As a restaurant owner, you understand that the quality of the food and service rests on the efficiency of the equipment you’re using. This same principle applies to your HVAC system. With the unique challenges of a busy kitchen and a high-traffic dining area, maintaining your restaurant’s heating and cooling systems can be complicated. Learn more about the difference between residential and industrial HVAC equipment, as well as a few problems common in restaurant settings.

Residential vs. Restaurant HVAC Systems

Having sufficient ventilation in your restaurant is vital because it affects the health and safety of customers and employees. Residential heating and cooling systems aren’t equipped to move the large volume of air required to keep your kitchen and dining areas safe and comfortable. 

Residential HVACs also aren’t equipped to handle the rapid fluctuation of hot and cold. They also aren’t designed to handle the humidity, grease, smoke, produced by an industrial kitchen.

If your restaurant is using HVAC components designed for residential properties, you may notice intense heat, stuffy air, and poor ventilation from insufficient airflow. It’s imperative to upgrade to a larger system to manage your kitchen because a well maintained and properly installed HVAC system can also help reduce the likelihood of fires.

Common Problems With Equipment

Restaurants deal with pollution, rapid temperature fluctuations, and ventilation issues during a typical day. There are multiple airborne pollutants, like smoke, grease, and food particles that will clog up air filters faster. Cleaning materials may also reduce the airflow of the heating system. 

The heat of a kitchen could become intolerable without a commercial HVAC system because residential units don’t react as quickly to changing temperatures. The two-step ventilation process used in traditional systems cannot ventilate, cool, and expel humidity fast enough, which could lead to mold growing in the vents.

Importance of Regular Maintenance 

When restaurant owners neglect to maintain their heating and cooling systems, customers may be less likely to visit. A broken air conditioner could discourage customers to dine in. When you upgrade your system, your employees will have a more comfortable, temperature-controlled work environment.

If you’re looking for an HVAC contractor to improve your restaurant’s heating and cooling system, turn to the specialists at Snyder Mechanical in Elko, NV. With over 30 years of industry experience, this team has provided heating, cooling, and plumbing services to both businesses and homeowners, including 24/7 emergency repairs. Their team is well equipped to provide preventive maintenance, installations, and repairs on both new and old equipment. Call them at (775) 738-5616 to speak with a technician, or request an estimate on their website.