Your business depends on its commercial refrigeration equipment. Whether you’re keeping seafood at the correct temperature to meet important safety standards or chilling wine to the perfect temperature, you know that so much rides on a functioning unit. That’s why it’s crucial to have a commercial refrigeration repair specialist readily available when disaster strikes. Choosing the best in commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR can be a tricky process, though. You need someone you know to perform high quality work exactly when you need it.
To help you choose only the best, here are a few things to look out for when hiring a specialist for commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR:
Experience: Knowing how to handle any commercial refrigeration repair that could arise takes significant experience in the industry. As you know, refrigeration units are expensive, so it’s crucial that there aren’t any unnecessary mistakes that could do some damage. Plus, any downtime spent waiting for an inexperienced technician to figure out the problem could cost you business—not to mention loss of product due to a lack of proper refrigeration. Ideally, your repair technician should have at least 10 years of experience on the job.
Speed of service: Running a high quality business means working both efficiently and quickly. A broken commercial refrigerator compromises this, however. You need a technician who will be available exactly when you need them to be, as food could quickly spoil while you are waiting for an unreliable repair company. Select a company that you know is dependable and will be able to commit to a quick response time.
Prior reviews: Hiring a company with a strong reputation within your local community is always a safe bet. Check with others in your industry to see which contractors they use and whether they would recommend their services. Take the time to check online reviews to get a better understanding of their overall reputation and quality of service.
Maintenance: Preventative maintenance is one of the most important steps in keeping your commercial refrigerator in top condition. A refrigeration specialist will not only make repairs, but will also be able to perform regular checks of the machinery to extend the life of the unit and keep it functioning efficiently. During a maintenance check, a qualified professional will be able to identify any potential problems and make the necessary repairs quickly to avoid any downtime.
Emergency services: Time is literally money when it comes to a broken commercial refrigeration unit. A restaurant depends on a functioning refrigerator to keep food and drinks cool—and customers happy. A professional refrigeration specialist will be able to offer emergency services when you need them.
At American Refrigeration Inc., we understand the important role a working commercial refrigerator plays in the success of your business. That’s why we offer the best in commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR and the surrounding areas. Call us today to learn more about how our experienced professional repair team can help you. We look forward to assisting you soon!
Whether it’s a restaurant, hotel or hospital, any business in the hospitality industry needs a commercial freezer to keep stored food cold before it’s served to guests. However, just like a lot of huge appliances, commercial freezers in Eugene, OR are very expensive assets. Since they cost so much, if you’re considering buying a commercial freezer, you need to put a lot of thought into the decision. Here are a few things to think about before you take the plunge and buy a new commercial freezer.
What size freezer do you need?
A kitchen crew needs 1.5 cubic feet of storage space for every meal that’s being served per day. If you’re running a large restaurant, you’ll obviously need a big commercial freezer to hold all that food. On the flip side, smaller restaurants need smaller kitchens. If your restaurant gets super busy one night, or if you host a big event, what happens if you run out of space to store your cold food? It’s best to over-plan by having a bigger freezer, if you have the space and the budget.
Do you have enough space?
Depending on the size on the unit, commercial freezers can take up a whole lot of space in your kitchen. Before you buy a unit, you need to take into careful consideration how big your kitchen is and how much room you can dedicate to a commercial freezer.
Where will the freezer go?
Before our customers call us to install commercial freezers in Eugene, OR, we need them to know exactly where the appliances will be installed. The last thing installers want is to deal with an indecisive chef or kitchen manager who keeps changing his mind on where to put the commercial freezer! Assuming you have space, you should place your commercial freezer near the food preparation area to save time walking back and forth to the freezer. Keep in mind that all commercial freezers need to sit on an insulated floor in order to work properly.
What size do you need?
A commercial freezer obviously needs to be able to keep food very, very cold. Your food may get warm and spoil if you buy a big freezer, but a refrigeration unit that’s too small to cool the freezer. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if your refrigeration unit is too big for your freezer, you’ll be wasting a ton of money on the electric bill. Units that are too large will cycle on and off more frequently and run up your costs.
What can you afford?
Commercial freezers are expensive, but they’re not really something you can afford to go cheap on. A low-quality freezer is bound to break down more often, and possibly not keep your food as cold as you need it to be. Lower-quality freezers can also rack up higher energy bills, which could end up costing more in the long run. We recommend paying what you can afford for a freezer and trying to save costs elsewhere.
Once you’ve thought about all of the questions above related to commercial freezers in Eugene, OR, give American Refrigeration Inc. a call to find out what we can do for you and your business.
As a restaurateur, professional chef or someone who’s ever worked in a kitchen, you know how important the kitchen’s walk in cooler is. Without a properly running commercial cooler, food will spoil. If spoiled food ends up being served, it could make customers sick; if spoiled food is thrown out, it’s just a waste of money. The only way to ensure that commercial walk in coolers in Eugene, OR are always up and running is by keeping them maintained at all times. Here are just a few ways to do so:
Clean the cooler on a regular basis: A kitchen’s countertops, cutlery, ovens, stoves and other appliances need to be spotless; the same holds true for a kitchen’s walk in cooler. Meat, especially chicken, is teeming with bacteria. You can’t risk having that bacteria build up in your walk in cooler and contaminating the rest of your cold food. Harsh cleaning chemicals can damage the cooler’s metal surfaces, so soap and water are the best things to clean with. Also, be sure to mop up any spills or excess water before the puddles freeze and cause slip and fall accidents.
Remove the food once a year food for cleaning: One day each year, you’ll need to spend some time after the restaurant closes and take out all of the food from the freezer. During this time, you can inspect all of the coils to make sure they’re working correctly. More importantly, wash the whole cooler out with a hose.
