Preventing Dispenser Problems and Malfunctions

A great restaurant or bar is a combination of great drinks, exemplary staff, and excellent food. In fact, your guest’s experience relies a great deal on the initial impression made by the first drinks they receive. A refreshing drink sets the stage for your staff and food to truly shine. As a result, it is vital that your soda fountain equipment and bar are up to the standards you expect from your establishment. This way, you keep preventing dispenser problems and malfunctions before they can turn into real problems.

For the best dispensers and beer equipment in Orange County, SC Beverage has you covered. From dispensers to other soda fountain equipment, we cover all of OC and Los Angeles.

Preventing Dispenser Problems and Malfunctions

Luckily, it isn’t hard to prevent dispenser problems and malfunctions. All you require is quality equipment, a filtered water supply, and a well-established maintenance schedule. These three pieces are all that is required to ensure that your guests receive delicious and refreshing drinks on time, every time.

Starting with Quality Equipment

There are many options for soda fountain equipment, so it pays to know what to look for in a quality manufacturer. Choosing a well-established provider with a solid reputation is always a good bet. Companies like SC Beverage have been operating since the 1990s solely because they can reliably provide a high-quality product to all of their clients.

In addition, you should providers who offer a variety of beverage services made by a range of manufacturers to suit all of your needs. Water filtration systems, juice systems, coffee systems, and beer systems are just a few that you should expect to find on a manufacturer’s website. This gives you flexibility and allows you to integrate these systems as needed for the most efficient bar/kitchen set-up.

Always Have a Filtered Water Supply

A commercial water filtration system is a must-have for any form of food or drink service. It affects practically everything. From coffee to soda to soups, you’ll get plenty of use out of your water filtration system, and you’ll notice a boost in the quality of your food and drinks as a result. Of course, your water filtration system is only good as long as it’s maintained. You’ll want to clean it out and replace the filter about every six months to maintain the clarity and quality of your water.

A Rock-Solid Maintenance Schedule

Once you’ve set up your equipment and water filtration system, the best thing you can do to protect your investment is to create and act on a set maintenance schedule. Essentially, all of your drink machines will have three separate maintenance schedules with daily, weekly, and monthly tasks assigned.

  • Daily: Taps, handles, and surfaces should be cleaned. That includes ice trays. For soda fountain equipment, the nozzles can be soaked in an appropriate cleanser overnight. The morning staff should then rinse the nozzles prior to replacing them.
  • Weekly: You’ll want to completely clean out your ice machine. This is also a great time to take stock of syrups, kegs, and other supplies. Check all connections to make sure they’re secure. Leaking lines should not be used. If they can be tightened to eliminate the leak, then flush the line prior to use.
  • Monthly: Flush the lines on every system. This is the best way to ensure that your lines are clear of contaminants and working properly. It is much easier to replace one faulty line than to replace an entire system. This process is a bit time consuming, but it is easy enough to master with a little training.

Investment and Maintenance are Key

When it comes to preventing malfunctions in your drink systems, the initial investment and ongoing maintenance are the two primary factors that will contribute most to your success. It can be frustrating to maintain, but it’s worth it in the end.

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How to Install a Beer Tap at Home

Going out for a pint of beer with your loved one or a group of friends is a relaxing, fun endeavor. But what if you could bring the beer tap into the comfort of your own home? Installing a beer system in your house is not as hard as it seems and could be your next exciting home project. The essentials of draft beer services are composed of four basic elements: a refrigerator, a CO2 canister, beer tap, and a beer keg. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s how:

Choose a Space

Choosing a space for your draft beer services should be the first thing you consider when starting your new project. Most common beer taps can be set up at a bar or behind a wall, but make sure there is plenty of room to set up a refrigerator to keep your beer keg cold. Visit a beer distributor or a local store that carries kegs and get the appropriate dimensions. There are different sizes for kegs, so be sure to measure out one that you think you will likely be purchasing often. For example, you wouldn’t want to plan for a small keg and then be unable to fit a larger keg in the space. You may also want to choose a space that is guaranteed to stay pretty clean and is convenient to pour.

Beer Lines & CO2 Canister

After you’ve chosen your space, map out the lay of the land. A beer line will have to run from the CO2 canister to the keg and another line from the keg to the beer tap. The canister doesn’t necessarily need to be inside the refrigerator, just the keg itself. Once you’ve mapped out how everything will flow, make sure you have everything you need to start hooking it up: regulators, lines, and couplers. If you have any questions about setting up beer dispensing equipment or other general beverage dispenser questions, reach out to SC Beverage.

Drilling

The next step is to drill two holes into the refrigerator to insert the beer lines. Make sure to drill big enough so that the tubing fits and no kinks occur. Once you’ve done this, insert the gaskets into the refrigerator holes and thread the tubes through that.

After you’ve completed drilling the refrigerator holes, you’ll want to drill a hole for the beer tap. Consider where you’d like your beer tap to go and make sure that the drill bit you are using is the same size as the tap. Next, cut out the hole with the drill bit and screw in the beer tap. Be sure to add a fastener nut at the bottom to make sure the tap stays in place.

Connection

The next step is to connect the CO2 tank to the regulator and the CO2 hose to the keg. Make sure to secure this with a proper clamp so that it doesn’t come undone.

After you’ve done that, it’s time to connect the coupler to the top of the keg. The CO2 line connects to the CO2 side of the coupler while the beer line will connect to the other side of the coupler. Again, you’ll want to secure both of these connections with clamps for optimal safety.

Integrating the Refrigerator

Next, you’ll want to integrate the refrigerator back into the mix by connecting it to the tap as well, keeping the beer nice and cold.

Final

The final step is to open up the CO2 canister so beer can be poured appropriately. This will take some time to adjust the pressure according to the beer you are pouring and according to your taste. If the keg of beer is from a local distributor, they may have some suggestions on what the appropriate pressure for that beer so you may also want to inquire with them.

Draft Beer Services in Orange County

If you’re looking to install draft beer services in your home, but running across some difficulties, you can also hire a professional to do it for you. At SC Beverage, we specialize in beverage installation and services. Visit our website today to see more about our beer tap offerings.

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