Spring is almost here, which means it’s time to schedule a seasonal maintenance checkup for your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR. But to ensure your heater and air conditioner are ready to perform properly come spring, get a full maintenance package that includes a professional inspection, adjustments, repairs and cleanings. Below is a basic checklist with important spring HVAC maintenance tasks. Some are small tasks you can tackle yourself, while others should be done by a professional.
Why you need commercial HVAC maintenance
Commercial HVAC systems supply heat and cool air to large spaces, so you’ll want yours to work consistently to avoid unnecessary downtime. So, just like you do for your home’s heating and cooling systems, you should perform regular maintenance on your commercial HVAC system every season to ensure your equipment works when you need it to. What are the benefits of professional HVAC maintenance? Let’s take a look:
The HVAC equipment will work more efficiently, reducing the amount of energy it needs by 25 percent or more to keep your indoor commercial space comfortable.
Not only will your HVAC be reliable, but you’ll also experience fewer breakdowns and see a drop in equipment and maintenance costs—as much as 20 percent!
Hands down, HVAC maintenance in the spring means better indoor air quality. Humidity levels are better balanced, and there’s a reduction in the amount of airborne particulates and contaminants.
A spring HVAC maintenance checklist
If you’re ready to get started on maintenance for your commercial HVAC system, here’s a handy checklist you can use to ensure you’re covering your bases:
Change air filters: The job of air filters is to trap and remove unhealthy airborne particulates and contaminants, such as dirt, dust, pollen, mold spores, pet hair and dander and other microscopic particles. With these particles out of the air, your customers and employees will breathe in clean air and enjoy a more comfortable indoor environment. Filters are replaced during scheduled maintenance, but consider checking them between appointments and change them if they’re obviously dirty.
Clean indoor HVAC components: Make sure to clean the indoor components of your cooling system—including blower fans, control panels and evaporator coils. Also, clean and assess moving parts like fans. They may need lubrication to keep them operating smoothly.
Clean around outdoor condenser units: The condenser unit and other vital components are in an outdoor cabinet that needs cleaning from time to time. Along with cleaning, remove any debris that may block vents and reduce airflow through the system. The most common types of debris found around coils and vents include grass, mud, leaves, twigs, garbage and more. Don’t forget to wipe down the cabinet as well.
Check the refrigerant: Your cooling system needs refrigerant to properly capture and release heat. Your commercial HVAC technician will check the refrigerant level in your system and add refrigerant to the manufacturer’s specifications. If there are any leaks, they should be repaired immediately. It’s best not to use the system until all repairs are made.
If your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR is in need of service or repairs, look no further than the experienced technicians at American Refrigeration Inc. Contact us today to schedule a visit!
There’s no doubt that owning any food or beverage establishment comes with extra responsibilities to ensure consumer health and safety. Important tasks include checking your ingredient storage area monthly for needed commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR and regularly cleaning distillery equipment. Regular maintenance is a crucial step in preventing the growth of bacteria that can lead to illnesses, bad tasting drinks, wasted products and equipment failure. Those in the beer and spirits production industry can attest to this.
Did you know that properly cleaning and sanitizing distillery equipment often goes overlooked? You may rinse and wipe down distillery components after each use, but sanitizing equipment is what will kill unwanted germs, bacteria and yeast.
With that in mind, here are some tips for maintaining your brewing and distillery equipment.
Implement a cleaning routine
Make sure to clean all brewing or distillery equipment parts after use. If you skip this step, you’re taking the chance of germs spreading through the entire system. Parts to clean include the brew kettle, mash paddle, fermenter, fermented lid, pump, hoses, hydrometer, airlock, thermometer, yeast containers and measuring spoons and cups. Always wear eye and hand protection when using cleaning solutions (your cleaning product will depend on what your equipment is made of). Some parts can be washed in an automatic dishwasher, but washing by hand ensures effectiveness and proper flushing.
Sanitize it all
Although cleaning and sanitizing sound like the same thing, they are not—especially when it comes to the food and beverage industry. To clean means to get rid of dirt, debris, stains and other matter, while to sanitize means to kill or greatly reduce spoiling microorganisms to minimal levels.
