Category: Appliances

Having a water heater fail suddenly can be incredibly frustrating. Here some ways you can tell that your water heater may be failing. If you think this is the case, then call a professional immediately to assess the situation.

Age

Always keep track of how old your water heater is. It should have a sticker on it that displays important information, including when it was installed. In most cases, you can find this on the serial number. While they are all similar, each manufacturer uses a different code to represent the date, so check with yours to see how old your unit is. If it is more than 10 years old, then you should start thinking about replacing it. Do not wait too long, or you may end up with a leak.

Rusty-Colored Water

If your water looks rusty when you run it on hot, then it may be that the inside of your water heater is rusting and may fail soon. However, it could be that your pipes are rusty, and not the heater. To test which, drain the water from your water heater to see if it is rusty.

Moisture Around Your Water Heater

If you have noticed water collecting around your heater, or even moisture nearby, then it may be that there is a leak. The metal of your water heater will expand when it heats up, which will only make cracks get worse. However, test out the fittings and pipes around the heater to make sure it isn’t one of them that is the culprit.

No matter what, the best thing to do if you notice any of these symptoms is to call a professional for help. You may be tempted to try to fix your water heater yourself, but without the proper training and expertise, you may end up making the problem worse inadvertently.

Fried food is unbelievably popular. There is no doubt about it. There are more french fries, onion rings, and any other type of fried dish eaten every day than there is anything else in this country. For the most part, these foods are eaten at restaurants, since most people do not own their own fryer. That means that investing in a fryer is a great way to expand your business and keep your customers happy. While some might say that you can’t really go wrong when frying foods, the fact is that there are differences between the fryers available. Those differences can absolutely show up in the taste of the food. Here is how to choose the best fryer for your establishment.

Types of Fryers

Open Pot Fryer

Open pot fryers might be the most common type of fryer. They are easy to clean and are relatively affordable. The element is located on the bottom, and it heats the food from there. They are easy to clean because they are usually equipped with easily accessible sediment zones. A sediment zone is small, however, so these fryers work best with lightly breaded products like mozzarella sticks and french fries.

Tube Fryer

Tube fryers are more expensive than pot fryers, and are harder to clean. You would want a tube fryer when you need to do more heavy duty frying. That means it can handle things like chicken and fish. Tube fryers heat up the oil using tubes on the bottom of the basin. They have a larger sediment area than pot fryers, but they are tough to clean because you have to get in and around the tubes themselves.

Flat Bottom Fryer

The flat bottom fryer is not as versatile as the previous options, as it serves very specific functions. It is a good option when you have delicate frying needs. That means it works well with tortilla chips and battered doughs like donuts. They do not come with sediment areas, so you should not use it with heavier battered items because it would become very difficult to clean. They can be difficult to clean in any case, though. Since what little sediment there is will not collect in one handy place, and instead float around everywhere.

Factors To Consider

Price

Commercial deep fryers can come in relatively affordable units, such as $500, or much more expensive at $5000, and everywhere else in between. With such a big gap, you can imagine that there is also a gap in quality and options. One of the biggest things that can affect the price is the size of the unit. The larger the unit, the more batches you can make and customers you can serve quickly. If your menu isn’t heavy on fried foods, then a smaller unit may be just fine. For places that serve pub food, a larger unit may  be the most appropriate. You do not want to get stuck with a unit that’s too small. Pot fryers are generally the cheapest, with tube and flat bottom fryers being similar in cost depending on the size. Don’t forget that along with the upfront cost of purchasing the unit, there is also the cost of fuelling the fryer. There are electric fryers available as well.

Size

Size is important not just for the amount of food you can make, but also for fitting inside your kitchen. You need to make sure that it doesn’t end up crowding your kitchen, and it needs to be placed in a safe space. Splattering boiling oil is a major safety hazard, so it needs to be placed somewhere that staff can work but not be in danger of getting burned. The key is to balance out the need for efficiency with the need to have a functioning and safe work space for everyone.

Ease of Use and Cleaning

Kitchens are often judged by their speed. There can be a lot of orders coming all at once, so the staff must be efficient with everything that do to keep up. That means you’ll want a unit that is easy to use so things can keep moving. Also, if you have a newer staff member, you want it to be as simple as possible for them to get up to speed. Cleanliness is also a major part of running a kitchen. Having a unit that is easy to clean makes it a simpler process, and will keep the staff happy as well.

If you are considering purchasing a commercial fryer, make sure to take as much into consideration as possible. That way, you can end up with the perfect fryer for your needs

Altemp Mechanical offers a variety of commercial repair services with professionals who always deliver a quality experience. Get in touch online or call us at 651-275-9111.

Choosing a commercial pizza oven can be a daunting task. There are so many models and options from which to choose that it can be a bit overwhelming. For starters, a pizza oven is different from a conventional oven in that it can cook at much higher temperatures. Some can go up to 700 degrees fahrenheit, while wood fired ovens get can up to 1000 degrees. Here are some other things to know about choosing a commercial pizza oven.

