You may not need a huge walk-in wine refrigerator or a massive wine vault for your dining establishment, but it’s a good investment to have a decent sized cooler to preserve the taste and quality of what’s offered on your wine list. After all, though bottled, wine needs storing at the right temperatures before being served. But none of this can happen when a wine chiller is not maintained properly or inspected on a regular basis. From cleaning the inside of the refrigeration unit to checking all electrical components, don’t put off important preventative maintenance—do it yourself or hire a pro.
If you are like most people, you want to avoid needing restaurant refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR. Let’s take a look at some helpful tips to keep your business’s wine cooler running efficiently.
Place it in an ideal location
The first thing you want to take into consideration is the placement of the wine refrigerator’s ventilation system. Units with front ventilation can slip under counters just fine, or you can even custom-build them into your bar’s or kitchen’s cabinetry or shelving. Wine coolers without front ventilation should not be placed in confined spaces, unless there are at least a few inches of breathing room on each side. Alternatively, leave front or side vented wine refrigerators standing on their own, as long as ventilation grates are not hindered.
A word of caution: To protect your wine from high temperatures that will ruin your product, keep wine coolers away from direct sunlight and sources of heat, like stoves and other large appliances.
Don’t overload with bottles
Bottle shape plays a role in whether you can chill six oversized bottles of sparkling wine per rack or eight regular shaped chardonnays and still be able to have organized rows. Professional grade wine refrigerators are typically made to hold standard size bottles of wine (that’s 750 ml per bottle). Consider this: not only does overloading your wine fridge run the risk of bottles falling out and an overworked refrigerator, it also won’t chill your wine to the proper drinking temperature. This can lead to spoilage.
If your restaurant or bar serves a variety of wine in different bottle shapes and sizes, then it’s best to purchase a large capacity wine cooler to accommodate your wine selection.
Keep it clean
Hands down, cleaning your wine refrigeration unit will ensure that it performs as it should. While wiping it down, take the opportunity to inspect for frost buildup on the inside, as well as moisture pooling around or inside of the cooling unit. Always remove bottles and shelves and unplug it from its power source before a cleaning. Clean it so you don’t have to spend money on restaurant refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR every month, especially repairs that are easily avoided with occasional cleanings.
At American Refrigeration Inc., we are here to help with all your needs for restaurant refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR. This includes, but is not limited to, repairs to specialty equipment like custom wine vaults, walk-in coolers and reach-in coolers. Call us today!
Appliances are not always the most affordable, so when businesses purchase things like freezers and refrigerators, it is necessary for them to take care of them if they want to keep them in working order and avoid having to repair or replace them. To many, “working order” means that the unit is doing its job, but this doesn’t necessarily indicate that it is running efficiently. To address this issue, there are a number of things that business owners will want to do to ensure they can avoid having to repair their unit too often or buy a new one.
Here are a few ways to keep your unit running efficiently when you’re looking to avoid commercial freezer repair in Eugene OR:
Keep the back of your freezer clean: Freezers tend to be large and can be made from a number of materials, but all of them can get dirty. Like other appliances, a freezer can easily accumulate dust, especially on its back. Because this can cause your freezer to require more energy to keep your food cold, regular cleaning is necessary. If possible, check your unit once a week, as this can prevent a huge buildup of dust and keep your energy bill low.
Limit how long you keep the doors open: It is fairly easy for people to leave their freezer doors open longer than necessary, especially when they cannot find what it is they are looking for inside. However, that doesn’t mean it is acceptable to do this. Considering this can affect how efficiently your unit runs and cause it to use more energy, it would be wise for people to limit how long they have the door open, but also how frequently they open the freezer door.
Eliminate gaps in the door seals: Warm air getting into your freezer means that your food will not be able to stay frozen. If warm air is getting into your freezer, it is probably a result of gaps in the door seals. You will want to check your doors and eliminate any gaps. Make checking for gaps part of your regular maintenance routine, because ensuring that it is sealed properly means your food will be safe and cold and your unit can run efficiently and not use up too much energy.
