Businesses like restaurants, cafeterias, grocery stores, hotels and more all require the use of commercial refrigeration. If a unit breaks down, it could lead to a lot of unneeded trouble for the business owner. Therefore, it is important that anyone who owns a business that relies on the use of commercial refrigeration do everything they can to keep their units properly maintained so they can extend the life of the unit and avoid major repairs.
One of the best ways to accomplish this is through cleaning commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR. Here are a few tips about how to clean each part of the unit.
How to clean the condenser coils
As condenser coils become dirtier, they lead to the unit needing to work harder to accomplish the same task. This can lead to overheating and the eventual damage of some important parts of the equipment. Therefore, condenser coils should be cleaned once a month at the very least to ensure their longevity.
Condenser coils are not always located in the same spot, so you may need to check the manual or with the person installing the unit to figure out exactly where yours is located. Once you’ve found it, you’re going to want to clean it off with a commercial cleaner made specifically for these types of coils, sold at any location that provides kitchen equipment. Use a brush to scrub off the condenser fins, using a top-to-bottom motion as you scrub. After you’ve finished with the fins, make sure you straighten out any you’ve bent in the process with a comb.
How to clean the interior of the commercial refrigerator
The interior of the unit is what the customers are typically going to see, and so you’re going to want to pay more attention to aesthetics here. Therefore, you’re not going to want to use hard brushes or steel wool to clean, as it could cause a lot of damage to the finish and scratches to the interior. Additionally, you will want to avoid harsh chemicals or bleach, as they could leave behind unwanted scents or chemical coatings. The last thing you want is to negatively impact the flavor of the food.
Instead, use a simple mixture of a mild soap and warm water and gently wipe the inside of your unit with a towel. Additionally, once a week, you should take all of the gaskets off the refrigerator and let them soak in soapy water for a half hour or so. Then you can dry them off and put them back on the unit.
How to clean the fan blades and motor
You should also clean the blades and motor about once a month. This is a simple process—just use a soft cloth and run it over the fan blades and motor. If you notice the fan blades are particularly dirty, cover the motor with a dry cloth and use a damp cloth to wipe the blades. This will make sure no moisture seeps into the motor.
For more tips for cleaning commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR, contact the team at American Refrigeration Inc. today!
If you want to make sure your business constantly has properly functioning heating and cooling systems, then you need to choose the right service for commercial HVAC repair in Eugene, OR. Your HVAC systems need constant attention and care to operate at efficient levels. After all, you want your customers and employees to be comfortable when they’re working or visiting your business!
Here are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing a company for commercial HVAC repair in Eugene, OR:
Services: First and foremost, you need to be sure the company you choose offers all of the services you are looking for. You want a team that is not only able to help you out with regular maintenance and simple, ongoing tasks, but also with major repairs should you end up needing them. Any HVAC company you choose to work with should also be able to help you with installation if, for example, you’re looking to put in a new furnace or want to install central air conditioning.
Experience: Experience is key in the HVAC industry. You want to work with a specialist who can diagnose a problem and find a solution almost instantly, because he or she has seen it hundreds of times before. The more experience a company has, the more types of units it has seen and the quicker it will be able to come to a solution for your HVAC issue.
Training: Always go with a company that focuses on regular training of employees. All technicians should constantly be learning about their job, because the technology is constantly evolving for HVAC systems. You might consider asking about what sort of ongoing learning happens in the company, or what types of certifications employees are required to have.
Emergency service: It’s always nice to know a company has your back when you need its services the most. See what types of emergency services are provided and if the HVAC technicians are available on a 24/7 basis. You never know when you’re going to have a sudden critical HVAC issue that could compromise your ability to do business.
Pricing: While you should never make price your single biggest issue when it comes to choosing your HVAC repair service, it is certainly something you are going to want to consider. The quality of service should always come first, but pricing can be used as a tiebreaker when all else is equal. After all, you want the services to fit within your budget.
Reviews: Make sure you browse review sites online and reach out to other companies that have used HVAC services so you can figure out exactly what kind of repair service you’re dealing with. You want to go with a team that gets great recommendations from the majority of its customers.
Looking for more tips about choosing the right service for commercial HVAC repair in Eugene, OR? Contact us today at American Refrigeration Inc., and we will be happy to help you.
There is no doubt that maintaining the temperature of your commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR will be the largest expense this summer for your food business. Fortunately, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers tips for keeping your appliances efficient when the outdoor temperatures start to rise. Here is what you can do to help your commercial refrigerator remain a vital asset, while also controlling your costs:
Watch anti-sweat heater usage: While there is a temptation to keep these on at all times, the only time you need them is when you see condensation buildup. You will either notice it on the inside of a refrigerator door or a cooled food display case. Add automation so the anti-sweat heater activates when necessary. This will save you money and also reduce continued wear on your commercial refrigeration.
Check door gaskets and auto closers: Energy leakage often arises from the refrigeration doors. This can happen for a couple of reasons. First, the gaskets eventually wear out and start to let cold air escape, which increases demand on the cooler or refrigerator. Second, employees may leave doors open slightly, or any auto closers installed on your appliances may quit working. You will want to educate your employees on being sure to close doors, but also keep an eye on your auto closers to make sure they work.
Clean coils: Dust accumulation on coils also reduces cooling and leads to inefficient heat transfer. If you can see the coils, vacuum them out frequently so they can continue to serve you well. However, if these are less accessible, arranging for regular maintenance and cleaning of your appliances will assure their long-term efficiency and functioning.
