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!
If you have improper levels of humidity in your commercial refrigeration equipment, this could not only cause poor visibility through glass doors and windows, but also damage the food items you have inside the units. Therefore, it’s extremely important that you be familiar with the different humidity levels for each type of commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR, so you can keep your inventory as fresh as possible.
Here is some information about humidity levels in various types of coolers and refrigerators, from highest to lowest humidity:
Floral coolers: Coolers that are storing flowers tend to have much higher humidity levels than other types of units, as you need to be able to prevent the flowers from drying out, wilting and falling apart. You’re going to keep humidity at 90 percent or higher at temperatures between 35 and 45 degrees. Flowers also require gentle airflow to keep them fresh, which you should also account for in your cooler.
Fresh meats and fish: When storing fresh meat and fish in commercial refrigeration, you should maintain 85 to 90 percent humidity at a temperature of 35 degrees. The higher levels of humidity in meat coolers prevent the meat from losing its weight while sitting in storage. Otherwise, evaporation could cause the meats to begin to shrivel up.
Beverages (beer): When storing beers and other beverages, keep humidity between 60 and 75 percent at a temperature of 35 degrees. This is especially important for the rare beer that has a cork in it. When humidity is too low, the cork can dry out, but if the humidity is too high, then you could have mold begin forming in the beer.
Beverages (wine): When storing wine, maintain a 55 to 70 percent humidity level at a temperature of 45 degrees. Wine corks can also become dried out if the humidity levels are too low. When this happens, the top of the cork will likely crack or shrink, exposing the wine to the air and ultimately spoiling it. If the environment is too damp, the cork could begin to develop mold, which would also ruin the wine.
Produce: Keep all fruits and vegetables in refrigeration environments that maintain a 60 to 75 percent humidity level at a temperature of 55 degrees. Moderate levels of humidity in this refrigeration prevent the fruits and vegetables from shriveling up and becoming unappealing to customers. Most grocery store customers associate the appearance of produce with its freshness, so keeping this appearance is extremely important. Additionally, having humidity too high could cause mold to begin to form on fruits and vegetables.
These are general guidelines you will need to follow for each of these different types of refrigeration systems and products, but as always, you should consult your equipment manual for more detailed information and guidelines. If you find yourself in need of any repairs or other work done to your commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR to ensure you are able to maintain these proper humidity levels and temperatures, contact our trusted team today at American Refrigeration Inc.
By now, many people across the United States have realized that they can save a significant amount of money on their energy bills by switching over to energy efficient appliances. This is especially true in commercial settings, where there are likely to be many more appliances eating up a whole lot more energy. In restaurants, hotels or cafeterias, for example, commercial refrigeration accounts for a significant portion of energy costs.
But when exactly is the right time to purchase energy efficient commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR? Is it better to replace an appliance that is currently functioning well, or wait until it dies to replace it with a more efficient unit?
This can be a difficult question to answer for companies that have tight budgets and might not necessarily want to spring for a new commercial refrigeration unit right away. But it’s one that’s worth answering. To do so, consider the following factors:
The cost of the appliance versus the savings you’ll earn: Models that use less energy cost less to operate than other comparable appliances that are not made to be energy efficient. This we know. But you also have to factor in the upfront cost of the appliance itself. Will you eventually recoup the purchase price? Consider how much you spent for your current units, how long ago you paid for those units and how much you would potentially spend on a new one. In many cases, unless you have brand new appliances, the switch to energy efficient commercial refrigerators could make a significant difference.
Available sales: If you know there are going to be sales on refrigeration units at certain times of the year, then it’s worth putting off your purchase until you know you can get a discount. This is especially true for companies that are operating on tighter budgets and are on the fence about whether or not they want to make the upgrade to their equipment.
Incentives: There are a number of rebates and recycling programs from local utility companies, as well as a variety of government tax incentives, that can benefit people and businesses that decide to purchase energy efficient appliances. Therefore, not only will your operating costs be lower when running the equipment, but you could also save money in taxes or other costs. You must factor this into your calculations as well.
Selling your business: If you are planning on selling your business at any time soon, it can actually be a good idea to upgrade your appliances in advance of the sale. Already having energy efficient appliances, like commercial refrigerators, on site can add to the appraised value of your property and increase what you can get out of the sale.
Do you have further questions about purchasing energy efficient commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR? If so, we encourage you to reach out to our professional team at American Refrigeration, Inc. today. We look forward to working with you and finding the best solutions to your commercial refrigeration needs.
If you own a restaurant, grocery store or any other type of business that makes heavy use of commercial refrigeration, then you know the importance of keeping the refrigeration unit as clean and well maintained as possible. However, many companies do not necessarily understand all of the cleaning tasks they need to accomplish, or the frequency with which they need to perform them.
There are several different aspects of keeping your commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR clean:
All food should be properly culled and rotated so only fresh food is being served. Old, spoiled food will contaminate the refrigerator, and potentially other foods.
Food must be properly labeled and stored in containers, and separated according to all health code regulations. This helps to avoid raw and cooked foods mingling.
All shelves, drawers and bins should be kept clean to prevent bacteria from forming and foul odors from growing.
Any mechanical elements, such as coils and gaskets, should be regularly cleaned and maintained to keep the unit in good working order.
The exterior surface should be cleaned frequently to avoid potential cross-contamination of germs, as there are likely many different people who touch the unit on a daily basis.
Strategies for cleaning commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR
Now that you know what needs to be done, it’s important you know how to accomplish it.
The most basic cleanings should occur after every shift. Take the time to inspect the exterior surface and give it a wipe down so it looks clean and ready to go for the next day’s work. Pay specific attention to the handle of the unit, as that is where most germs are likely to congregate. There are plenty of special cleaners made for refrigerator use. These cleaners should never have dyes, acids, ammonia, butyl, caustics or harsh fragrances.
If you do not prepare food but simply have a refrigerator on hand, make sure employees always take care of any messes that form inside the refrigerator. Even if these refrigerators are just used to store lunches, there can still be leaks that occur inside them.
Beyond daily cleanings, you should engage in weekly deep cleaning sessions. These should be performed with a heavy-duty cleaning agent meant for commercial use. Empty food into another refrigerator or stack it into ice-filled coolers first. This is a good time to throw away any food that has spoiled or reached its expiration date. Unplug the refrigerator, then wipe the entire interior clean using a non-toxic cleaner. Work from top to bottom, and remove the drawers to soak them, clean them and rinse them, letting them dry before putting them back in.
Finally, you should also periodically clean the gaskets, seals, condenser coil and fan. Gaskets can simply soak in a soap and water solution, and then be reattached once they’re dry. Condenser coils must be dusted on a regular basis with a safe, water-based coil cleaner. Fan blades should only be cleaned with a soft cloth.
For more information about cleaning commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR, contact American Refrigeration Inc. today.
