It’s September—Why Is Your Commercial Equipment Still Working Like It’s July?

repairpros99

Sep 18

5 min read

The calendar says September.

The thermometer apparently didn't get the memo.

With temperatures still reaching into the upper 90s around Chattanooga, commercial HVAC and refrigeration equipment isn't getting the break businesses might normally expect as summer winds down.

And there's an important difference between a 98° day in June and a 98° day in September:

By September, your equipment has already spent an entire summer working through Tennessee heat and humidity.

That extended workload can expose developing problems in HVAC systems, walk-in coolers and freezers, reach-in refrigeration, ice machines, and other temperature-sensitive equipment.

Here's what business owners should be watching as summer refuses to leave.

The Problem Isn't Just Today's Temperature

Commercial cooling equipment is designed to work in hot weather.

The concern isn't simply that we're experiencing another stretch of high temperatures. It's that the equipment has already spent months operating under demanding conditions.

Think about what your equipment has been through since spring:

Long cooling cycles
High outdoor temperatures
Heavy humidity
Summer thunderstorms and power fluctuations
Busy kitchens producing additional heat
Constant door openings on refrigeration equipment
Months of dust, grease, pollen, and debris accumulating around coils and filters

A system that handled those conditions well in May may be showing more wear by September.

That's why problems sometimes seem to appear "out of nowhere" late in the season.

Usually, they didn't.

Your Commercial HVAC Still Hasn't Gotten a Break

Commercial HVAC systems normally begin getting some relief as summer winds down.

When temperatures remain unusually high, that relief doesn't come.

Systems continue running longer to remove heat and humidity from the building, and commercial kitchens make the job even harder.

Ovens, fryers, griddles, dish machines, refrigeration equipment, lighting, employees, and customers all add heat to the building.

If an HVAC system already has a dirty filter, restricted airflow, dirty coils, worn electrical components, or another developing issue, an extended cooling season can be when that problem finally makes itself known.

Pay Attention To:

Longer-than-normal run times
Weak airflow
Areas that aren't cooling properly
Unusual noises
Water or condensate problems
Higher indoor humidity
Difficulty maintaining the thermostat setting

Don't automatically dismiss these symptoms because "it's really hot outside."

The weather may be exposing a problem rather than causing it.

Walk-In Coolers and Freezers Are Still Fighting the Heat Too

Your refrigeration equipment doesn't care that pumpkin spice is back.

When it's pushing 100° outside—and your commercial kitchen is producing plenty of heat of its own—walk-in coolers and freezers are still operating under summer conditions.

Every time a walk-in door opens, warm air enters the refrigerated space.

Your system then has to remove that heat and bring the box back to temperature.

If the equipment has dirty coils, damaged door gaskets, poor airflow, excessive frost, or worn components, maintaining temperature becomes increasingly difficult.

Warning signs include:

Temperatures beginning to creep upward
Excessive frost or ice buildup
Condensation around doors
Equipment running nearly continuously
Unusually long temperature recovery after the door is opened
Unusual noises

These are worth addressing before you're dealing with a warm walk-in and inventory at risk.

Reach-Ins and Prep Tables Take a Beating Too

Walk-ins get a lot of attention, but don't forget about the smaller refrigeration equipment throughout your kitchen.

Reach-in refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerated prep tables often operate in some of the hottest areas of a restaurant.

They also tend to be opened repeatedly throughout the day.

Combine that with dirty condenser coils, worn door seals, restricted airflow, or an extremely warm kitchen, and the equipment may have to run significantly longer to maintain temperature.

A unit doesn't have to stop cooling completely to tell you something is wrong.

If it's running differently than it normally does, pay attention.

Don't Forget Your Ice Machine

Hot weather can also affect ice production.

Restaurants and convenience stores often need more ice during hot weather at the same time their ice machines are operating under more demanding conditions.

Warm incoming water, higher surrounding temperatures, dirty condenser coils, scale buildup, clogged filters, and inadequate ventilation can all affect performance.

If your machine seems to be producing less ice than usual or taking longer to recover, don't immediately assume increased customer demand is the only reason.

The equipment itself may need attention.

The Domino Effect Inside a Commercial Kitchen

This is where things get interesting.

Commercial kitchen equipment doesn't operate in isolation.

Your fryers, ovens, ranges, griddles, dish machines, and other hot-side equipment release heat into the kitchen.

Your HVAC system then has to remove that heat.

Meanwhile, refrigeration equipment located in that same hot environment has to work to keep its internal temperature down.

If ventilation isn't performing properly, the problem can become even worse.

So while the September heat may not directly affect every piece of equipment in your kitchen, it can affect the environment in which all of that equipment operates.

That's one reason looking at your facility as a whole makes sense.

September Is Actually Giving Us Valuable Information

There's a silver lining to this unusual heat.

Your equipment is essentially getting an extended stress test.

If something isn't performing the way it should, you have an opportunity to find out now rather than assuming everything made it through summer perfectly.

Ask yourself:

Is the HVAC keeping the building comfortable?
Are walk-in temperatures staying consistent?
Are reach-ins recovering normally?
Is the ice machine keeping up?
Have you noticed new noises, leaks, frost, condensation, or longer run times?
Is there equipment you've been meaning to have serviced but haven't gotten around to?

If the answer to that last question is yes, this may be the time to address it.

Fall Preventative Maintenance Doesn't Have to Wait for Fall Weather

We've started talking about fall preventative maintenance, even though Chattanooga apparently hasn't started experiencing fall temperatures yet.

And that's okay.

Fall PM isn't about waiting until it's cold outside.

It's about evaluating equipment after a demanding summer and preparing your business for the next season.

This extended heat makes that inspection even more relevant.

Preventative maintenance can help identify developing problems, address accumulated wear, and give you a better understanding of your equipment's condition before you transition into heating season.

Don't Let an Extended Summer Turn Into an Emergency

Your commercial equipment has already worked through months of summer heat.

Now we're asking some of it to keep going.

If your HVAC, refrigeration, ice machines, or other commercial equipment isn't performing the way it normally does, don't ignore the warning signs just because the weather is unusually hot.

Sometimes extreme conditions don't create the problem.

They reveal it.

At Repair Pros Services, Inc., we service commercial HVAC, refrigeration, ice machines, hot-side cooking equipment, coffee and espresso machines, slushie machines, food prep equipment, and other commercial restaurant and foodservice equipment throughout Chattanooga and the surrounding areas.

If your equipment has had a long summer too, now is a good time to give it some attention.

📞 Repair Pros Services, Inc. 423-290-4946

Commercial HVAC • Refrigeration • Restaurant & Foodservice Equipment