Sizes

There are some options when it comes to sizing. They can come in triple or double deck options, along with a half size. They can usually hold at least 2 pizzas at once, and should be able to make twelve pizzas every hour on each deck. The available widths can be as small as eighteen inches, and as wide as seventy-eight. They can also vary between fifteen and seventy eight inches front to back, and eight to sixty-five inches high.

Deck Ovens

The deck oven is currently the most popular pizza oven. It comes either electric or gas powered. The deck can be made of tile, brick or stone, and they can bake six twelve inch pies at a time. Several deck ovens can also be stacked on top of one another to increase pizza capacity.

Conveyor Ovens

Conveyor belts in pizza ovens make it easier to cook the large amount of pizza that many restaurants need. They can increase capacity to the point where they are baking dozens of pizzas at the same time. They can be purchased as floor models, which are generally used by chain restaurants. Countertop models are also available for smaller outfits. If a business grows, they can always stack another countertop unit on top of their existing one for more capacity.

Fuel

A pizza oven needs fuel, and there are a few options. There are wood-fired, for instance, which are very popular with certain establishments that are looking for charm and a more rustic feel and taste. There are also gas-fired ovens and dual fuel ovens that combine the two. As mentioned, wood-fired ovens can burn hotter than gas-fired, if that is something you are looking for.

Using the right oven is a big part of selling pizza to hungry customers. Make sure you find the right one for your establishment’s needs.

If your pizza oven ever breaks down, keep in mind that Altemp Mechanical offers a variety of commercial repair services with professionals who always deliver a quality experience. Get in touch online or call us at 651-275-9111

There are few things a beer-drinker hates more than beer that is not cold. Room temperature is simply not acceptable if you are looking for refreshment. That is why glycol systems exist. They keep beer cold so that bars can serve the frostiest beverages possible to their clientele. Unfortunately, if the glycol system is not working, then customers will not be happy, and business will suffer. It is important to keep your system maintained at all times to prevent it from breaking down. That means checking every component on a regular basis. There are lines, there is the chiller, the bath, and even the glycol. Even then, there may be a time that it does not seem to be working properly. Here are some troubleshooting tips to get your beer back to its coldest state possible in a hurry.

Is Air Getting in Your Glycol?

If you do not have the cover closed on your glycol bath, then it will get exposed to the air. The water vapor will dilute the glycol. This will weaken it, meaning that it will not have its full cooling power, resulting in warmer beer.

Bath Set At The Right Temperature?

Make sure to check the temperature of your glycol bath on a regular basis. It should always stay within the manufacturer’s recommended range. While most come with a built-in temperature gauge, it is never a bad idea to use your own thermometer in case there is an issue with the gauge.

Is The Dispensed Beer The Right Temperature?

Like the bath, check the temperature of the dispensed beer on a regular basis as well. The chiller might show the right temperature, but if there is a problem in the lines as the beer gets to the faucet, then it may be warm by the time it comes out.

Smooth Operation?

You can often hear if there is a problem with the system’s motor. Give it a listen every once in a while to make sure there are no unexplained noises. You may also feel heat from a place where you should not.

If you detect any issues that are not easily repaired, then it is best to contact a professional technician to assess and solve your problem. The faster it gets fixed, the faster you can get back to keeping your customers happy.

Altemp Mechanical offers a variety of commercial repair services with professionals who always deliver a quality experience. Get in touch online or call us at 651-275-9111

There is no doubt that it is a benefit to be handy around the home. You can save time and money by doing your own repairs and maintaining your home. However, when it comes to appliance, DIY is not always a good idea. There are many components to most appliances, plus there is the electrical aspect to worry about. All too often, DIY appliance repair attempts end with a call to a professional in any case because the problem was exacerbated by the repair attempt. In the end, trying to save money by fixing something yourself might end up costing you more in the long run. Here are some reasons why it might not be a good idea to try to fix an appliance yourself.

Diagnostics
It can be difficult to find out what is causing the problem in the first place. If you have mis-diagnosed the problem, then your fix might end up not only not fixing the problem, but causing another one. Not only will you spend time and money on parts and tools, but your appliance still will not be fixed. A professional will be able to quickly diagnose and repair the problem.

Safety
There are definite safety risks that come with appliance repair. First of all there are electrical components that can pose a risk if not handled properly. Plus, even if you are safe during the repair, if an appliance is not properly reconnected there could be gas leaks or an electrocution risk. Even if the appliance works properly immediately after the repair, there may be an underlying problem that will manifest itself down the road and put you and your family in danger.

Lack Of Experience
With any project, you cannot put a price on experience. There is too much that could go wrong when a first-timer tries to fix something they are not familiar with. It seems that with amateurs, the end result is too often not what they were expecting. It could be that after reassembling, there are parts left over, or the components do not seem to fit together properly.

