CHILLER MAINTENANCE

Chillers are a big investment, so it is understandable that many people are leery of spending much on maintaining them. It can also feel like a hassle over a machine that seems to be doing its job in the background forever, no matter how well it does. However, maintaining your chiller rewards you many times over, and sometimes it pays to have a total refurbishment. Benefits of Chiller Maintenance A chiller’s main job is to extract heat from your product or process and release it elsewhere. The better it does this, the cheaper and better everything is. A refurbishing can help by: Keeping parts clean so they work well. For instance, clean pipes facilitate efficient heat exchange throughout the system. Corrects tiny leaks and bad parts before they get too bad to deal with and make the chillers use of electricity more efficient. Saves you from the major repairs a really dirty chiller can need and catch minor flaws that are interfering with the job. Keeps your machine operating well for longer. When Is A Deep Clean and Repair A Good Idea for Chillers? How often your chiller needs this attention depends on your operations and business location. Some businesses perform a thorough inspection once or twice a year, and they decide on whether they need a refurbishing then. If you are the sort of whiz-kid business owner that keeps a maintenance log and records chiller performance daily, you have a good hint as to when your chiller needs love. When your daily record of chiller temperatures and efficiency shows a notable change in operating range, you should get it refurbished to remove clogs and correct whatever is detracting from operations. If you don’t keep a log, or if you just want to be on top of things, it is a good idea to have your heat-exchanger tubes cleaned of scale once every two years. That’s about how long it takes for hard water to coat the surfaces to such an extent that they lose some of their ability to move heat. It might be simpler to give the chiller a thorough overhaul at that time for efficiency’s sake. You might want to have your chiller deep cleaned every year before you start using it if you use it seasonally. This way it can start fresh for the new year. Taking it to a professional for refurbishing and maintenance may be the most efficient way of dealing with any unexpected rattling in your chiller. The cause may be as simple as a loose, dirty filter or bad fans, and the refurbishing professional can fix most such problems. What JCY Can Do For Your Chiller Repair Needs JC Younger believes passionately in the ability of your chiller to work at its peak and bring maximum productivity to your business. This is why we will refurbish your chiller if you send it to us. Once we have it in our professional hands, we can bring it to a like-new state. How? We will: Make basic repairs such as correcting bad chiller fans and bad controls. Give it a thorough cleaning, including the condenser fans, so things run smoothly. We will even clean the sightglass so you can keep an eye on your products. We can do needed painting. Check for leaking pumps and ensure parts are performing up to spec. Check filters for tears and efficiency. Make sure you are using the right ratio of glycol to water in the chiller. We make a point of offering technical help in keeping your chiller working when you rent one from us, and routine maintenance is part of our chiller rental package. This is because we believe that your chiller operating at its best is crucial for your business, so contact us if your chiller is in need of some love.

  Industrial Chiller Specialists – Rentals, Sales and Repairs Many businesses rely on chillers for the storage of their perishable goods. While the equipment is usually reliable, maintaining them can be overwhelming because of their numerous demands. To avoid the demanding task of chiller maintenance, you should enlist the services of a trusted technician. At J.C Younger, we specialize in chiller repair and maintenance. We are experts in chillers, and our technicians run diagnostics and performance issues on your chiller. They work closely with you to ensure that your systems are always up and running smoothly. We focus on all aspects of HVAC and always have experts on call. Our technicians are well versed in HVAC units regardless of their capacities. We understand that minor inconveniences can adversely affect your business’ productivity. We also understand that when your chiller goes down, it needs to be returned to service without any delay, and you need the right technician for that. What to look for in a chiller technician 1. Familiarity with chilling equipment The right technician knows how to work around any equipment issues. They should be experts with the tools used in their trade. The right technician knows how to conduct routine testing to determine how the chiller is holding up. They should know how humidity recorders and airflow meters work. They should also know the difference and applications of ohmmeters and voltmeters. The two tools help you properly maintain your chiller’s functions before any accident happens. The technician will tell you what they’ve uncovered with their testing tools and offer various solutions to fix your chillers. 2. Excellent communication skills Your chiller technician should be able to communicate with you clearly to understand what’s not working. Direct communication is necessary to determine how the present problems can be fixed. The right technician knows how to explain what needs fixing without using technical jargon. The technician should also know how to answer any follow-up questions you might have regarding the equipment failure and repair. They should always make sensible recommendations for any chiller repairs and placements without leaving you confused at the end of it all. 3. Organizational skills An excellent technician has organizational skills to ensure that all the right parts and tools are available whenever they are called for an appointment. A lack of organization will lead to a lack of materials that will force you to reschedule the appointment for a later date, which is a massive inconvenience. The technician should ensure that the company truck is well-stocked. They should also ensure that they have a full scope of the work whenever possible. 