If you don’t get every area and surface on every piece of equipment, you run the risk of contaminating your next batch. Both cleaning and sanitizing your equipment—all of it, from the large kettle to the handheld measuring instruments—provides the best brewing or distilling conditions possible. Use chemical sanitizers manufactured specifically for sanitizing distillery equipment, and consider making a soaking bath for equipment you cannot reach inside to dissolve leftover ingredients. You should also schedule monthly and yearly maintenance appointments to avoid costly distillery equipment and commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR.
Applying heat is another step you can take in the sanitation process. Heat is good at blasting bacteria from your equipment; you may be able to use the high-heat drying cycle on your commercial dishwasher as the final step in the sanitation process. While metal does great in high temperatures, plastic components do not. Avoid putting plastic pieces in the high-heat cycle.
Clean and sanitize immediately
Yes, you’ve spent the last several hours in front of hot equipment making alcohol, but the time to clean up is right away. Waiting to clean and sanitize gives bacteria time to grow, and makes the mess tougher to remove.
Keep your distillery equipment healthy and clean for fresh batches of beer or spirits every time. Luckily, the team at American Refrigeration Inc. is here to help. Give us a call any time you need distillery equipment maintenance, parts repair or commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR!
If you own a distillery, then you undoubtedly want to make a drink that is clean. This is what regular cleaning and sanitizing equipment does, right? Well, it plays a huge role in cleanliness, but you also need a distillery filtration system. Much like doing your research before purchasing commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR, you’ll want to look into the features and statistics of several filtration systems, and even get a few price quotes first. Another thing to keep in mind is installation. Always hire an experienced professional, like American Refrigeration Inc., to properly place and install your distillery equipment.
When looking for distillery filtration equipment, you will quickly learn that you’ve got many options to choose from. This means that making a choice may not be as easy as you thought it would be—especially since you probably have factors to consider, such as the price, equipment maintenance needs and equipment productivity.
To help narrow down the options, we’ve put together a list of some of the things you should consider before installing a new distillery filtration system.
Know what you are distilling
Most spirits being made for commercial distribution will require filtration to taste their best. Temperature is very important in the filtration of spirits. Filtration at ambient temperature is enough for white spirits, while most brown spirits need to be filtered at low temperatures. Therefore, the right filtration method for you will depend on the specific spirit you are distilling:
Gin: Because an already processed neutral spirit is used to produce gin, filtration typically occurs before gin production even begins. If producing your own neutral spirit for production, carbon filtering will make your gin clean.
Tequila: Carbon filtration, also referred to as activated charcoal filtration, is commonly used in tequila production to remove impurities like esters and furfural. Distillation alone cannot lower the amount of these impurities to legal standards, which is why activated charcoal filtration is used for additional cleaning.
Whiskey: If you are producing whiskey that is 46% ABV or less, the liquid will get cloudy when the whiskey cools on its own, through commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR or when ice or water is added. Use chill filtration to remove esters, proteins and fatty acids in the whiskey to prevent cloudiness from happening.
Types of filtration methods
The key to producing an excellent spirit is to ensure it is filtered properly. But what should the final filtered product look like? The product must be free of visible particles in the liquid and present a clear and bright appearance. Chill filtration and carbon filtration are the two major methods of distillery filtration:
Chill filtration: This method is used mostly in the whisky making process to remove residue—brown spirits contain substances like proteins, essential oils, pectin and others.
Activated charcoal filtration: This is a basic filtration method used to remove unwanted particles from all other kinds of spirits—the activated charcoal removes contaminants and impurities using chemical absorption.
If you need service for your distillery equipment or commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR, look no further than American Refrigeration Inc. Call us today for more information!
It’s the middle of the dinner rush when one of your employees comes up and says the ice machine isn’t working. Sure enough, you go to check it yourself and there is no ice. Meanwhile, there’s a long line of thirsty customers waiting to get their cold beverages. While your immediate reaction may be to pick up the phone and call for an emergency ice machine repair in Eugene, OR—and this may still wind up being what you need to do—don’t make that call just yet.
