Hotel & Motel Management - November 5, 2007 - (Page 72)

72 Hotel Operations REFRIGERATION H&MM November 5, 2007 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition BY EMILY HANNA, ASSOCIATE EDITOR Before you break it, ﬁx it That new high-efﬁciency refrigerator may have cost top dollar, but that doesn’t make it immune from the disease of inefﬁciency. In order to keep any refrigerator in good working order, routine check-ups are key, even before problems arise. “A certiﬁed technician performing on a routine preventive maintenance schedule is the best policy to ensure that equipment is performing optimally,” said Pat Melvin, engineering manager at Master-Bilt. Routine maintenance, such as condenser coil cleanings, should occur every three months, said Jim Johnson, director of customer service at The Delﬁeld Co. These cleanings can range anywhere from a light dusting to the use of degreasing spray and compressed air to rid the coils of excess debris. Rodd Burger, service manager at Hoshizaki America, said a good maintenance program is an often-avoided aspect of keeping up efﬁciency. “We work with some hotels that have a staff of engineers who schedule routine maintenance, but on the other end, there are some hotels that don’t do any maintenance,” he said. “The idea of ‘When it’s broke, ﬁx it,’ is where we get into the most problems.” Ignoring these routine maintenance tasks is one of the most common mistakes people make in regards to maintaining efﬁciency, Melvin said. But watch out for other mishaps, such as leaving the refrigerator door open and not having doors that fully close automatically. Simple preventive measures each day could keep the repairman away. Stop using your vacuum cleaner as CHANGES YOUR VACUUM FROM A BATTERING RAM a battering ram that dents furniture, scratches baseboards, bangs up doors and walls. And leads to bruising repair bills. Instead, tame the beast with a Soft Vac Protective Vacuum Cover. • Ends vacuum damage forever • Installs in seconds with Velcro tabs • Soft, durable cordoura fabric outside • High-density foam rubber inside • Eliminates costly repair bills • Extends vacuum cleaner life • Increases housekeeping productivity • There’s a Soft Vac model to fit any vacuum To learn more, contact your distributor, or call us at or visit See us at the IH/M&R Show. Booth #1059 INTO A GENTLE LAMB softvac.com. 800-866-7001, Quotable “ With new energy regulations and awareness, manufacturers are producing equipment that is much more energy efﬁcient than ﬁve years ago. Any problems with existing equipment that warrant signiﬁcant repairs should be weighed against the investment of new equipment that is more energy efﬁcient.” PAT MELVIN, engineering manager at Hoshizaki America CIRCLE NO. 166 © 2006 SOFT VAC CORPORATION MASTER-BILT http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.softvac.com http://www.softvac.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - November 5, 2007

Hotel & Motel Management - November 5, 2007 Contents M&A Pace Slowing After Early Boom LodgeWorks Jumps Into Upscale Game Accor Reorganizes Leadership, Structure Perspective At Your Risk Travel Trends Sales Clinic On Finance Family Business Matters Cornell Insights Franchise Law Training Trends Satisfaction Trends Management Trends Events Guest Column Trends & Stats GM Survey Historic Property Conversions Offer Appeal for All Extended-Stay Brands Survey Green is the Word at IH/M&R Show Transactions Restaurant POS Handhelds Keep Managers Alerted Rising Costs Confront Midwest Builders Business Travelers: Breakfast Still an Important Perk IH/M&RS Product Preview Vacation Ownership Projects to Grow in U.S., Abroad Awards Training Programs Jump to Front Lines Refrigeration: Before You Break It, Fix It Lighting Enhances Property People Supplier News Best Western Aims High with Atria Vantage Makes Global Plans Sierra Moves Forward with New Name, High Expectations Maintenance Doctor Social Marketing Makes Way into Hotel Industry People Ad/Editorial Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - November 5, 2007

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