Watch where you place your freezer: Placing your freezer in a location that will cause it to be too cold or too hot is not a good idea because it can affect your unit and your food. For example, next to a radiator would be a bad location, because your freezer will have to work harder to keep your food cold. Placing it in a location that is cold, meanwhile, will confuse your unit and cause it to not keep your food as cold as you need it to be.
If businesses do all that they can to keep their unit running efficiently, they are less likely to have to get it repaired. In addition, they are helping to ensure that their unit will last as long as it is expected to last. However, this doesn’t mean that your freezer won’t ever need to be repaired, as the parts also have a life expectancy. When it is time for a repair, calling a professional to get the job done would be a good idea.
Are you in need of commercial freezer repair in Eugene OR? Contact American Refrigeration Inc. for assistance.
One of the most commonly searched things on the Internet when it comes to topics of commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR concerns ways to keep refrigeration costs low. This isn’t surprising! Not only are commercial refrigeration systems one of the biggest line items on your monthly utility bills, they’re also the system where you’re going to find the most energy waste.
Cutting energy waste and is the first step in saving money through your commercial refrigeration system, but it’s far from the only thing you can do. Take a look at 10 ways to keep costs low in regards to this all-important system:
First and foremost, make sure you’re meeting your system’s recommended liquid refrigerant levels. If you’re low, it’s going to cause inefficiencies that are sure to show up on your utility bill.
Change out filters and call for routine maintenance in regular intervals. Dirty filters and other buildups are going to put a strain on the system and impact efficiency in a way that you’ll undoubtedly pay for.
Monitor the temperature consistency of your system closely and stay abreast of any strange trends of fluctuations. Also, make sure you’re doing everything in your power to keep the system closed, to maintain steady temps.
Seal off your ducts to make sure you’re not exposing your refrigerated environment to unmitigated airflows. Unsealed ducts will allow cool air to flow freely out of the environment and other forced air temperatures to flow inward.
Have your economizer checked and maintained regularly. Your economizer can be a huge cost saving benefit for your refrigeration, but if it’s not functioning appropriately, you’ll be missing out on those saved costs.
Where possible, retrofit your lighting with energy efficient bulbs. LED bulbs aren’t going to put out heat, meaning they’re not going to be a source of radiant heat within your system. Florescent bulbs on the other hand are going to create heat.
Monitor three, six, nine and 12-month utility bills to spot change over time. This can yield a substantial amount of information about your commercial HVAC in Eugene, OR—particularly where you might be behind on service, maintenance or problem solving.
Make sure your failsafe systems are in full working order. If you accidently leave doors open or encounter functional troubles within the refrigeration system, these alerts will be your first line of defense in preventing the impending costs that follow inefficient operation.
Have your chiller tubes cleaned periodically. Buildups within these vital components can hinder heat transfer, thus stunting the function of your system and causing inefficiencies to arise, which will directly correlate to higher operational costs.
Last, but absolutely not least, have your system put on a service and maintenance track! A professional will check in with you when it comes time for vital service throughout the year. Not only will this keep things functioning at peak efficiency, it’ll extend the life of your system.
When you really look at the list above, it’s not too hard to keep your refrigeration system operating efficiently! Take these tips to heart and keep a close eye on your energy bill to see what immediate effects they’re having.
To continue providing excellent service and delicious meals to your patrons, you must have properly working equipment. A key component of your equipment operations is refrigeration. What would happen if your commercial refrigerator stopped working? This could spell disaster. To avoid this stressful issue, make it a habit to get routine service for your refrigerator units. Regular maintenance will help you avoid restaurant refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR.
For proper commercial cooler maintenance, consider scheduling the following services on a regular basis:
Door maintenance
This is an area often overlooked by restaurant owners. Because the door has no electrical parts, they often assume it needs no maintenance. This is not true. The gaskets, hinges, and hardware greatly affect the operation of your cooler. If not sealed properly, faulty doors can cause leaks, spoilage and further damage to your unit. Checking these parts and replacing as needed will extend the life of the unit and protect you from further repairs.