4. Experience and certification Experience and certification are desirable qualities for any technician to have. The technician should have professional qualifications aside from having organizational skills and excellent communications skills. Always check if the company you’re looking to hire has been in business for a long time. If they have, there is a high likelihood that they are good at their job and have a good rapport with their previous clients. At J.C Younger, we let our results speak for themselves. Our technicians have the appropriate certification, experience with chilling equipment, and liability insurance. 5. Flexible A good technician is flexible and can handle any task on the spot, even if it was much different from what they previously expected. They can think on their feet and are creative when it comes to problem-solving. They also understand the various safety measures and will always undertake safety measures whenever they’re working. 6. Great and friendly personality It is one thing to be excellent at your job and another to be a professional who goes to any lengths to provide your customers with exceptional services. Our technicians are friendly and passionate about their job. They will greet you with a handshake and a warm smile. They’ll always keep you in the loop about the services they’re conducting. Feel free to ask them any questions you may have regarding equipment maintenance and our services. Why choose JC Younger For Your Chiller Maintenance? If you’re shopping for the right technician with the above qualities and more, then you should consider giving us a call. Our technicians are highly trained in chiller repairs and maintenance. They also have high training on safety measures to take while at work. At J.C Younger, we are dedicated to offering excellent services at a pocket-friendly price to give you value for your money.

Keep Your Chiller System Working Efficiently Chillers are a major investment, and they must work with precision. At JC Younger (JCY), we have decades of experience in manufacturing and remanufacturing chillers. To keep your chiller system efficiently working, routine chiller preventive maintenance (PM) is the best way to safeguard against costly repairs. Routine chiller maintenance keep energy costs down, extends the equipment lifespan, reduces power loads, and saves money on unnecessary labor and parts. Tip #1: Avoid Dirt and Debris Buildup The air intake side is prone to dirt and debris buildup, especially when your system is outside. By keeping the intake fins clean, you can avoid your system shutting down. Shutdowns are never ideal, and it can be detrimental during the hottest times of the year. Cooling towers can have a lot of dirt and debris buildup. Without proper cleaning and maintenance, major operational problems can occur, including motor burnouts. Tip #2: Springtime is the Best Time for Preventive Maintenance For some operations that shut down during the winter months, it’s the perfect time for preventive maintenance. For year-round operations, after a harsh winter and before the hot days of summer arrive, Spring is the best time to schedule an annual checkup. Once summer hits, our service team can be in high demand attending to heat-driven chiller emergencies. Tip #3: JCY Services All Chiller Brands Whether a JCY brand or not, we’re happy to service all types of chillers. From our years of experience and knowledge, we know to take the time to review other manufacturers’ operating manuals to ensure we follow their servicing directions. Tip #4: JCY Checks for Warrantied Equipment With our equipment, we know what’s under warranty. When we service other chiller brands, the first thing we address is what may be under warranty coverage and the required guidelines and documentation necessary to remain warrantied. Tip #5: JCY Helps You Avoid Costly Repairs With the “Phaseout of R-22 and R-142-b” ten years ago, as of January 1, 2020, “ban on remaining production and import of HCFC-22 and HCFC-142-b. After 2020, the servicing of systems with R-22 will rely on recycled or stockpiled quantities.” Your JCY service technician will help you understand when your system is more costly to repair than to replace. Tip #6: JCY Has Expertise and Extra Perks for Many Applications Outdated chiller systems running on R-22 can be costly to retrofit. It may be time for a replacement. The team at JC Younger is here to help you with a new system that we can build for an array of applications. Our name is well-known in Hand-Built Craft Chillers and Cannabis and CBD Chillers. We are proud to offer our JCY perks you deserve when making an expensive investment. Learn more about our Financing options, and we want you to know we are there for you during the life of your JCY chiller with our Advantage commitments. Tip #7: JCY Keeps an Inventory of Rental Chillers for Maintenance Downtime Whenever an operation cannot afford any downtime for maintenance, JCY keeps an inventory of rental chillers to keep businesses running for any reason. Tip #8: Chiller Chat is What We Do Best Whatever questions you may have about chillers, we have the answers. You will find that our entire team at JC Younger is always ready to help our customers, old and new, with the best customer service and support your operation requires. Tip #9: The Team of Experts You Want for Manufacturing and Servicing Chillers When it comes to building and servicing chiller systems, we are the experts you want to keep your operational temperatures constant. With routine JCY Preventive Maintenance, you will mitigate avoidable operational inefficiencies. Don’t hesitate, call our team to schedule your chiller checkup now.