Be aware of space: Your refrigeration system needs adequate space for ventilation. Check for airflow around the coils and any obstacles blocking air circulation. When there is no airflow, the refrigerator and the coils work harder which drains energy, raises utility bills and eventually leads to failure.
Consider motion-sensing lighting: If your refrigeration system includes a display case, know that the lighting systems can also be an energy drain. By installing motion sensors, they will only turn on when needed, and that leads to more utility savings.
Install night curtains: Rather than keep your display coolers exposed, invest in night curtains so they can stay cool even when not in use. In the morning, they will not have to work as hard to get to optimal temperature.
Typical commercial refrigeration can consume up to 17,000 kilowatt-hours of energy, and commercial freezers can go as high as 38,000. However, these systems are necessary to keep your food safe for customers. While the Energy Department is working on standards to make these essential pieces of equipment more efficient, you can make efforts today to enjoy improved efficiency.
For assistance with repair and maintenance for commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR, contact American Refrigeration, Inc. We work on many models and offer special expertise to the food industry when it comes to HVAC demands.
It is a problem that can sneak up on you. One day, you notice your industrial refrigerator or display case does not feel as cold as it should. After dismissing it as your imagination, you may put off repairs because it does not seem likely that a refrigerator or display case could lose cooling power. Unfortunately, that approach could lead to the catastrophic position of having no cooling in your refrigerator or display case. In these instances, you need to call for commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR as soon as possible to reduce possible losses and keep your food quality safe.
A very bad development
There are few questions regarding the impacts of commercial refrigeration failure. The bad effects are immense. Commercial refrigeration is essential for any food industry. It is the difference between happy customers who continue to return and patrons who swear never to visit again after catching a case of food poisoning. These issues lead to safety and liability concerns that could hamstring your business. You may not only lose customers, but you might also fail inspections that keep your business doors open. Sometimes, you can even face fines and other civil penalties from the state or your locality.
That is not the only way you can lose money through failed refrigeration, however. These devices also preserve your inventory. Ingredients for restaurant meals or meat and cheese items in a display case are how you make your living. If they are not preserved, people cannot consume or purchase them. When you throw away your food products, it is essentially the same as throwing away your money from reduced inventory and sales.
Call a technician immediately
You need to trust your instincts on this matter. If you notice your commercial refrigeration is not cool enough, do not dismiss your feelings as imagined. You are handling food in that appliance every single day, and if there is a difference in its functioning, it is very likely you will notice it. This matter is too serious to take lightly, and it may be better to pay a technician to find nothing wrong than risk having a failure later. You will gain peace of mind, at the very least.
Also, issues with commercial refrigeration cannot be addressed as a do-it-yourself project. Commercial refrigeration is very different from its consumer counterpart, and there is also more at stake. A lack of cooling can have several causes, including worn-out coils or malfunctioning fans. An experienced technician can figure out these problems for you and, most importantly, repair it correctly the first time. You want to spend your time managing your business and creating products for your customers—not attempting to fix your essential and technical machinery.
Start your summer by completing all needed commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR as soon as possible. American Refrigeration, Inc. offers the experience you require for your food business. Call us today to arrange for a visit so your refrigeration can stay cool and productive all summer long.
Your commercial refrigeration system may be just one aspect of your entire facilities’ operations, but within this system itself are numerous parts, components and features that deserve their own degree of attention. It’s not enough to just worry about the operation of your commercial refrigeration system: you also need to be cognizant of the operation of critical components within it. This can be hard to understand—especially when it comes to worrying about parts that might operate out of sight and out of mind.
One aspect of your commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR that’s going to require attention at some point in time or another are the liquid line solenoid valves that govern them. These valves are dictated by your system’s thermostats and act to open and close as needed, to help cool the refrigeration environment they help to manage by releasing or containing liquid coolant. And, as you can very well imagine, when these components don’t work right, it’s going to cause a myriad of problems for the entire system in general.
Problems cause by faulty solenoids
The problem with solenoids—as mentioned above—is that you can’t see them to know if they’re damaged or not. Realistically, you’re going to have to pay attention to the function and behavior of your refrigeration system to become alerted to a potential solenoid issue. Some of the things you might observe include:
Variable cooling temperatures. If your thermostat is fluctuating between several degrees, cycling on and off over and over again, it could be a sign that the solenoid isn’t functioning appropriately at the request of the thermostat.
Refrigerant leaks. This happens when a solenoid is no longer able to close all the way. Liquid refrigerant is going to bypass the valve and leak out, which can cause erratic cooling or low-refrigerant level warnings within the system.
Compressor damage. A faulty solenoid is going to place a burden of operation on the compressor in your system, causing it to work harder and wear out faster.
Problems with the solenoid
Despite being enclosed within the closed loop of your commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR, liquid line solenoids are subject to a number of common issues that can hinder their performance, including:
A loss of power to the solenoid can be cause by an electrical malfunction. A short, damage circuitry or power interruptions can all affect the solenoid, causing it to freeze in the open, closed or partially-opened position is was last operating in.
Perhaps the easiest issue to identify is a dead electrical coil, which will show when the valve doesn’t function with a consistent power supply.
A leaky valve usually means that the solenoid is stuck open or partially open. This can be cause by a number of issues, but inevitably creates leakage of liquid refrigerant.
While you pay not be an expert when it comes to commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR, you can definitely observe problems as they arise within your system. Keep in mind that something like your liquid line solenoid isn’t visible, but it’s still doing a job that’s imperative to proper operation, which means it needs to be considered when it comes to servicing and maintaining your system.