DIY projects are a great way to save money and feel a sense of accomplishment. When it comes to appliance repair, however, it is a good idea to put your tools down and pick up the phone to call a professional.

Altemp Mechanical offers a variety of commercial repair services with experienced professionals who always deliver a quality experience. Get in touch online or call us at 651-275-9111

Having a dishwasher is probably one of life’s great pleasures. Who wants to deal with a mountain of dirty dishes at the end of a long day when it could be better spent with family, a favorite book, or that evening’s television offerings? However, if you are not using your dishwasher properly, you may be creating more work by having to scrape or rinse dishes before using them, or re-washing dishes that did not clean properly. Here are some common dishwasher mistakes you might be making.

You are placing carb-covered dishes in the least ideal spots

Dishes that had potatoes, pasta, and other carbs on them shouldn’t just be placed anywhere on the rack. Ideally, they should be in a circle spreading out from the middle of the washer. That way, the sprayer arm can hit the most effectively. Carbs can be handled by the water, and don’t need as much chemical intervention, so this placement is perfect.

You are placing crusted dishes in the wrong spots

Protein-crusted dishes, however, do need some chemical reaction help. These are dishes stuck with cheese and eggs, for example. They should be placed to the edges, so they are not constantly sprayed with water, which allows them to soak.

Spooning

Allowing your spoons to spoon means that there will not be enough space for the water to get in between them. Hopefully you have a rack that gives a spot for each individual piece, but if not, alternate heads up and heads down to make sure water can get between everything.

Your bowls are facing outwards

The most important place to clean a bowl is inside the bowl itself. If a bowl is facing outward, then the water stream will be concentrated on the outside of the bowl, which will not help clean the spot that actually gets dirty while eating.

Overloading

Overloading might be the worst thing you can do. If a dishwasher is too full, the water will not be able to effectively clean every surface, which means you’ll have lots of re-cleaning to do.

Your containers are facing up

It should be common sense, but many people leave their containers in the washer facing up. All this does is make sure that they are filled with dirty water at the end of the cycle.

Avoid these common mistakes and you can make the most of the amazing time saver that is the dishwasher.

Altemp Mechanical understands that when your meat slicer becomes inoperable, so does your business. This is one of the primary reasons why we employ technicians skilled in meat slicer repair who are more than capable of updating your appliances quickly and effectively.

The staff members of Altemp Mechanical are specialists at what we do. This is because we undergo thorough training to ensure we stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the commercial HVAC industry.

Meat slicer repair services from Altemp Mechanical

Commercial meat slicers are an important aspect of any restaurant that serves large amounts of deli meats and cheeses. Having to cut these items by hand would take an enormous amount of time and would most likely result in less consistent thickness. If your commercial meat slicer is giving you headaches, Altemp Mechanical can alleviate your stress by restoring it to its proper working condition.

Some of the main issues we see with meat slicers include (but are not limited to):

The slicer not spinning fast enough. If your meat slicer is not spinning fast enough when you turn it on, the problem could be that the power supply is not letting in enough electricity for the motor to operate as it should be. Another reason could be that the motor’s bearings and gears are too old and deteriorated. Also, failing to regularly clean your slicer can lead to clogging, thereby preventing it from operating as it should.

The slicer making odd noises. If your meat slicer starts to make strange noises every time you turn it on, the reason could be that your motor gears and bearings have not been serviced in a while and therefore need some lubrication. Altemp Mechanical can deal with such problems quickly and effectively, so that you do not have to stand those noises any more.

We are Minnesota’s go-to professionals when it comes to commercial charbroiler repair. Altemp Mechanical works with local restaurants, bars, diners, hotels, and any businesses that utilizes commercial kitchen equipment. We can repair, install and maintain countertop, drop-in, flat top and teppanyaki charbroilers. Read on to discover more of our charbroiler repair and maintenance services in the Twin Cities area.

Charbroiler Repair and Maintenance

A commercial charbroiler is built to endure years of use. It will run on a daily basis in a kitchen environment. Of course, its parts can become worn out due to this consistent use, causing it to malfunction. When this occurs, it will reduce the quality of cuisine you offer your customers. Here are the most common complications that business owners face with commercial charborilers:

• The charbroiler fails to heat up
• The charbroiler is far too hot when running
• The charbroiler is not turning on
• The charbroiler is discolored
• The charbroiler should be cleaned
• The charbroiler grate is fracturing

If you want to be confident that your charbroiler will continue to function properly, we recommend setting up a monthly or bimonthly service with our team. We can accommodate your schedule and establish service times that work best for you. Our experienced technicians can arrive at your place of business on a scheduled basis, offering charbroiler repair and maintenance as required.

When your charbroiler or kitchen equipment is maintained by our staff, it will run much longer. As a result, you will reduce costs an improve productivity. When you need charbroiler repair and/or maintenance in Minnesota, contact Altemp Mechanical online or by calling 651-275-9111.