The equipment on your roof top all work in unison, like one big orchestra. If one piece of equipment is out of place or not working properly it can greatly affect the efficiency of your systems which can increase maintenance and even increase energy bills. It is important to understand how this equipment works and what condition it is in. As a restaurant manager, the roof top is one of the places you spend the least amount of time. Because of this it is important to have the right companies maintain your systems.
How do you know if you have the right people? There are a lot of ways to answer that question. Some would say Google reviews to see what other people are saying about the service they provide. Some would say word of mouth from colleagues in your line of work. All are great ways to determine the reputation of a company, but the one thing that is always stood out to me is the way they treat your facility. Sure, you must find a way to vet companies when looking, but the true testament to their service is how they take care of your facility. Do they mention things they see even though it does not relate to their service or make them any money? Do they photo document their service? Do they get those pictures to you in a report that is easy to follow and in a timely manner?

Airborne grease from overtaxed or dirty exhaust fan blocking air low on HVAC condensor
A great example of what I am talking about is in the picture above. Notice how the AC coils are covered in grease from the Kitchen Exhaust fan? This is not something that happens overnight. This is months of this facilities Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning and AC provider turning their heads to a major issue to their customer. There are a lot of things to say about this photo from the design of the systems, to maintenance of both pieces of equipment, and the condition of the roof top. The bottom line is their vendors failed them by, not making them aware of the issue and providing a solution to a problem that is costing them more money every time the AC unit kicks on. Looking at the big picture, you cannot afford to have the wrong people servicing your facility.