As craft distilleries increase in popularity across the country, it is more important than ever to ensure that you have the highest-quality distillery equipment for your operation, as well as a top-notch source for maintenance, including commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR. While craft distilleries have not always had access to a very large selection of parts and equipment, the recent boom in the world of craft beverages has increased the demand and the availability of quality equipment on the market. In order to ensure the condition of your product and the value of your investment, focus on finding good distillery equipment that will provide you with efficiency and quality.
Choose the right still
The very first piece of equipment on your list should be a high quality still. Historically, options for smaller distilleries have been limited to expensive and cumbersome equipment or ineffective do-it-yourself solutions. In recent years, the craft beverage boom has promoted demand for systems that are cheaper and smaller from manufacturers in the United States and China.
The first thing to consider is the type of still you want. Many breweries choose traditional copper stills that offer a high degree of quality and promote the best finished product. While a good still can often pose a rather steep upfront cost, it is well worth the investment for a piece of equipment that can potentially last for decades while producing great-tasting product. Another consideration is the size of the still that you are looking for. You should find a still that is the right size to accommodate to the scale of your specific operation and your business demands to ensure that you are getting the most out of your investment.
Find the right parts
In order to save money on the cost of equipment without sacrificing quality, there are a few money saving steps that you can take. Instead of purchasing a complete distillery system at once, consider purchasing your still and then shopping around for the other parts and materials that you need. If you want to buy parts new, you can look online or browse manufacturing catalogs to find the best deal on parts. Sometimes, you can find equipment in like-new condition at much lower prices than you would find if you were shopping for brand-new parts. You can sometimes find parts that are typically used for pharmaceutical applications that are in great condition, since the standards and regulations for the pharmaceutical industry often call for frequent replacement.
Find the right source for commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR
Once you find the right distillery equipment for your operation, make sure that you maintain it and keep it in great condition with help from commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR. At American Refrigeration Inc., we understand how important it is for each of your distillery’s parts and pieces of equipment to be working efficiently. We have the experience and knowledge necessary to ensure that you are getting the most out of your equipment investment by providing comprehensive repair services that will keep it in great working condition. Give us a call to find out more about all of the services that we provide.
Energy efficient appliances have become increasingly popular in homes around the country, helping people to lower energy costs and help the environment. However, homeowners aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of energy efficient appliances. Commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR accounts for an extremely significant portion of energy costs for businesses like restaurants and hotels.
Although energy efficient appliances are often disregarded because of their high initial costs, they also offer numerous benefits that business owners can enjoy for years after a purchase. If commercial refrigeration is important to your business, you should consider investing in energy efficient appliances to reap all of the benefits they can provide:
Cost savings: Even though the initial cost of energy efficient appliances may be a big investment, you will likely see an immediate decrease in your energy costs after installation. Because these appliances aim to be more efficient and use less energy, you can save a lot of money over time. Most buyers find that these appliances pay for themselves in the long run.
Reduce energy usage: Using commercial refrigeration appliances that don’t require as much energy helps to lower the overall amount of energy your business uses, even when they run continuously. When many people require less energy to run their businesses, it creates less demand for energy, helping to lower costs even further.
Incentives: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined energy efficiency levels for refrigeration appliances and given these appliances an Energy Star rating. Installing commercial refrigeration appliances with certain Energy Star ratings can help you qualify for tax credits, as well as rebates and incentives in your area that are provided by Energy Star partners.
Better for the environment: Energy efficiency is better for the environment overall because it reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, water usage and reliance on fossil fuels. If your business uses energy efficient commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR, customers will likely appreciate that you’re doing your part to help the environment.
Convenience: Since energy efficient appliances are now more common, they add an element of convenience to your business. Most appliances have many special features to make your refrigeration top-notch. These appliances are designed to meet your needs in the most efficient and cost-effective ways possible. Additionally, having energy efficient appliances is an added bonus if you decide to sell your business down the road.
