Running a restaurant doesn’t just stop at turning out consistently great-tasting food, it’s about having a nice ambiance and atmosphere for customers and employees. Your HVAC system works hard to ensure that happens, giving you clean, breathable air that gets filtered in and out of your building.
But what happens when your heating and air conditioning system needs to be replaced? Commercial Restaurant Service in Springfield, Missouri answers.
Aside from the obvious signs that come in the form of customer complaints and uncomfortable employees, here are the six signs that your restaurant’s HVAC system needs to be repaired.
1. Bad Smells Aren’t Leaving
If your duct system is damaged, or your vents are blocked off due to debris, your HVAC won’t be able to successfully filter out bad air and filter in clean air. This leads to a build-up in surface area residue over time.
Those bad smells can find their way into your customer’s food, or worse, their clothes. Getting professional HVAC maintenance is a necessity for the success and reputation of your restaurant.
2. Unwanted Smoke, Grease & Soot
If your restaurant’s HVAC system has a broken motor fan or cooling coil, cool air cannot be cycled back through, leaving the kitchen hot, dry, stuffy, and dirty.
Without a properly functioning exhaust hood, makeup air unit, or duct system, smoke and soot can quickly build up. Grease and grime might start sticking to the cabinets, countertops, and prep tables. Not only is this not healthy, but it’s also not good for business either.
If you’re seeing excessive smoke and grease in the kitchen, consult a professional about fixing any potential HVAC issues, be it with the unit itself or the ductwork connected to it.
3. Rising Utility Bills
If your monthly utility bill is unexpectedly high — out of the blue —it’s a sure sign that your HVAC unit is working harder than necessary to push and pull hot and cold air to and from your property.
High utility bills can be the result of leakage in the air ducts, damaged insulation, or improper sealing of the windows and vents.
4. Dust Problems
Is it getting harder to breathe? Are you seeing a lot of dust and particles in the air? If that’s the case, it’s probably not you, it’s your HVAC unit. First and foremost, be sure to change the air filters frequently.
An HVAC system’s air filters, among other variables like torn ductwork can impact your air quality. If such issues are left unaddressed, it might just get worse, definitely not better.
5. Loud Banging Noise
All HVAC systems make noise. That’s nothing special. But if you hear a loud bang once your AC turns on, or recurring, excessive noise coming from the unit, it’s a sign that you need AC repair work done. If it’s ignored, it could turn into a more serious problem.
6. Large Temperature Differences
When it’s too hot in one area and too cold in another, you’ll need to get a professional to troubleshoot your HVAC system. For instance, leaks in the ductwork prevent hot and cool air from getting where it needs to go.
Another reason for vastly uneven temps could be that your AC coils aren’t clean; if so, they’ll have trouble removing heat from the room and putting cool air back into it.
Proper maintenance helps you avoid emergency HVAC repair. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to call a professional HVAC company to get it fixed. A DIY fix can end up being more costly.
Do You Need Commercial Restaurant HVAC Repair?
If you’re having issues with your heating or air conditioning unit, our trained HVAC technicians can help accurately assess, diagnose and repair your restaurant’s commercial HVAC unit. Contact us today for a free quote or call us at 417-224-2614.