In 2021, the prices of chiller will be increasing with that being said you could take your worn out chiller send it us. We will go through it, and bring new life to for less money it would cost for a new one. In the mean time we could send you a rental chiller to fill in while we do the fixes to your current chiller. JC Younger will give you the best options, if your chiller is a good candidate to be recondition. The fast turn around time will make sure you aren’t loosing valuable time. Call us today to discus many options we can give, also call before the end of the year to avoid the increases in prices. Chiller mechanical failure’s Here is one example we have seen in the beverage world that all breweries will go through: The chiller breaks down, owner or head brewer goes into panic mode and calls local Refrigeration or HVAC repair company to come out and repair chiller (so beer temperatures don’t get out of control and beer flavoring or loss occurs). Unfortunately it’s a hot day so the repair company is book out several days or weeks. Refrigeration or HVAC repair company finds you need parts that are no longer available, so a major chiller overhaul is needed to get system back up and running. This can range on down time of several hours if lucky to many weeks. Refrigeration or HVAC repair company finds your chiller is non repairable. This now means you frantically try to find anything available in the used or new market, and hope it shows up in a timely matter or is able to perform at right cooling temperatures and flow requirements you have. Now the scary thought of having to dump some or all of your goes though your mind. The question your asking yourself now is “Why didn’t I have a back up chiller, as to avoid this issue?). The solution we here at JCY can offer is a standby/back up chiller. The cost for this option can range, and depending on selected size unit: could be as low as $50.00 a month. This is a small cost for piece of mind, preventable stress, as well as protection for chiller mechanical failures. For more information or to get the process started for you to see what back up JCY chiller options are: please contact sandy@jcyounger.com / urgent cell 612-250-5397

When your final product depends upon consistent chiller temperature settings, it’s vital to know what the temperature setting should be to get the job done. The question is: What is the right temperature for a chiller? The answer will vary between industries and products. At J.C. Younger, we have decades of experience and knowledge manufacturing chillers for many applications, and we work with you to make sure your chiller system operates at the most efficient temperatures. There are standards for the different applications within some industries, and we can help you decide upon the right chiller model to produce your final product with successful results. 1. Beer Chiller Temperature Setting The steps for crafting the best tasting beers require a variety of different temperatures throughout the entire process.  From mashing to storage, temperature control is vital in crafting good-tasting beers. For the distinct flavor of wines, fermentation temperature control is critical. The Beginning Process: Mashing to Boiling After the malt, mashing is when it all begins for the crafting of beers. “How hot (or not) things get when you mash can totally transform your finished beer. Understanding how mash temperature affects the final body and finish of your brew can help you adjust your mash to the styles of beer you’re making and create tastier, more enjoyable beer.” Lagers vs. Ales: The Fermentation Temperatures Varies Depending upon the brew you want to produce, temperature settings vary during fermentation and onto cold crashing.  “Temperature is the single biggest and most important variable you will deal with when it comes to your fermentation.” Lagers require “colder fermentation,” somewhere around 50 °F (ca. 10 °C) up to 56 °F (ca. 13 °C), results in a “slower fermentation.” Ales require “warmer fermentation,” in the range of 60 °F (ca. 16 °C) up to 68 °F (ca. 20 °C), resulting in a “faster fermentation.” Improving the Clarity with Cold Crashing Another brewing practice, cold crashing, helps “to improve the clarity of the beer prior to transferring out of fermentation.” During this process, the temperature of the brew needs to come down between 32 °F (0 °C) to 34 °F (1.11 °C), and that requires the chiller temperature to be at a lower temperature, somewhere between 26 °F (-3.33 °C) to 30 °F (-1.11 °C). Oxidation at Any Step Affects Taste Throughout “the brewing process, from the brewhouse, to the fermentation cellar, to the packaging line, and even within the bottle in storage after packaging,” oxidation is always a concern.  Even once a beer is capped off, the varying temperatures can have a profound effect on the shelf life of certain beers. 2. Wine Chiller Temperature Setting Consistency is crucial for wineries when it comes to producing their signature labels of wines. It’s never ideal for a winemaker to incur varied temperatures during fermentation when making a particular wine. Red and white wines require different fermentation temperatures, and you can find minimal variations of these temperatures that depend upon personal taste. Red Wines Red wines go through a warmer fermentation process that can vary from 68 °F (ca. 20 °C) up to 89 °F (ca. 32 °C). The varying temperatures affect the color, body, and tannins. You never want your fermentation process to go over 89 °F (ca. 32 °C). A chiller temperature of 60 °F (ca. 16 °C) is a good recommendation for red wine fermentation. White Wines White wines can be from either red or white grapes with the skins removed. The temperatures can vary between 54 °F (ca. 12 °C) up to 72 °F (ca. 22 °C), with the lower temperatures maintaining “the fruity and individual character of the grapes themselves.” You may even find others with lower lows. As a general rule, the chiller temperature for white wine fermentation can be at 45 °F (ca. 7 °C). 3. Agriculture From food-related applications to the dairy industry, different chiller temperatures are necessary that must remain consistent. The food industry may require just below freezing up to approximately 54 °F (ca. 12 °C). In the poultry industry, the recommended chiller temperature is 36 °F (2.22 °C) up to 40 °F (4.44 °C).   The dairy industry uses a rapid cooling process from high-temp pasteurization to  storage at 38 °F (3.33 °C). 4. Medical and Pharmaceutical Industries Chillers for the various applications in the medical and pharmaceutical industries must maintain extremely-low temperatures up to -40 degrees. Medical equipment can also rely on chillers for a source of cooling down, with chiller temperatures depending upon the equipment and how often it is in use. 5. Data Centers Data centers house expensive servers and other computerized equipment, requiring efficient cooling systems. To keep these massive producing heat machines cool and efficiently working, “the most recent recommendation for most classes of information technology (IT) equipment is a temperature between 18 and 27 degrees Celsius (°C) or 64 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), a dew point (DP) of -9˚C DP to 15˚C DP and a relative humidity (RH) of 60 percent.” When you’re looking not only for a quality-built chiller system but you’re also looking for a chiller partner who has the expertise and knowledge for accurate chiller temperatures to assure exceptional production results, the team at J. C. Younger is here for you. We welcome your questions, and we look forward to serving you.

