers could be tricky for some generalists to work with, so you’ll need to find an expert that can handle these types of specialty refrigeration equipment.
For whatever type of refrigeration or HVAC repair in Eugene, OR you need, the team at American Refrigeration Inc. can handle your system. From general HVAC systems to agricultural systems and custom specialty systems such as wine vaults, we can take care of your job. In fact, we even honor manufacturer rebates and warranties! Give us a call and learn more about why customers choose us for their business. Plus, receive advice about how you can keep your system running smoothly and efficiently all year long.
Your HVAC system heats and cools your house all year long and can use as much as two-thirds of the energy in your home. Proper HVAC maintenance in Eugene, OR can prolong the life of your system and increase its efficiency, which lowers energy costs in your home. In fact, keeping your system clean and efficient can help you save over 20 percent on energy costs. Avoid major repairs or problems and keep your energy bills low with these maintenance tips:
Seasonal maintenance: Many people schedule annual maintenance appointment for their HVAC systems, but you should actually have it looked at twice a year: once before the cooling season and once before the heating season. Cooling-only systems can be looked at once in the spring, and furnaces will only need to be checked in the fall.
Change air filters: Air filters should be changed often, about once a month. Dirty filters can block the cooling and heating systems, leading to damaged equipment and even system failure. If you don’t want to change your filters quite that often, you should at least inspect them for buildup and clean them as needed.
Insulate your home: A properly insulated home will require less energy expenditure on keeping it cool or warm. Weather-strip your windows and doors and ensure that your attic is properly insulated as well.
Clean vents: You will also want to clean your vents and registers during your annual or seasonal HVAC maintenance in Eugene, OR. Helping keep vents clean will allow air to circulate efficiently and effectively, which will decrease energy costs and keep the system running smoothly.
Keep HVAC area clear: Buildup around the HVAC system itself can also cause problems, such as overheating. Check the area around your system for a buildup of debris. Often, overgrown plants can creep into the HVAC area and impede airflow and circulation, so trim plants away from the system as well.
Clean coils: Evaporator and condenser coils are also in need of regular cleaning. A dirty condenser coil can raise energy consumption by 30 percent. These should be cleaned annually or seasonally during your routine HVAC maintenance in Eugene, OR.
Programmable thermostat: Another great way to reduce your energy costs is to install a programmable thermostat. These thermostats can be programmed to automatically change the temperature based on scheduled times, such as while you’re away at work or while you’re sleeping. Programming thermostats to keep the home at less comfortable temperatures when you’re not there to enjoy them can save you 10 percent on your energy bills.
Replace your system: Old HVAC systems do need to be replaced eventually, usually if your system is older than 10 years and running into more frequent trouble. Operating an old system means you’re not running as efficiently as you could be and likely paying too much for cooling and heating costs.
If you’re in need of HVAC maintenance in Eugene, OR, reach out to American Refrigeration Inc. Since 1995, we’ve been proud to provide comprehensive HVAC services to keep your system operating at optimum levels of performance and efficiency. Find out more about our services and get a complimentary quote and consultation by giving us a call today.
You’ve probably heard about the craft brewing boom in the United States, but it’s not just the beer industry that’s taken off—the craft liquor and distilling industry has also hit a huge boom over the last decade or so. There are constantly new distilleries opening up and existing ones expanding, especially here on the West Coast, which has been at the forefront of the craft beverage industries.
So, if you’re looking to either upgrade your distillery or finally follow your dreams and start up a new one from scratch, what are the processes and steps you should take when choosing your equipment? Here’s some info from a company that specializes in distillery equipment installation in Oregon to get you started.
Stills
The first thing you should purchase is a still. In the past, you would probably have been limited to very large and expensive copper vessels that you may have had to import. However, as demand has grown for smaller and cheaper still systems to accommodate the more modest needs of craft distillers, there has been a huge increase in that market, making the entry price for these stills more affordable than it’s ever been. You can go with traditional copper, or with other types of materials. Consider the kind of liquor you intend to make—certain types of stills may be better suited for certain types of liquors.
Other vital parts
What else do you need aside from a still? There are plenty of other vital components you’ll want to look for. For example, you’ll need a boiler and mash tun to create the fermented liquid that eventually gets processed in the still and turned into liquor. Mash tuns and boilers can both be expensive, so make sure you’ve appropriately accounted for those costs. You’ll also need fermenters and tanks for holding the liquid both before and after the distillation process. Other components include high-quality pumps—a food grade air pump can be particularly beneficial. Finally, depending on the quality of your municipal water, you may consider a means of treating that water before the distilling process begins. The presence of minerals in the water can impact both the taste of your product and the operation of your equipment.
See what you can get secondhand
If you’re just getting started in the industry, you can save a whole lot of money buy trying to get your equipment secondhand. There are a lot of add-ons you’ll need to get that can quickly start to cost you some money. Keep an eye on Craigslist and eBay, and become familiar with other distillers in the area to see if they have any old equipment they’re interested in getting rid of. You can actually use equipment from the beer, wine and dairy industries as well for a lot of your processes, so don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to equipment that was solely used by a distillery.
For more information about distillery equipment installation in Oregon and how you can choose the correct components for your needs, contact the team at American Refrigeration Inc. today with your questions.
With spring having finally sprung, you have probably started to think about some of the spring cleaning tasks you should perform at your business. Don’t forget to give all of your commercial refrigeration units, including freezers and ice machines, a good cleaning! Ice machines in particular tend to get forgotten during cleaning sprees, but it’s important to realize that it can be hazardous to people’s health to continue using ice machines that are dirty.
Here are just a few tips from our commercial refrigeration service in Eugene, OR to help you keep your ice machine clean and in good condition for the rest of the season and beyond:
Clean out the ice cooler: This is a task you should perform every week. If you keep up with cleaning the cooler, you’ll not only have ice cubes that come out in a uniform shape over and over again, but you’ll also avoid unpleasant odors that may develop in the system. Plus, if you do not clean the machine regularly, you risk it shutting down by itself.
Check the temperature: You should make sure you keep your ice machine in a cool location so it doesn’t have to expend more energy than necessary to make ice. You’ll find that not only will you save a whole lot of money on utility bills if you don’t have to keep the machine running constantly, but it’ll also produce much better, more consistent ice cubes.
Regularly replace the water filters: You should change out the water filters in your ice machine at least once every six months, if not more often than that. This will greatly improve the quality of ice your machine makes, as well as the speed with which your machine produces that ice. Leaving dirty filters in place makes the machine work harder and less efficiently, and can also result in the flavors of the debris caught in the filter seeping into the ice produced by the machine.
Check for slime: It may sound gross, but it’s true—ice machines can develop a brown slime inside of them. This generally arises as a result of specific types of yeast, such as airborne yeasts, brewing yeasts, baking yeasts and yeasts found in beer. You should be sure to consult the manual provided by your ice machine manufacturer for more information about cleaning out and preventing this sludge from developing.
Clean the condenser coils: Condenser coils tend to get ignored, but the dirtier they get, the harder it forces your ice machine to work and the slower the production of ice will become. You’d likely be amazed at how much debris and grease can form on these coils over time.
Your best course of action is to maintain a regular schedule of professional ice machine cleanings. For more information about putting together such a schedule, we encourage you to contact our commercial refrigeration service in Eugene, OR, and we’ll be happy to answer your questions. Get in touch with American Refrigeration Inc. today to learn more!
