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!
Commercial freezer equipment is designed to meet high standards of performance, durability and reliability, but these systems won’t last forever without running into any problems. At some point or another, you will likely experience issues that require commercial freezer repair in Eugene, OR. When that happens, it’s important that you know the proper ways to assess and address the issue to get your equipment working effectively again. Understanding a few of the most common issues with commercial freezers can help you ensure that you know what to do when your equipment experiences problems:
Fluctuating temperatures: If you can’t control the temperature in your commercial freezer and you notice consistent temperature fluctuations from day to day, it’s a clear sign that there’s something wrong with your equipment. One of the reasons why your freezer might not be cooling as it should is because it is positioned improperly. Check to ensure that your equipment is placed a few inches from your wall so that air can flow to promote the cooling process. You should also inspect your freezer doors to check for worn gaskets that are preventing an airtight seal.
Inconsistent power: If you’re dealing with frequent power supply problems that affect your commercial freezer, it’s possible that there’s something wrong with your system’s electrical components or connections. Electrical components can be dangerous to work with, even if you have some experience with electrical repairs, so it’s always best to hire a professional to help you with these problems. They will be able to address the root cause of the problem and safely perform maintenance and repairs to solve the issue.
Lighting issues: Flickering lights or lights that don’t come on when you open your freezer door may be caused by burnt-out bulbs. If there are only a few lights that aren’t coming on in your commercial freezer, you can simply replace those individual bulbs or lighting strips, but if none of your lights are coming on, It’s likely that there’s a problem with your electrical components. Either way, you can always consult a professional to assist you with repairs.
Ice accumulation: The evaporator fan in your commercial freezer is designed to promote proper airflow and circulation and prevent ice accumulation. If this fan stops working, you may notice excessive ice buildup in your commercial freezer that can prevent proper cooling and temperature moderation. Issues with evaporator fans may be caused by clogs in drain lines, or the charge of your evaporator fan may be low. These issues can be addressed with simple repairs from a professional commercial freezer technician.
Schedule commercial freezer repair in Eugene, OR
When you need commercial freezer repair in Eugene, OR from a professional team that you can count on, reach out to American Refrigeration Inc. Since 1995, we have been proud to provide comprehensive commercial refrigeration services to keep businesses operating at optimum levels of performance and efficiency. You can find out more about all of the services that we have to offer and get started with a complimentary quote and consultation by giving our team a call today.
Businesses across various industries rely on commercial refrigeration equipment to support their operations, and this equipment requires regular service, maintenance and repairs to keep it working effectively. Unfortunately, a lot of businesses neglect commercial refrigeration services in Eugene, OR and end up with systems that have suboptimal efficiency, poor performance and reduced longevity. The good news is that you can keep your refrigeration equipment in great shape for years to come by partnering with a commercial refrigeration company.
Why you should hire a commercial refrigeration company
Working with a commercial refrigeration company is essential if you want to get the most out of your refrigeration equipment. You should establish a relationship with a commercial refrigeration company before anything major goes wrong with your equipment. A commercial refrigeration company can provide you with regular service and maintenance that will benefit you in several important ways:
Increased longevity: Commercial refrigeration equipment is expensive to repair and replace, and you want to avoid these costs for as long as possible. Instead of springing for a major repair or a brand-new system, simply invest in regular commercial refrigeration services in Eugene, OR. You can boost the longevity of your system significantly with regular maintenance from a professional technician, and this can save you a significant amount of money in the long run.
Safety: If you’re a relatively handy person, you might think that you can handle some aspects of service or maintenance for your commercial refrigeration equipment on your own. Unfortunately, a lot of people who attempt to do these services themselves wind up getting hurt by the complex electrical and mechanical systems in refrigeration equipment. A professional has the training and experience necessary to complete repairs safely without major complications and difficulties.
Improved performance and efficiency: Having regular service and maintenance appointments with a professional can help you ensure that your equipment is operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. Regular maintenance can make a huge difference when it comes to the performance of your system and its efficiency. During routine maintenance, a technician will inspect your system components, clean some parts and filters and ensure that all of the parts are still in working order. Even a basic tune-up can make a huge difference in the quality of your system’s operation.
Proactive repairs: A professional who specializes in commercial refrigeration services in Eugene, OR will be able to identify small issues that require repairs before they become major problems. By handling these issues proactively, you can avoid more expensive and more time-consuming repairs and keep your system operating the way it should.
Schedule commercial refrigeration services in Eugene, OR
If you’re interested in finding out more about commercial refrigeration services in Eugene, OR, reach out to American Refrigeration Inc. For decades, our team of professionals has been proud to provide comprehensive commercial refrigeration services in Eugene, OR. Regardless of what your specific needs or concerns may be, our team is ready to assist you. If you have a specific concern with your refrigeration equipment or you want to get started with a routine maintenance appointment, give our team a call for more information.
Whether you’re upgrading to improved distillery equipment or you’re equipping a brand-new distillery facility, you need to think about the installation process. Getting subpar equipment installation work may leave you with machines that don’t function properly or that don’t deliver the level of performance that you were hoping for. Because of the importance of proper installation when it comes to your distillery equipment, it’s essential to find a reputable installation provider that you can trust to do a good job.
What you need to know about the installation process
The most important thing to remember about distillery equipment installation in Oregon is that it is about more than just positioning the equipment in a facility—a lot of calibration and setup is required to get the equipment working the way that it should. When you hire a professional installer, you should feel confident that they will provide you with the expertise and services that you need to get the most out of your equipment. By following some simple tips, you can find an installation provider who is going to get you the results that you’re looking for:
Arrange several consultations: You don’t have to work with the first installation provider that gives you a quote. You should find several local candidates and then narrow down your short list through interviews, consultations and quotes. This gives you the opportunity to get to know potential service providers a little bit and weigh pros and cons before you make your final hiring decision.
Consider value: It’s easy to get so caught up in the cost of installation that you fail to take other factors into account, but it’s important to carefully weigh all of the aspects of installation to help you compare service providers. If one installation provider offers the lowest price, but they also have the least experience and the worst approach to customer service, they aren’t worth the savings. Try to find a provider of distillery equipment installation in Oregon that offers reasonable rates and quality services.
Get recommendations: If you know people who have had distillery equipment installed, ask them about which service provider they used and what their experience was like. They will be able to give you valuable insight and help you find reputable providers and avoid those that aren’t worth it. You should also browse reviews online and request references from different installation providers so that you can get a better idea of what your service experience will be like.
Schedule distillery equipment installation in Oregon
At American Refrigeration Inc., we know how important proper equipment installation is for distillery facilities, and that’s why we’re proud to provide such exceptional services to our customers. In addition to the various distillery equipment and services that we offer, we are also proud to provide a wide range of commercial HVAC and refrigeration services. For decades, our team has been committed to providing the best service possible to all of our customers. You can find out more about what we have to offer by giving us a call today.