When it comes to commercial chillers, one size most definitely does not fit all. Sure, you can purchase a chiller “off the shelf” and keep your fingers crossed that it gets the job done, but why take that chance? As you already know, using a chiller for dewaxing is the most efficient method available. This process removes more impurities and odors than you would see with distillation alone. JC Younger creates chillers based specifically on the needs of our customers. Our expert staff will meet with you and get as much information as possible so that we can create a commercial chiller that is customized for you and only you. What Kind of Information Do We Need? We will ask questions like: Where will your chiller be located, inside or outside? If inside, what size is the room where it will be housed? What solvents/chemicals are you dewaxing? What is the average ambient temperature of the room? Is there other equipment in this area and what type? We will need to determine how much heat this other equipment will generate to find out if it will affect the chiller. Does your process require a heater? What voltage do you currently have in place and will it handle the power needs of the chiller? What is your budget for chiller and future maintenance? EXPERT SOLUTIONS Our consultants can help you create innovative solutions to issues associated with the chillers to ensure increased efficiency, dependability, and ensure your company’s ongoing success. We will work with you to devise a plan in the event your goals include expanding in the future and we can make certain your equipment can meet the needs of that increased volume. If your current electrical voltage capacity is insufficient to handle the chiller, we have transformers available for purchase or rental. This way, you can get started quickly without having to worry about upgrading your current service. You can take time to plan for that at a later date or just use the transformer as a permanent solution. GET UP AND RUNNING RIGHT AWAY Because our chillers are custom made, it may take some time to build your particular unit. Many of our customers want to be up and running yesterday and we completely understand. That is why we offer rental chillers so that you can do just that. You can rent a chiller during the time you are waiting for your unit to be completed. We have financing available and we do everything possible to stay within your budget and address all your concerns about future costs and maintenance. TOP NOTCH SERVICE SUPPORT If you ever have a question or problem with your JCY equipment, we have staff available to handle your calls. (Fee’s may apply). No one understands better than JC Younger how important it is to keep everything moving and how downtime can impact a business. Our units do not require any specialized (OEM) parts and all of our components are available to our customers at wholesale prices. We like to always remind our customers to never use automotive antifreeze to replenish your glycol-based system. That version of glycol contains silicone and using it over time can impact equipment negatively. All replenishment solvents are available for purchase through us and we have a variety of options available. Check out all of the products we have available and the wide range of chillers we have for just about every process. Then give us a call and we can answer any additional questions you may have and help you with your new purchase.

Reminder: Set a Date for Chiller Maintenance Fall is about to set in to usher in the winter months. For some industrial plants, chillers are shut down during the winter months making this a perfect time for thorough preventive maintenance. When you take the time to have your chiller system regularly maintained, you will be saving yourself from downtime and headaches when the heat returns. There could be minor issues that a highly-skilled technician will be able to see what may need attention. Invest in Annual Maintenance by a Skilled Technician One major issue for chiller efficiency is the scale or other sediments. This buildup can have a profound effect on the efficiency of your chiller system. As found on Facility Executive, “As Winter Approaches, Don’t Skip Chiller Maintenance” (2017, November 30), “the U.S. Department of Energy estimates chillers are expending up to an additional 30% in energy through inefficiencies.” When you don’t have someone in-house who has the training to perform thorough maintenance on your chiller, spending extra money for a certified technician will pay off in the long run. You want someone who knows exactly what to do, how to do it and the tools needed to perform the task. As the article points out, having the right cleaning equipment is the first step for sure. You also need a rotary tube cleaner, chemical descaler, and brushes. Knowing what brushes and chemical to use for the buildup you have is also important. Routine Monitoring is Vital for a Chiller to Run Efficiently Chillers are major investments. Take time to make sure your investment is working efficiently all year long. As with any type of electrical and mechanical equipment, chillers need regular attention. Keep a daily log of the “key operating parameters.” Regularly check for scaling, fouling or tube corrosion. Regularly check for leaks, especially leaking refrigerant. Remain proper water treatment to avoid fouling and scaling. Regularly check and analyze the refrigerant and oil. If you have a cooling tower, check for algae growth, hard scale deposits or calcium fouling. Regular maintenance will deter build up of outside influences that can cause bacteria. Calculating for Chiller System Efficiency You want to keep your chiller system running efficiently. Understanding how to calculate the efficiency of your chillers can be found on The Engineering Mindset.com, “Chiller Efficiency How to calculate” by Evans, P. (2017, July 22). J.C. Younger – User-Friendly Chillers & Great Customer Service The team at J.C. Younger has been manufacturing and re-manufacturing commercial and industrial chillers for many applications since 1956. When you purchase or rent one of our expertly built chiller systems, you not only get the dependability your business needs, you also receive the best customer service across the country. We will show you exactly what you should record to keep up with your chiller’s performance. We will tell you the tools to have on hand to regularly maintain a clean system. We’re only a phone call away when you have a question or concern. We know that businesses that require chillers cannot afford downtimes. Since we have personally built every unit and we know our parts, we can guide over the phone to fix many issues. We have in-house technicians available 24/7, 365 days per year. When we determine you do need on-site service, our network of highly-trained technicians are located all around the country to make sure your system is back to full-speed ahead. When you’re looking for the perfect chiller solution, call the team at J.C. Younger. Learn how our years of experience will build a customized, user-friendly chiller system for your application that will run for years.