Ice machine cleaning
You can’t judge your ice machine’s quality by its ice. The ice may look fine, but this doesn’t mean that the inside of the machine is functioning properly. If not cleaned regularly, mold can develop in the ice machine, which can create sick patrons. It’s important to schedule a routine service check to ensure a technician thoroughly inspects and cleans your ice machine with chemical sanitizers. This protects from mold growth and ensures your restaurant operations continue to run smoothly.
Maintain appropriate refrigerant levels
If your unit is leaking refrigerant, it may go unnoticed for some time. The temperature in your refrigerator can slowly rise, and before you know it, you have spoiled goods. Scheduling regular maintenance for your unit allows a technician to check its levels, recharge the refrigerant if needed and fix any leaks.
Condenser cleaning
The condenser and evaporator coils are what keep your refrigeration unit cool. They are essential components of your refrigerator. If these parts become clogged with dirt, the refrigerator must work harder to cool its contents. This, in turn, wastes energy and creates a shorter life-span for your unit. When you schedule regular maintenance, professionals use specialized cleaners and equipment to ensure all grease and dirt build-up are carefully removed without causing damage to the compressor or the motor.
Leak checks
Not only can leaks create water hazards outside the unit, they can cause food contamination inside the cooler. Leaks are a sign of improper functioning within the refrigerator and should be addressed as quickly as possible. If left unchecked, the problem will only grow and could mean the end of your unit. Regular maintenance will ensure leaks are caught early and any necessary repairs are made before the issue worsens.
Professional maintenance of your restaurant refrigeration units requires some investment, but will produce long-term savings of both your time and your money. By keeping your refrigerators clean, completing small repairs before they grow and having them inspected regularly for potential problems, you will avoid more costly and time-consuming repairs down the road. Contact American Refrigeration Inc. today to set up a schedule for your maintenance or restaurant refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR.
Here in Oregon, it’s difficult to even turn a corner without coming across a craft brewery or winery. Having a variety of different brewers and vintners makes for innovation, more widespread appreciation for craft beverages and a dynamic and exciting subculture, which are all great things. But with all the competition around, Oregon breweries and wineries also have to truly be a cut above the rest in order to stand out to beer experts and novices alike.
One way to help your brewery or winery stay on top of its game is to ensure that your equipment is always in top-notch condition, as even minor problems can cause a lag in production and negatively affect the flavor of your product. Here at American Refrigeration Inc., we are proud to provide key services, including commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR, for area breweries and wineries. Read on to learn about some of our most common brewery and winery equipment repairs.
Winery chillers: When your winery chiller is failing to keep your wine cool, you risk delivering an inferior product to your customers. Fortunately, American Refrigeration Inc. is very experienced with commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR. We will get your chiller up and running again in no time.
Brew and mash kettles: The brew and mash kettles are used in the first stages of the brewing process, and are where the foundation of your beer is born. Two of the most common problems brewers experience with these pieces of equipment are clogs and corrosion. While corrosion is very serious, an experienced hand might be able to repair it and keep your brewery running strong.
Wine presses: Wine presses allow vintners to quickly press a large volume of grapes, which make of the base of your wine. Some common problems with wine presses include cracking and a worn or misaligned membrane. An inefficient wine press can have you stalled before you even get started, so call a local repair shop quickly if this happens to you.
Lauter tuns: Lautering is the process by which brewers separate the grain out of the wort, which is later fermented into beer. Lauter tuns can often get clogged or inefficient after frequent use, so having a local repair team in for regular maintenance is a good idea.
Aging tanks: Once your beer has gone through primary fermentation, it will probably go into an aging tank to develop a better tasting and more robust flavor. Problems can happen with the tank’s walls, especially as the aging tank starts aging itself. To avoid rust or corrosion that could result in a seriously off flavor for your beer, have your aging tank thoroughly cleaned and serviced in between each beer.
Filtration systems: Finally, the filtration system ensures that your beer and wine is completely smooth and drinkable, free of any little bits of fruit, hops, grain or anything else that you wouldn’t want a customer to find at the bottom of their glass. Filtration systems can easily get clogged after heavy use, but American Refrigeration Inc. can fix them.
For more information about brewery and winery equipment and commercial refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR, contact American Refrigeration Inc. today.
