On a day with mild weather, a commercial kitchen in a restaurant can easily overheat, making it difficult for chefs and cooks to successfully get their jobs done. As the high temperatures of summer rapidly approach, it’s crucial to invest in restaurant HVAC maintenance in Delaware to ensure your kitchen employees can work without the distraction of unbearable heat.
Why HVAC prep is important
Every summer, there are days and sometimes even weeks where the temperatures hit the mid- to high 80s. These conditions make restaurant HVAC maintenance in Delaware crucial for day-to-day operations and your overall costs.
Restaurants live and die by their reputations, which is why bad reviews are fatal for locally-owned eateries. If your HVAC system isn’t functioning correctly, kitchen staff will be sweltering over stovetops, ovens and fryers instead of concentrating on food preparation. This means guests are not being served the highest quality meals, which they will post about on Facebook, Google, Yelp and any other platforms they use.
Additionally, a poorly-maintained commercial HVAC system is going to run inefficiently. This makes your utility bills higher because the HVAC unit needs more energy to operate. Even though your HVAC is running and consuming all of that energy, it’s still not keeping the interior temperature of your restaurant at a comfortable setting.
How to prep your restaurant HVAC
With the sweltering heat of summer just a few weeks away, take the following steps to prepare your commercial HVAC system for the season ahead:
- Clean the coils: Gently and thoroughly clean the coils. If you find any mold, you will have to contact an HVAC expert to further inspect your system.
- Replace filters: The current filters in your HVAC unit are probably pretty filthy, so it’s time to swap them out for brand new ones.
- Lubricate moving components: The heat can have a drying effect on the parts inside an HVAC system. By applying some extra lubrication, these components can move with ease.
- Tighten loose connections: Make sure all hoses and connectors are secured in place. This is a good time to look for punctures or leaks in these parts and replace them as necessary.
- Check blowers and blades: Clear away any debris that might have collected here to ensure unhindered airflow.
- Clean ducts and airways: You would be surprised at the amount of dust and debris that will build up in vents and airways over time. This blocks the flow of cool air to your customers or employees, and reduces overall air quality.
- Test each part: After you’ve performed all these maintenance tasks, check to see if each part is working as it should be. This includes the thermostat.
To someone unfamiliar with restaurant HVAC maintenance in Delaware, this process might seem daunting. If you haven’t had training, HVAC maintenance tasks can be quite the challenge and may result in accidentally damaging your unit, costing you hundreds or even thousands in repairs.
Instead of running this risk, contact the qualified technicians at Commercial Equipment Service Inc. We can service your commercial HVAC system before summer arrives to keep your customers cool while they enjoy a lovely meal in your establishment. Call to make your appointment today!