Prevent Downtime & Keep Inventory Moving This Summer
As a vending machine operator, you know summer heat doesn’t just affect sales—it puts serious strain on your machines. From overworked cooling systems to melty inventory, small issues can quickly turn into lost revenue and snowball into larger mechanical issues down the road.
Here’s your seasonal maintenance checklist to keep things running smoothly:
1. Clean condenser coils & vents.
Cleaning coils and vents prevents equipment from overheating in high-traffic locations, especially in geographic areas with high humidity levels.
2. Check door seals.
Ensure exterior seals of pop machines and coolers are tight and flush when the door is closed to keep cool air inside the cabinet to prevent overworking your refrigeration unit.
3. Verify temp accuracy.
Check all dials and thermometers are working properly to keep the temperature at food-safe levels. Replace cold controls and shelf liners as needed.
4. Adjust stock.
If using a standard snack vending machine, swap chocolate and melt-prone items for summer-safe options. Keep products with low melting points and pastry items merchandised in chilled machines to avoid spoilage and product complaints.
5. Inspect payment systems.
Make sure card readers and tap-to-pay work at top performance levels. Consider adding a backup payment method for completely cashless machines in the event of internet outages.
6. Check dates more frequently.
Closely check expiration dates. Warmer conditions inside the machine could decrease shelf-life.
7. Increase service runs (if needed).
Plan for additional service runs for locations with higher foot traffic, such as tourist hotspots and transient pass-throughs, where your vending machines will be getting the most use.
8. Stay on top of VMS reporting.
Keep track of inventory stock by running reports via your Vending Management System to keep fast-selling products stocked to avoid missed sale opportunities.
Need support with service, parts, or product recommendations? We’re ready when you are.
If you’re experiencing issues where your unit is not cooling or keeping a steady food-safe temperature, let our certified refrigeration techs handle the fix to get you back up and running.