8 Ways To Prepare Your Restaurant’s Air Conditioner For The Summer

As winter turns into spring and summer, your business will have to go from heating to cooling. In the winter, you focus on keeping your customers and employees warm, while in the summer, you will focus more on air conditioning and humidity. The change in temperatures affects restaurants more because the HVAC system must cool customers and staff, and can also affect your refrigeration. There are many ways to prepare your air conditioner for summer, including cleaning the coils, checking for mold, and changing the filters.

Why HVACR maintenance is important

HVAC and refrigeration are crucial for keeping your food fresh and safe to eat, your drinks cool, and your patrons happy. Temperatures in the Texas Panhandle have been unseasonably warm, so many businesses have started using their air conditioner early. If you have started using your air conditioner, you may not have had time to repair any issues or prepare it for summer.

You should take care of your HVAC system throughout the year. It is best to inspect, clean, and repair your air conditioner before summer temperatures hit to help keep your staff and customers comfortable. Many smaller issues can turn into larger problems, which can be devastating to your equipment and bottom line. There are many ways you can maintain your system and prepare it for summer so it can run efficiently.

Clean all coils regularly

If you own a restaurant, you may already be familiar with cleaning the coils on your refrigeration units. HVAC systems also have coils that you should clean every time the season changes. If you do not clean these components, your patrons and staff could experience issues with allergens and poor indoor air quality.

Check for mold

Months of not using your air conditioner and moisture can result in mold buildup. You can use a variety of cleaners to clean your walls and surfaces, your HVAC unit, and the duct system. Cleaning these areas of your restaurant can prevent mildew and the health hazards it can cause.

Change the HVAC filters

Filters remove and clean air before it is pumped throughout your building. For a restaurant, clean filters are critical. The last thing you want is for pollutants and allergens to disrupt your patrons and contaminate their food and drinks. Dirty HVAC filters increase energy costs and force your air conditioner to work harder, reducing its lifecycle and costing you money.

Clear any debris around the system

Debris tends to accumulate in and around your HVAC system. Make sure you remove trash or vegetation that has accumulated around your unit during the winter season. You should also clean out the ductwork because dirt can accumulate and eventually make its way into the dining and food prep areas.

Make sure your HVAC is draining moisture

This may come as a surprise, but your air conditioner generates excess water, which should collect and move out of the system. However, if you notice pools or wet spots under your unit, that means the water isn’t draining properly. This could damage your unit or result in mold.

Check your blowers and blades

Blowers and blades push the air into your restaurant. If any of them need to be replaced, you should do this at the beginning of the season rather than wait until temperatures are too hot.

Other things you can do to prepare your HVAC system

It may seem simple, but you should check your thermostat to ensure it is working properly and replace the batteries if necessary. You should contact a professional HVAC technician to check refrigerant levels, as well as the hoses and connectors in your system.

Although it may seem like too much work, preparing your air conditioner for summer is important and can be easily done by contacting a professional. If you would like help with the HVAC system in your restaurant, contact the experts at Allen’s Tri-State Mechanical Inc. in Amarillo, Texas. We offer Commercial HVACR services throughout the Texas Panhandle. Call us at (806) 376-8345 or Contact Us by email to learn more about what we can do for your business. We are available 24 hours a day for your convenience.