Installing energy efficient appliances for commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR can give your business numerous benefits, including lowering energy costs, potentially receiving government or Energy Star incentives and helping the environment. If you’re interested in purchasing new energy efficient appliances, contact a professional refrigeration company for help with selection and installation of appliances to best meet your needs.
Contact American Refrigeration Inc. to speak with an experienced specialist for help in selecting and installing energy efficient commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR. Our skilled professionals have been serving clients in the heating, cooling and ventilation industry for over 20 years, offering HVAC installation and repair services and other specialty and refrigeration services. Call us today to learn more about what we can do for you!
Summer is right around the corner, bringing intense heat. Your customers will appreciate refreshing cool air when they step into your business… unless your HVAC system isn’t functioning properly! It’s important to check your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR before it’s too late. Be sure to prepare your commercial HVAC system for summer with these few tips.
Steps for preparing your commercial HVAC system
Getting your commercial HVAC system ready for the heat is easy and can be done in a few simple steps. Getting the system ready in advance will also give you plenty of time to get it repaired if something is malfunctioning. Be sure to do each of the following things before you turn on your system for summer:
Clean condenser coils: The first thing you should do is clean the condenser coils, which will make it easier for the unit to remove heat from the air and keep your unit working in top shape. Also check for leaves or debris around the outdoor unit and clear the space to make sure there are no buildups.
Clean or replace air filters: Air filters should be checked to make sure they are clean and not dirty or clogged. Dirty air filters can make your HVAC system less efficient and increase energy costs, so it’s in your best interest to clean or replace them regularly.
Check ductwork: Check your commercial HVAC system’s ductwork to make sure there aren’t any holes or leaks that could prevent airflow. This is also a good time to clean the ducts and airways of any dust or dirt buildup so the air you are pumping is clean and free of contaminants.
Check thermostat controls: Before you turn on your HVAC system, make sure that the thermostat batteries are changed and that the controls are working properly. A malfunctioning thermostat can result in uncomfortable temperature changes and higher costs.
Test the unit: After everything has been checked and cleaned, turn on your HVAC system and give it a chance to run. Check for proper temperatures and airflow from vents and listen for any strange noises. If anything seems amiss, contact a repair service to identify and fix the problem.
Schedule routine maintenance: Finally, you should schedule routine maintenance for your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR to make sure that your system runs properly all summer long. Call a professional HVAC company for a routine check on your system.
Preparing your commercial HVAC for the summer heat is easy and quick to do, and will save you a lot of time and money later if something is broken. Don’t get stuck with blistering temperatures in your business this summer. Get your HVAC system up and running early with these few simple steps.
Contact American Refrigeration Inc. for maintenance or repairs on your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR. Our skilled professionals have been serving clients in the heating, cooling and ventilation industry for over 20 years, offering HVAC installation and repair services and other specialty and refrigeration services. Call us today!
Managing a grocery store can be a rewarding experience. You get to talk to your customers everyday and you go home satisfied every night knowing your store provided folks with the food they need for a week of healthy home-cooked meals. On the flip side, there are duties you must perform regularly to ensure food safety—like cleaning freezer units, checking the temperature of food coolers and inspecting chillers for damage. A key example is your store’s meat freezers, which need to be regularly cleaned and maintained to avoid food spoilage and health hazards.
If you have a frozen meat section, here are five signs to watch for that it may be time to replace your grocery store’s commercial freezers in Eugene, OR:
Not cold all the time: You may start to notice that one of your meat freezers is having a hard time maintaining a set cold temperature. While you are less likely to be able to feel a temperature difference, what you will notice are indications of the freezer randomly thawing and then refreezing. Meat products will be covered in frosty ice, as will freezer shelves and baskets. Unfortunately, big temperature fluctuations could mean the unit is about to go kaput.
