August 27, 2008 — DENVER, COLORADO —New or expanding restaurants don’t always have an unlimited amount of money at their disposal, so it makes sense that many owners and managers look for ways to save a buck when they can.There are lots of opportunities to purchase used restaurant equipment. However, when it comes to purchasing used kitchen hoods and fire protection equipment, it’s best to involve a professional consultant.

“About 80 percent of the time, I advise against buying used parts and equipment,” said Massoud Farazandeh, chief executive officer of APS-Hoods, a Colorado hood cleaning company that also installs, services, repairs and performs routine inspections for hood and fire suppression systems.

Fire safety codes change and older equipment and parts don’t always meet the new codes, Farazandeh said. Also, older hoods often aren’t UL listed, while many new hoods are. Equipment that is UL listed has had its electrical components tested for potential hazards by the Underwriters Laboratory, an independent testing organization (http://www.ul.com/ulprodcert.html ).

It is not required that all kitchen devices be UL listed, but some insurance policies have clauses in them that will limit their liability in case of a claim made in response to the failure of a non-UL-listed device, Farazandeh said.

Farazandeh has encountered situations in which he was hired to install used kitchen hoods in restaurants and by the time he made the necessary upgrades and repairs, the restaurant owner could have had a new hood for about the same price, he said.

“My best suggestion to people who want to get into the restaurant business or expand their existing business is to map out your plans and sit down with a consultant,” Farazandeh said.

APS-Hoods has offered consulting services in addition to its hood installation and fire protection services since 2002. A good consultant can help determine the best option for the client and provide several options from which to choose.

“This way, they go in with their eyes wide open,” Farazandeh said.

Choosing a consultant who also provides installation and maintenance services presents an additional benefit- the opportunity to package all the services for a better deal.
For example, APS-Hoods offers the option of including two years of maintenance in the price of installing kitchen hood, fan and duct systems at a discounted price.

“When the customer gets a complete package deal, there are no additional hidden costs or other surprises,” Farazandeh said.

New or Used
Although there are occasions when buying used is as good as buying new, determining those occasions requires sitting down with a professional and doing some consulting on the front end.

Farazandeh makes his recommendations after gathering information on the type of restaurant, the type of food that will be served and the cooking processes used to prepare it. This information helps determine what size kitchen hood will be needed.

If the customer is interested in purchasing a used hood, Farazandeh offers to inspect it first to determine if it’s in good working condition. If it is determined that buying used won’t make a difference in operations and will result in savings, “I say do it,” he said.

Recently, a client was interested in purchasing a used hood and Farazandeh had another client interested in selling their current hood so they could upgrade to a larger piece of equipment.

Because Farazandeh had installed the hood originally and performed the maintenance and cleanings, “I knew this used piece of equipment was in excellent condition and buying it instead of a new hood saved the customer about $2,500,” he said.

Consulting Advantages
Hiring a consultant also can result in long-term savings. If a restaurant is being constructed from the ground up and plumbing and electrical haven’t already been installed, APS-Hoods can assist in the planning process to ensure that everything is installed in a fashion that saves money now and makes future maintenance and cleaning a piece of cake, Farazandeh said.

Installing plumbing and electrical in a way that doesn’t impede ongoing maintenance, cleaning and repairs makes it easier to do an effective job and it saves the customer money because the job can be done more quickly.

“People are looking for ways to save money and run the kitchen efficiently and all of this can be done in the design phase,” he said.

Learn More
For more information about the consulting or professional hood installation and cleaning services provided by APS-Hoods, call (303) 639-9399, or visit the company’s Web site: www.aps-hoods.com.

About APS-Hoods
APS-Hoods is a full-service restaurant fire protection business that installs, services, repairs and performs routine inspections and cleaning for hood and fire suppression systems. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Massoud Farazandeh in 1989, APS-Hoods has grown into a national leader in hood cleaning and fire protection for restaurants and facilities. APS provides superior service, a quality guarantee and maintains a highly qualified and dependable staff.

All crew members are professionally trained to comply with the National Fire Prevention Association Standards and state and local codes.

APS-Hoods is fully insured and bonded. They are licensed in the mechanical and electrical fields, as well as fire protection contracting. APH-Hoods is affiliated with the National Fire Protection Agency and the Colorado Division of Fire Safety Fire Suppression Program.

© 2008 Sinai Marketing and APS-Hoods. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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