One of the most important components of any commercial kitchen or food service business is the walk-in freezer. If your walk-in freezer goes down for any reason it could put your business in a real crunch, which is why it is so important to recognize early on the signs that something could be wrong. Here are four signs to be on the lookout for that might indicate that you need commercial freezer repair in Eugene, OR:
- The condition of the door: Your walk-in cooler door serves as one of the most important barriers between the external environment and all of the products that you are refrigerating. If there are any weaknesses in this barrier, you could both be allowing the cool refrigerated air a passage way to escape, while also allowing warmer temperatures to seep in and spoil the food. This will lead to your cooler having to work much harder to maintain the temperatures required, which could lead to higher energy bills as well. Be sure to check that the sealing and condition of the door are as they should be, so that you can avoid a big headache.
- Frost buildup: When your walk-in freezer is operating properly, you will very rarely see frost accumulate. If you have noticed any of this buildup in areas that it should not be, it is a pretty good indication that your freezer is not cooling correctly, and you will need repairs to restore efficient operation right away.
- Leaks: Anytime any type of appliance begins leaking, it is a sign that something has gone wrong. If you notice puddles of water in or around your walk-in freezer, it could be a sign that your system is aged and will need repairs, or that there is a damaged seal somewhere in the system. If a leak goes unattended, mold and mildew could begin to form, which would lead to even more problems for your kitchen. Seeking out a contractor to find and fix the leak should be a top priority.
- Fluctuating cooler temperatures: One of the most obvious signs that your walk-in freezer needs repairs are the temperatures it maintains. If you find yourself constantly having to readjust the thermostat because the temperatures consistently fluctuate either too high or too low, there could be a much bigger problem than meets the eye, so make sure that you contact a professional to see what’s going on right away.
If you are in need of commercial freezer repair in Eugene, OR, be sure to contact us at American Refrigeration Inc. so that we can diagnose any potential issues you might have with your walk-in freezer. We have been servicing walk-in cooling units of all kinds for over 20 years, and want to help make sure that your cooler is working as efficiently as possible. If you notice anything abnormal or just want to be on the safe side, make sure to give us a call today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you!
While running a business can often feel like it’s full of twists and turns, your commercial appliances are items that always seem to be reliably there. For years, they quietly run in the background while the day-to-day operations of the business go on—that is, until something goes wrong. You might notice it as an increase in the monthly electrical bill or a broken part, but either one can cause you a big headache. You know you should probably replace the old one with a new model, but there just isn’t enough money in the budget. Maybe you don’t see the point, since the old freezer still seems to have some life left in it.
But did you know that you can actually save money by installing a new walk-in freezer? Trading in that old piece of junk can cut down on maintenance costs and save you from unexpected breakdowns that result in expensive emergency repairs.
Not convinced? Here are four ways you can save money by installing new commercial freezers in Eugene, OR:
- Bulk savings: Buying food in bulk is a great way to reduce your budget, but it doesn’t work if there’s no place to store your purchases. Trading in your smaller unit for a larger walk-in freezer will allow you to take full advantage of the weekly sales. You will experience savings for years to come by purchasing items more cost-effectively with bulk pricing.
- Lower utility bills: Over time, your freezer’s walk-in panels will begin to wear out and the insulation will degrade. This will cause the unit to operate less efficiently, which will lead to increasingly expensive power bills. The savings on your utility bill will outweigh the initial investment of purchasing a new, more energy efficient walk-in freezer in Eugene, OR.
- Less repairs: Do you feel like you are constantly having to call your freezer repair specialist? Then you should probably take it as a sign the repairs just aren’t paying off. While it is inevitable appliances will need some repairs during their lifespan, eventually the cost of fixing it just isn’t worth it. Put your money into a new walk-in freezer instead of wasting it on repeat repairs.
- No unexpected breakdowns: A broken walk-in freezer can cost a restaurant hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Food can go bad as you wait for the repairman. If the repair specialist can’t get there until later this week, you could have to turn away customers or even shut down entirely, because you can’t serve spoiled food. Unfortunately, an older freezer has a higher likelihood of breaking down due to age and general wear and tear. Purchasing a new unit can save you from downtime and product loss due to an unexpected failure.
Now that you know about the potential cost savings, are you ready to start shopping for new commercial freezers in Eugene, OR? If so, contact American Refrigeration Inc. today. We’ll guide you through the purchase and installation process. Our team of professionals is looking forward to helping you keep your new walk-in freezer in top condition for years to come.
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!
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.
