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.
American Refrigeration Inc is growing, and with that, we offer employment opportunities in commercial refrigeration here in Eugene, OR. If you have a background in commercial HVAC, refrigeration, and heating and air conditioning repair, there is likely an opportunity here for you at our company. As our repair staff grows, we will also need dispatch and telephone personnel to be the first line of contact for our customers. Here is some information about our company and what we do to help you determine if you are a match.
About our company
Located in Eugene, OR, American Refrigeration Inc started in 1995. We serve a variety of businesses from Eugene all the way north to Portland. Our focus includes offering dependable and high-quality service. We also work to keep our rates competitive so customers feel they receive a good value with trustworthy repairs and installation.
Our services
Our primary specialty is in commercial HVAC systems. We provide maintenance, installation, remodeling and major repairs. Some clients require basic repairs and we are just as committed to those, meaning no job is too small.
Our technicians work on air conditioning and heating systems, gas heating units and refrigeration in a variety of settings. We serve the restaurant industry and wineries, along with farms and agribusiness. If you work for us, be prepared to travel and learn about new industries.
While much of our work is scheduled, we also provide emergency services. People who work for us will spend some time on call for these incidents that can happen anytime during the day or night. Part of our reliability is diminishing anxiety when customers face the likelihood of going without heating, cooling or ventilation. In most industries, this can prove to be disastrous.
Who are we looking for?
If you have repair and customer service skills, we would love to hear from you. We look for people who embrace our ethic of dependability and commitment to providing the best work.
You will need to be prepared for different settings, lots of travel and sometimes, long days. If there is an emergency situation, you may be out for a night making sure a restaurant or agricultural business does not lose its inventory or food supply. In some ways, you will likely have to make the customer’s emergency your own so you can devote good time to solving the issue.
We also have some unique specialties that include walk-in coolers, ice machines, reach-in coolers, refrigerated warehouses, custom wine vaults and freezers designed for particular industries. While heating and cooling systems are often similar, you may find yourself learning on the job at times, or you will have to be open to additional training. Basically, you will find a dynamic opportunity where you need to be willing to learn.
If you are customer-oriented, a skilled HVAC technician or have experience with dispatch, we would love to hear from you. As we grow, so do available employment opportunities in commercial refrigeration in Eugene, OR. We look forward to hearing from you and to offering the best services for our customers.
If you’re calling a professional service for restaurant refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR, it’s a fair bet to assume that whatever problem you’re experiencing exceeds your ability to fix it—otherwise, why would you need to call a professional? And while you might not have any idea what the problem is or how to fix it, most service professionals are going to expect you to relay necessary information so that they can gauge the scope of the problem… and for the caller, this isn’t always easy to do.
Here at American Refrigeration, Inc., we try to help our customers feel as comfortable and as in-the-loop as possible when it comes to the uncertainties that restaurant refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR can bring with it and to that end, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you better understand the problem with your refrigeration unit and how to put what you’re experiencing into words for your refrigeration contractor to deal with. Take a look:
What seems to be the overall problem?
This may seem like a daunting question, but it’s actually quite easy if you just think about it in terms of describing what’s happening via your senses. What do you see, smell, hear or feel that will give you clues about the problem? Often this is as easy as saying, “I hear a very loud squeaking sound” or “there’s a very strange odor that’s stale, coupled with visible chunks of frost.” The more description you can give about the problem, the more a contractor is going to be able to deduce over the phone. And, you’ll be surprised at how fast a contractor can put together an accurate depiction of what’s going on with the information you relay!
How long has the problem been going on?
This is another simple question and one that can often help determine the urgency of a situation. If you’ve noticed a noise that’s become louder in recent weeks versus noticing a buildup of ice that’s been there for a day or two, it’s going to paint a picture for a contractor that can narrow down the types of services you might need.
Is the unit still working or have you shut it off?
Again, this will determine urgency much of the time. If you’ve had to shut off your cooler or freezer, it’s obviously an urgent matter and one that needs emergency services. If you’re still functioning at the steady capacity, it’s likely not an emergency, which could save you a bundle of money.
What type of unit are you dealing with?
A freezer might just be a freezer to you, but to a contractor, every unit, make and model is different. Being able to locate and read the spec panel of the refrigeration unit you’re having troubles with (usually via the instruction of the contractor) can help them deduce a potential problem before they even visit your establishment, saving you time and cost.
You may not know how to answer some of the technical questions a refrigeration contractor may ask, but being able to provide basic information goes a long way to solving your problem quickly and with minimal headaches along the way. If you’re confused and agitated by the prospect of restaurant refrigeration repair in Eugene, OR, just remember to take it slow and cover the basics—often, this is all you’ll need to help ensure a quick, quality fix.