Meats are not solid: Fresh meats go on shelves in a chiller, while frozen cuts of meat are placed in temperature-controlled freezers to keep them frozen solid. If your employees come across meats in a freezer that are soft or semi-soft, first check to make sure the temperature setting is correct. If it reads as it should, you need to consider a malfunction and get the meat into another freezer as soon as possible—assuming it’s still good. Conduct regular walkthrough inspections for issues before a customer points them out.
Physical damage to units: While commercial meat freezers are strong, they can sustain damage just like your freezer at home. Meat freezers take beatings everyday. From rough stocking to customers haphazardly dropping items back into freezer bays, once visible cracks form, you might want to make repairs or invest in replacements.
Doesn’t hold all your meat products: Maybe your grocery store inventory has grown or the demand for frozen meats has increased. Either reason should get you thinking about upgrading to larger, more efficient commercial freezers in Eugene, OR for your business. Alternatively, you might want to downsize your meat freezer if you’ve decided to stock fewer frozen meat options.
Needs constant maintenance: Although routine maintenance is important for proper freezer function, the unit starts to become a problem when it needs too much professional maintenance or repair. Old freezers are more likely to act up, and defective parts on newer units can cause a total failure. It could be worth it to replace the freezer instead of paying for repairs every month.
If your grocery store’s commercial freezers in Eugene, OR are in need of repairs or you require completely new unit installations, call the professionals at American Refrigeration Inc. Our friendly and helpful commercial refrigeration and freezer technicians are at the ready to get your business back to normal operation in no time!
Commercial grade refrigeration units are not cheap, and neither are the repair bills associated with them. For this reason, it’s important that you clean and inspect all running units on a regular basis. Let’s take a look at some good tips to help you care for your commercial walk in coolers in Eugene, OR.
Cleaning the unit
To avoid costly issues and repairs, it’s a good idea to clean the unit in between professional cleanings. Coming together as a team to perform regular commercial cooler maintenance will likely result in the appliance performing well and lasting a long time. Moreover, clean cooling units will ensure that your establishment won’t stink of spoiled foods, which will turn off customers:
Schedule regular cleanings: You can make cleaning your walk in coolers easier each time by spot cleaning often, instead of waiting until odors get worse and spills multiply. Read the owner’s manual for cleaning instructions, or use a damp cloth with a gentle soapy solution. Consider working regular cooler cleanings into your daily routine to wipe away food particles and spills, and dirt from floors, as well as eliminate lingering odors from the day.
Plan thorough cleanings: Once again, check your owner’s annual for more in-depth cleaning instructions. You want to keep the cooler’s ventilation and grate covers clear of debris and gunk or ice buildup, and wipe down fans, coils and electrical connections (after turning off the power, of course). If debris accumulates around or inside the unit components, then the cooler may run into issues with performance.
Inspecting unit parts
The best time for quick unit inspections is while you’re cleaning it. That way, you might uncover damage or problems like cracks, splits, rust or corrosion and disconnected wires that would otherwise go undetected:
Prevent issues now: Small issues almost always grow into bigger problems, which is why weekly inspections of commercial walk in coolers in Eugene, OR are recommended—especially for the food service industry. Add regular weekly inspections to the work calendar to be completed by you or a designated employee.
Check for leaks: Water leaking from or inside the cooling unit needs immediate attention. There could be an issue with the coil condensers, compressor or other unit components that are in place to keep walk in coolers at the right temperature. Also, make sure the door is holding shut when you close it, because at warmer temperatures, the door seal could malfunction. A leaky or warm cooler means the internal temperature is dropping and food safety is now on the line.
Don’t ignore strange sounds: A walk in cooler can start making all sorts of noises seemingly out of nowhere. First, there are odd door sounds—like popping joints, loose hinges jingling and a lack of suction sounds upon opening the door. Other strange sounds include a struggling fan motor or compressor, which can be an indication of a system clog or malfunction.
Performing your own unit cleaning and inspections is good, but every now and then, you should hire a professional to give everything a closer look. For repairs and installations of commercial walk in coolers in Eugene, OR, contact the experienced team at American Refrigeration Inc. today!
