The still is the most important piece of equipment you will have in your distillery. This determines what kind of spirits you’re able to manufacture, and how much of it you’ll be able to make within a given time period. The demand for stills has never been higher, either, as more and more companies continue to pop up in the wake of the rise of the craft brewing and distilling phenomenon.
There are plenty of other pieces of equipment you’re going to need to get to start up your distillery, but given the importance of the still, it’s probably the first piece of equipment you’re going to focus on. Therefore, it’s important for you to know what factors to take into consideration when making your selection. Your choice might be influenced to some extent by what’s available in your area, especially if you’re able to get a quality still secondhand. But without taking availability into account, here are just a few examples of some of the factors you’ll need to think about when selecting your stills and distillery equipment in Eugene, OR:
Kind of spirits: What kind of spirits do you wish to make? This is the best initial question for you to answer. You may require a different still depending on whether you plan to make whiskey, bourbon, gin, absinthe, brandy, vodka or any other kind of spirit or combination of the aforementioned, so make sure you have a vision for your distillery and what it will produce.
How much: How much of each type of spirit do you intend to make? Consider barrels per day/week/month/year. Unless you have a good deal of venture funding and/or experience, you’re probably not going to be starting off with a massive operation. But that’s okay—you can grow your distillery over time.
Your current operation: Are you already distilling? If so, are you able to continue using any of the equipment you currently have on hand, or do you need to upgrade your still? If this is your first distillery, then you’re probably going to need to spend more time researching the kinds of equipment you’re going to need to get your operation up and running.
Your production and operations: How much do you actually want to work? You should consider the number of days per week you intend to distill, how long you want each shift to be, how many other people you’ll have working with or for you and how many shifts you’ll have.
Bourbon and whiskey: There are some special considerations to take into account if you’ll be making bourbon or whiskey. If you know you’re going to be making either or both of these spirits, make sure to investigate the options that are available to you for them specifically.
These are just a few examples of some of the most important factors to consider when selecting a still and other distillery equipment in Eugene, OR. Contact American Refrigeration Inc. today for more information about how to proceed with your order.
The buildup of ice is one of the most common problems people have to deal with when managing a walk-in freezer. Icing not only makes it more difficult for the machinery to operate efficiently, but it could also create excess humidity and moisture that affects the freshness of the food being stored inside the freezer.
If you’re going to be able to perform high-quality walk-in freezer repair in Eugene, OR for an icing problem, it’s important that you understand why icing happens inside these freezers.
The main issue in most cases is that somehow, warm, humid air is getting into your walk-in freezer. The combination of this air leak with the cold ambient air temperatures in the freezer makes for a buildup of ice. This could be a result of the door not being sealed properly due to damaged or worn-down gaskets—an improper seal makes it easy for air to enter through the door. Faulty hinges could be preventing the door from closing properly, and employees might be leaving freezer doors open while restocking items, letting in large amounts of air that make problems with icing significantly more likely.
It’s also important to consider where in the freezer the icing is at its worst. For example, ice buildup near an evaporator coil could be a result of failures with the system fan delay relays. This is a bit more difficult of an issue to resolve, and will likely require the service of a professional technician. There might also be issues with drain lines becoming clogged, which could cause water to pool near the drain and freeze up.
The final potential problem that could cause your walk-in freezer to have icing issues could be aging insulation. Insulation panels can actually start to accumulate ice as they get old, so if your freezer is more than 10 years old, there’s a chance it’s no longer being insulated as effectively.
Preventing icing from becoming a major issue with your freezer
It’s important to prevent ice buildups in your freezer so you do not damage the food you’re storing or any of the important mechanical systems that help your freezer run. By preventing icing, you’ll also save quite a bit of money over time on energy, because your freezer won’t have to work as hard to compete with the excess warmth and humidity that’s getting into it.
You should, therefore, regularly check all door gaskets, hardware and seals to make sure that you don’t have an air leak around the door edges. Check the drains in the floor to make sure they’re not backed up, and make sure your insulation panels are in good condition. Make any necessary repairs as they arise to prevent these issues from becoming more significant and inconvenient than they need to be.
Having an ongoing maintenance schedule with your walk-in freezer is another great way to make sure it stays in good condition. For more information about setting up regular appointments for walk-in freezer repair in Eugene, OR, contact American Refrigeration Inc. today.
If you have an ice machine that’s backed up or simply isn’t making ice, you’re going to want to make repairs as soon as possible so you don’t have to deal with extended equipment downtime. Before you call in a professional, there are some steps you can take to perform your own ice machine repair in Eugene, OR.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the steps you can take to get your ice maker working again if it’s not producing any ice for you:
Check the water supply: If you’ve got an issue with the ice machine not making ice, but you can hear a buzz in the equipment and see the arm swinging into motion, then this is likely a sign that the water valve isn’t receiving any water. The valve and the solenoid are probably doing okay, but the water supply isn’t working properly. First, check and make sure the water supply line doesn’t have any kinks in it—it will be running underneath or behind the refrigerator. If it appears to be kink-free, you can check and find the water shutoff valve behind the refrigerator or underneath the sink. You can then turn it off, unscrew the supply line from the back of the refrigerator, put the line in a bucket, turn on the valve and see if you have any water coming out.
Check the bail wire: The bail wire is located right above the ice tray, and it should be set in the down position. If it gets caught in the upper position, it will keep the ice maker locked and prevent it from making new ice.