The latest chiller’s in use today have diagnostic technology integrated into their design. When something goes wrong an alarm code will often not only alert you to the situation, but, if you understand your chiller’s code, you may even know how to resolve the problem and avoid having to place a call to a repairman. For example, after consulting your operator’s manual and becoming familiar with your particular model’s diagnostic and alarm codes, you may recognize that your chiller is alerting you to one of the following: Temperature sensor error. A compressor that is experiencing pressure that is too high or too low. It is also important to be familiar with safety mechanisms that are built into the chiller’s design, such as a water flow switch or freezestat control. If something goes wrong that a chiller owner can fix themselves, often they are left puzzled as to why the chiller is still not working properly. These safety mechanisms may have been activated and will need to be reset after a chiller has recognized a problem. However, despite such resources as an operator’s manual and diagnostic codes, many who have a chiller in use are still hesitant to delve into the realm of acting as chiller repairman. Considering that a chiller is a significant investment for any business, it is completely understandable to want a qualified technician to respond to any issues. But if you want to see less of your local chiller repairman, be committed to routine chiller maintenance. Routine Maintenance Saves Energy $$ Chiller’s are monsters when it comes to energy consumption. They can easily be responsible for up to half of a company’s energy usage. For this reason it is important to keep chillers operating at peak performance level and running as energy efficient as possible. And when it comes to anything going wrong with your chiller, that is when it is time to call a chiller repairman. However, it seems that the majority of service calls might be avoided altogether by performing routine chiller maintenance. The four most common factors that contribute to chiller failure are: operating chillers improperly, ignoring routine scheduled maintenance, corrosion and using an oversized chiller. Improper Operation Sometimes business owners are tempted to try to get something out of their chiller it was not designed to deliver. Usually this is done by increasing the volume of cooling water believing that this will make the chiller cool faster or cool a larger space. What actually happens is the opposite. Once the chiller begins performing outside its capabilities, its chilling efficiency drops. In fact, it could stop chilling altogether if tube failure occurs. Ignoring Maintenance on Chillers A poorly maintained chiller loses its energy efficiency by as much as twenty-five percent annually. By skipping over scheduled maintenance, a business is setting themselves up for expensive repairs in the future and possibly an early chiller replacement by shortening the lifespan of an existing one. Corrosion on Chillers There is no getting around the development of corrosion in chiller pipes and tubes. Sediment build-up can lead to possible perforation of tubes. When that happens you can say good-by to refrigerant that flows through that tube. Corrosion will eventually lead to chiller failure. There are specialized coatings that can keep sediment build-up and corrosion in check. This is just one more reason to be committed to regularly scheduled maintenance of your chiller. Wrong Chiller Size One would think that bigger is better, right? Well, where chiller’s are concerned that perspective is all wrong. When a chiller is oversized for the performance that is needed, it doesn’t cool faster or cool a larger space. It actually decreases in efficiency. By cooling at a decreased load than what a chiller is designed for, the chiller also operates fewer number of hours. By not cycling according to its design, over time, energy efficiency will drop off. The only time a company should choose a chiller with operating capacity larger than currently needed is if they are expecting growth that will demand the larger capacity within a year or so. Contact Professionals at JC Younger Company For new chiller purchases, rentals or repairs, always call proven professionals. Please contact us for all your chiller needs. Founded in 1956, our certified technicians have the skill and experience to meet the needs of every industrial chiller in use today.