Why restaurant HVAC is so challenging
Keeping your restaurant consistently comfortable can be more difficult than for other types of businesses. Here’s why restaurant HVAC is so challenging:
- Varying numbers of people in the space throughout the day
- Doors opening and closing all day long (letting conditioned air escape)
- Kitchen appliances and refrigeration equipment adding heat
- Kitchen exhaust fans sucking air out
Restaurant HVAC is a complex problem with many variables. It’s important to choose a service provider that understands the conditions you work in and how to design and maintain your system accordingly.
Here are some proven tips for choosing a new HVAC company for your restaurant. You can find more detailed information below.
HVAC for restaurants: How to find a great service provider
How can you tell if an HVAC company has what it takes to install, repair and maintain restaurant HVAC equipment? Look for these 9 signs of expertise and commitment to customer service.
1. Restaurant HVAC experience
Ask colleagues in the restaurant business (especially in your neighborhood) for recommendations. Find out how long their HVAC company has been working for them and what type of service they performed.
It’s a good sign when you see the company’s trucks around your area frequently; if your neighbors are calling them back, they’re probably doing good work.
Also check into the company’s expertise with the latest HVAC technology and controls, such as VRF systems. These efficient and customizable systems are particularly good options for restaurants.
2. Refrigeration and kitchen expertise
The best restaurant HVAC repair companies also have expertise in refrigeration repair and maintenance. There are several reasons you’re better off with the one service provider handling your restaurant HVAC and your refrigeration needs:
- A single provider can evaluate the impact of all your systems on one another. Here’s an example: if your AC is not maintaining the set temperature, your open air cases may be running constantly as they actually attempt to cool the surrounding space. You need someone with an eye on the big picture.
- You get one trusted point of contact that understands your equipment, your business and your needs.
- One provider means less paperwork with combined work orders and billing.
- EVEN BETTER: look for a restaurant HVAC company that repairs and maintains hot-side kitchen equipment as well
3. Prompt and reliable
Promises about response time are all well and good, but you want to know how well they keep those promises. When you speak to their references, ask how long it takes to get a technician there in an emergency and their track record for arriving on time for appointments.
4. Trained and certified technicians
Check out not only the company’s credentials, but the certifications technicians hold and the level of training they receive:
- Look for MSCA or NATE certifications, which prove that a tech has completed a rigorous training program, passed certification exams, and received ongoing education. This is especially important in NY since licenses are not required.
- Ask if the company has design engineers to validate all aspects of HVAC system installation plans.
- Ask about EPA 608 certification, which is required for technicians handling refrigerants.
- Find out how much training the company provides for its employees. When an HVAC company invests in regular training, it shows a level of commitment to quality and customer service.
5. Knowledge of local building codes & regulations
The last thing you want is an HVAC company that doesn’t understand the complex regulations that apply to your food service business. You’ll be the one responsible when they get it wrong.
6. Guaranteed work
A restaurant HVAC company should guarantee their installations, repairs and maintenance work for a period of one year.
7. Access to parts
A quick response time is not always an indicator of how fast you’ll be back up and running. What if it takes 3 days to get the parts to complete a repair?
Look for a service provider that has a large inventory of parts, as well as relationships with numerous parts suppliers in your area.
8. Ongoing maintenance
Stay away from restaurant HVAC companies that only want to sell you equipment and install it, then walk away.
Instead, choose a company that will take responsibility for ongoing maintenance. That way you can be more confident that the installation was done right.
The right service provider can work with you to come up with a maintenance schedule based on your equipment and usage, and pricing that works for your budget.
9. Great customer service
You want an HVAC company for your restaurant that’s willing and able to do whatever is necessary to deliver on their commitments, particularly when it comes to the schedule.
Here’s the secret to finding out how a company really operates. Speak to a long-time company employee and ask them to tell you about situations when they provided great customer service. Any field tech who has been with the company for a while should not have to think too hard to come up with an example. If customer service is truly a company value, their actions should reflect that on a regular basis.
Trust Arista for quality restaurant HVAC service in New York City
If you’re in New York City, Arista can provide the fast and reliable restaurant HVAC service you need. Contact us today!