Check the solenoid: The water line that runs to your ice maker attaches to a solenoid at the bottom or back of the refrigerator, and then goes from there to the ice maker. There’s a possibility that the solenoid isn’t getting any power, or that it’s completely defective. Try taking off the sediment screen inside the solenoid and cleaning it off, checking the seals to make sure they’re still working. That might be all you need to do. Otherwise, there are replacement solenoids available online for relatively low cost that are pretty easy to install.
Check the tap valve: The tap valve is the part that connects the water supply tube to the water pipe. If you’ve got a bad tap valve, then it could lead to issues with that connection. You may need to replace the inlet valve and tap valve if this is where your problem is located. When replacing a tap valve, use the kind that requires you to drill a quarter-inch hole, rather than the self-piercing type of tap valve. You’ll generally get better results, even though it’s a bit more work.
These are just a few of the checks you can make and steps you can take to get your ice machine working again. If none of these works, contact American Refrigeration Inc. today to discuss your options for professional ice machine repair in Eugene, OR.
The dog days of summer have officially arrived. For many of us, that means beating the heat by staying inside where there’s AC! However, unless you’ve scheduled commercial HVAC services in Eugene, OR, your unit might not be ready to keep your business nice and cool for the remainder of the summer. Keep reading to learn all there is to know about air conditioner maintenance.
The benefits of maintenance
Springtime and early summer are the ideal times to have your unit maintained, but it’s never too late to pick up the phone and schedule a tune-up. Here are a few of the reasons why you should call today:
Fewer breakdowns: Want to avoid paying a technician to fix your commercial AC each summer? Then have it tuned up every spring! A quick maintenance call can prevent breakdowns, which means you won’t have to waste money on repairs or suffer through the hot summer days without AC.
Prolonged lifespan: Air conditioners should last at least 10 to 15 years, as long as they’re maintained every season. Neglecting to schedule yearly tune-ups almost guarantees that you’ll have to replace your commercial unit sooner rather than later. Though a maintenance call isn’t free, it’s much less expensive than paying for a brand-new AC!
Warranty retention: Depending on the manufacturer of your system, you might have to schedule professional maintenance if you want to keep your unit under warranty. Most warranties stipulate that the unit must have a professional inspection or else the warranty is void.
What goes into maintenance?
Now that you know why it’s important, it may be helpful to understand what goes into an HVAC maintenance call. Here’s what our professionals do during a tune-up:
Inspection: Your HVAC technician will first take a look at your system and see how everything is running. If there are any evident problems, he or she will be able to fix them before they end up breaking down in the middle of the summer, when you need your AC the most.
Part replacement: Let’s hope that all of the components of your AC look good to go, but if they don’t, now is the time you’ll want them to be replaced. We may have to order special replacement parts, which don’t always arrive as quickly as everyone would like. But if you have the parts replaced in the spring, this shouldn’t matter as much, because you likely won’t need to be using your AC just yet.
Filter change: The air filter is responsible for keeping dust, debris and other particles from entering the system and contaminating the air. As you can imagine, the filter gets pretty dirty pretty quickly! Your HVAC technician will replace the filter to ensure you have nice, clean air. Though your HVAC pro will change your filter during the tune-up, you can also do this yourself every month to ensure a fully-functioning unit.
If you haven’t already scheduled HVAC services in Eugene, OR, now is the time to do so. Pick up the phone and give American Refrigeration Inc. a call today to have your commercial AC unit inspected and tuned up.
Commercial freezers are essential appliances for a variety of different businesses and industries. Restaurants, hospitals, hotels and a range of other establishments couldn’t function without a commercial freezer. Unfortunately, freezers tend to run into some issues that necessitate the help of commercial freezer services in Eugene, OR. Continue reading to learn more about these services.
What to look for in a commercial freezer contractor
If you thought every company in the commercial freezer industry is the same, think again! Some are much better and much more competent than others. Here are a few things you should look for in a quality contractor:
Fair prices: Your commercial freezer is an essential aspect of your business, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on it if it can be avoided. Shop around to find the contractor who will offer you the best prices. At American Refrigeration Inc., you can rest easy knowing that you’re getting the best bang for your buck when you work with us.
Fast response time: You can’t be waiting around for too long when your freezer is down. You’ve got perishable goods that will go bad if the freezer isn’t up and running soon. Make sure you call a company like ours that can send someone out right away to fix your freezer if it breaks.
Wide range of services: It’s kind of silly to have to call one company to install a freezer, another to repair it and a third to tune it up. Instead of figuring out which contractor to call, choose one that specializes in all aspects of the commercial freezer industry. At American Refrigeration Inc., we can handle all of your freezer needs.
Services we offer
As mentioned above, we don’t think it makes much sense to need to have the phone number for a few different commercial freezer contractors. That’s why we’re pleased to be your one-stop shop for all of your freezer needs! Be sure to give us a call if you need any of the services below:
Installation: Did your old freezer finally bite the dust? Are you in the market for a larger freezer to accommodate your growing business? Look no further than American Refrigeration Inc. We carry all of the top brands in all sizes to meet your needs.
Repairs: Over time, your freezer is bound to run into some issues like running too warm, or even not running at all. When that happens, make sure you call us first. We’ll be on the scene as soon as possible to fix whatever went wrong.
General maintenance: The best way to avoid those repairs in the first place is to schedule routine maintenance. Our professionals can thoroughly inspect, clean and tune up your freezer to ensure that it operates as intended.
Be sure to choose our team at American Refrigeration Inc. the next time you need commercial freezer services in Eugene, OR. We can handle all of your refrigeration concerns, regardless of the make, model or size of your appliances. Give us a call today to learn what we can do for you!