Check the door: Commercial walk in coolers in Eugene, OR get a lot of use. Cooks and kitchen staff are in and out of the walk in cooler all day long. Since the doors are always opening and closing, the hinges tend to wear down faster than a normal door. It’s recommended that the hinges be oiled several times a year by a staff member or by a professional. You should never leave the kitchen door open for extended periods of time, either. While keeping the door propped open can be more convenient, it will waste energy and can cause food to go bad more quickly.
Monitor the temperature daily: A walk in cooler needs to stay at the same temperature day in and day out. Fluctuations, even if they’re small, can spoil the food and be an indication of a bigger problem. Call a technician as soon as you notice that you’re not getting consistent readings.
Hire a professional: The easiest way to ensure that commercial walk in coolers in Eugene, OR always function correctly is by hiring one of our technicians. One of our knowledgeable professionals will gladly inspect your cooler and can fix any current or potential problem that he sees. We’re trained in working with any brand and size of cooler, so there’s no job too big or too small for us to handle.
If you happen to run into any sort of issue with your walk in cooler, our trained technicians are available for repairs and inspections. Give American Refrigeration Inc. a call as soon as you find a problem!
While thinking about your HVAC system malfunctioning probably isn’t something you enjoy doing, it’s likely that, at some point, your equipment will need to be repaired or replaced. But how do you know if your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR simply requires a repair, or if a replacement is in order?
Here are some considerations to keep in mind:
High cost of repairs: Are issues with your HVAC system starting to result in repairs that cost more than 50 percent of the price of a new unit? If so, it’s probably a good time to look into a full system replacement to save yourself both money and headaches from additional repairs down the line.
Performance of your current system: Does your unit make unusual noises more often than not? Do you notice that the air often feels dry or moist? Or maybe you find yourself frequently altering the temperature on your thermostat to maintain the appropriate level of heat or air. If you’ve been consistently experiencing one or more of these problems, a full replacement may be in order, as there may be damage to the ducts or insulation that no longer works properly.
Increased cost of energy bills: Steady increases in your energy bills, especially over a period of time, could mean that your equipment has ceased to work as well as it should. Talk to an HVAC professional to find out whether a replacement for your system is the way to go.
Age of your heating or cooling system: Furnaces tend to last between 15 and 20 years, while air conditioners and heat pumps can function for about 10 to 12 years. If any of your equipment is on the higher end of those ranges, it’s likely time to contemplate a replacement.
Issues with your boiler’s exchanger: If you have a gas boiler, damage to its exchanger is a sign that you’ll need to replace the boiler. The exchanger is the part of your boiler that holds water, so you’ll be able to determine if the exchanger has become cracked because you’ll notice water on the floor underneath the boiler. In addition, if your business has experienced excessive flooding, your boiler may have also become damaged by water surrounding the exterior of the appliance. Another sign of a boiler in need of replacement is large amounts of rust that may have developed on the bottom of the unit.
Problems with the evaporator coil: If an HVAC technician tells you that your system’s evaporator coil is leaking in multiple spots or is extremely corroded, these issues are significant enough that you’ll want to replace the unit.
After reading through this list, is it time to replace your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR? Or maybe you determined that a repair is the most logical solution to the issue you’re experiencing.
Whether you’re in need of a repair or a replacement or want to talk with an expert in more detail, contact American Refrigeration Inc. today. We look forward to getting your heating or cooling system up and running!
If it’s your first time purchasing a commercial ice machine, or you haven’t bought one in a long time, you might find it useful to learn some helpful tips about how to determine the right product for your needs.
Then, if you find that you require ice machine repair in Eugene, OR, contact the skilled team at American Refrigeration Inc. We’ll provide you with the best possible service at a competitive rate.
Before you worry about potential repairs, though, here are some factors to consider during your decision-making process:
Ice output and production rate: This is the most important factor to consider when purchasing a commercial ice machine. You don’t want to end up with a piece of equipment that doesn’t produce enough ice to meet the demands of your business, so think through how much ice you need before you make a purchase.
Available space: How much space will you have for your new ice machine to function to its fullest capacity? Take measurements as part of your decision-making process, and be sure to allow for additional space on the top, bottom and sides of the machine. If you don’t have a lot of space or want a more versatile option, consider an upright model, which will require less room and may offer more flexible placement locations.
Electricity requirements: A commercial ice machine with a small output will likely require only the capacity for a 110V or 115V hookup, plus a water line. On the other hand, if you know that you will need a commercial ice machine with a higher output, you’ll likely require a 220V hookup and may have other specific electrical needs. Know what your electricity requirements are before hand so that you don’t find yourself scrambling to make electrical changes to your facility after ordering your equipment.
Type of ice produced: Do you have a preference for the type of ice that your new ice machine will produce for your customers? Ice can come in cubes, partial cubes, crushed flakes or a variety of other consistencies. While cube ice and nugget ice are the types you likely want if beverages are your primary reason for needing to produce ice, you’ll want to think about the style of ice that makes the most sense for your business if you’ll be using ice in multiple ways.
Filtered water preference: Some commercial ice machines come equipped with water filters. If you live in an area with hard water, it may be a logical decision to purchase an ice machine with a water filter, as without a water filter, impurities that can enter the ice machine or form inside may result in a shorter product life for your new purchase.
Now that you’re up to speed on what kind of questions to ask yourself when purchasing a commercial ice machine, it’s helpful to know where to turn for ice machine repair in Eugene, OR if your equipment malfunctions. The technicians at American Refrigeration Inc. offer high-quality commercial equipment repair and bring a wealth of knowledge to help keep your new purchase running as smoothly as possible. For any questions or for repair needs, contact us today.
