Restaurant Air-Conditioning Tips

Restaurant operators know the premium that diners place on comfort. Since temperature control is one aspect of comfort, you must ensure your restaurant's air conditioner (AC) operates efficiently. At the same time, you must keep the AC operational costs low to minimise your restaurant's overheads. Below are some AC tips to help you with both objectives.

Embrace Zoned Cooling

Different areas of your restaurant have different temperatures and require different cooling. For example, if you have upstairs and downstairs seating areas, the two may require different cooling. The kitchen, with its numerous heat generators, also requires different cooling from the general seating area.

Zoned cooling uses individual thermostats to monitor temperatures in specific areas of the restaurant. Independent temperature monitoring allows independent control. The result is increased cooling and energy efficiency.

Install Good Ventilation Proper ventilation helps eliminate grease, smoke, and odours – which are common in restaurants. You want to get those things out of the building so that they don't affect people or clog the air conditioner. Here are some tips:

• Adhere to ventilation codes in your area

• Ensure all your cooking appliances have ventilation hoods

• Ensure the restaurant gets adequate air to maintain optimal building air pressure

If you are not sure about the ventilation situation, get an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) technician to assess the existing system and advise you on further measures.

Minimise Heat Production The hotter your restaurant is, the more energy you will need to cool it. Minimise heat production, so that the AC doesn't overwork. Here are some tips to minimise heat production:

• Use energy-efficient lighting bulbs, such as LED lights instead of fluorescent lights

• Use energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen. Inefficient appliances waste energy, some in the form of heat

• Turn off heat-generating appliances whenever they are not in use

Otherwise, your overworked AC will begin to suffer frequent breakdowns. The frequent breakdowns will also shorten the system's life.

Train Your Staff

Train your employees to observe cooling and energy efficiency. For example, the employees should always turn off energy appliances that are not in use. They should also keep unused doors closed to avoid losing cool air. For example, doors to infrequently used areas, such as storage rooms, should remain closed most of the time.

Adjust the Temperature as Necessary

A single temperature setting might not be adequate for your restaurant throughout the day. For example, you need more cooling when the restaurant is full than when it is empty. When the restaurant is full, the diners generate some heat from their bodies. Monitor the situation and adjust the temperature if needed. The adjustments will help both your patrons and your AC.

Consider a Dehumidifier Restaurants tend to have high humidity. The activities that cause high humidity include:

• Washing dishes

• Washing food

• Cleaning surfaces

• Cooking food

High humidity is bad for your restaurant since it:

• Encourages mould growth, which smells bad and can make people sick

• Encourages bacterial growth, which can spoil your food and cause waste and sick diners

• Overworks the AC

• Damages your restaurant's décor

The AC might struggle to combat the humidity if it is too high. Consider a dehumidifier to assist the AC.

Mind the Restrooms  The restrooms need cooling just like other parts of the restaurant. However, many people forget to adjust restroom temperatures when the weather changes. Some people even leave the restroom air-conditioner on full blast at the end of the day.