About 10 percent of the time, issues with your ice machine may not require a professional repair. By doing some quick troubleshooting yourself before you pick up the phone, you may be able to fix the problem immediately and save some time and money. Below are a few troubleshooting tips from our team at American Refrigeration Inc. that might be able to help:
Ice consumption is too high: If you are abnormally busy, your ice machine may be working just fine, but can’t quite keep up with the demand. Wait a few minutes before using the ice machine again and give it a chance to catch up. If, after a time, there’s still no ice, then there may be another problem.
The room or the water source is too warm: Ice machines are designed to slow down ice production if the surrounding air or the water coming into the machine is too warm. Try checking the temperature of the water going into the machine and/or reduce the temperature in the room to see if this will solve the problem.
The drain bin is clogged: If your drain bin has a buildup of water or is leaking, there may be something clogging the drain. Often, when cleaning the ice machine, a foreign object such as a rag or paper towel may get left behind and clog the drain.
The airflow is blocked: If there is anything stacked on or around the ice machine, it may be restricting the flow of air to the machine, which will reduce ice production.
The water supply isn’t working: If there’s not enough water going into the ice machine, it won’t be able to make enough ice. Check the water supply to make sure that it’s not turned off, leaking or blocked.
The machine is unplugged: While this may seem obvious, you’d be surprised how often ice machines are accidentally unplugged during cleaning or if the machine is bumped or moved. Check to make sure that the machine is plugged in and switched on.
While these troubleshooting tips may not always be the answer, you’ll find that one time out of 10 you’ll be able to identify the problem and fix it yourself, which can save you time and the cost of a service call. However, if the problem is beyond the scope of these troubleshooting tips, don’t hesitate to call American Refrigeration Inc. We offer 24/7 emergency ice machine repair in Eugene, OR that is both affordable and convenient!
A walk in freezer is a major investment and, like with most major investments, you want to do what you can to protect it. Whether you own a restaurant, a bar or a grocery store, you know that the daily operations of your business depend on your walk in freezer operating efficiently. At American Refrigeration Inc., we offer installation and repair services on commercial walk in coolers in Eugene, OR, so we know a thing or two about walk in cooler maintenance. Below are just a few tips from our technicians on how to keep your walk in freezer operating efficiently:
Check the gaskets regularly: Your freezer gaskets are the rubber seals that go around the door of your freezer. Over time, these gaskets can become warped and cracked. Damaged gaskets allow the cold air to escape, and your freezer will have to work harder to maintain the proper temperature. To avoid this, you should be checking your gaskets about every three months.
Check the insulation: The suction lines between the condensing unit and evaporator coil are insulated to ensure that your freezer is operating as efficiently as possible. However, the insulation can become damaged or decay over time. You should check the insulation periodically to ensure that it is in good condition.
Keep the door closed: It can be tempting to leave your freezer door propped open, especially if you find yourself going in and out a lot. While it may be annoying to have to keep reopening your freezer every few minutes, it’s actually better to keep it closed when possible. Propping your freezer open will make your freezer have to work harder to maintain the temperature, which will increase your energy bill and shorten the life of your freezer.
Clean the condensing coil: The condensing coil is where the refrigerant releases most of the heat it pulls from your freezer. You should clean the condensing coil periodically, about twice a year. If your condenser unit is located outside, you should clean it more often.
Have the electrical components checked: About twice a year, you should have a technician that services commercial walk in coolers in Eugene, OR check the electrical components of your walk in freezer. High amperage can be caused by loose wires, which will cause your unit to use more energy.
Keep the lights off: Be sure to always turn the lights off when exiting your walk in freezer. Not only do the lights inside your walk in freezer use a lot of energy themselves, but lights also produce heat, which can affect the temperature inside your freezer and make your unit work harder to maintain the right temperature.
Following these few simple tips will not only keep your unit operating efficiently and help save you money, but it will also help increase the lifespan of your freezer. For more tips like this or to learn about our services for commercial walk in coolers in Eugene, OR, call American Refrigeration Inc. today!
