There are so many proverbs that speak to the importance of planning ahead. You may have heard someone tell you “A stitch in time saves nine.” Or, you may have heard a parent or grandmother advise you to “Make hay while the sun shines” in order to prepare more difficult times. This sage advice also applies to any commercial kitchen. By scheduling planned maintenance appointments, you can address issues early. Scheduled maintenance helps prevent
sudden, unexpected equipment failure
that can cause chaos in a commercial kitchen. If you’re wondering how often you need to schedule equipment maintenance appointments, we have some tips based on the type of equipment you use daily.
Combi Oven or Convection Oven—Twice a Year or Yearly
One of the most important aspects of oven maintenance is making sure the factory-set temperature remains calibrated over time. Losses or gains in temperature can affect food safety or recipe preparation.
During a service appointment, a trained technician will check the temperature settings, clean and adjust oven pilots, check any electrical connections, and adjust door switches.
Refrigerators and Coolers—Quarterly, Twice a Year, or Yearly
Scheduled maintenance for freezers and coolers includes testing and calibrating thermostats, checking for cold air leaks, and replacing broken seals, hinges, gaskets, and latches. Your service agent will also clean the condenser and evaporator coils and inspect the compressor fan.
Oven Hoods and Ventilation System—Professionally Clean Every 6 Months, Inspect Quarterly for Kitchens that Run 24 Hours a Day, or Twice Yearly for Most Restaurants
Keeping vent hoods clean is important both for safety and health reasons. To prevent fires and keep air quality high, schedule a professional vent cleaning every 6 months. Commercial kitchens are notorious for grease buildup. Keeping hoods clean is actually the first step in
ensuring optimal functioning for years to come. A yearly service appointment can prevent safety hazards such as kitchen fires.
You should also replace your exhaust belt on a semi-annual basis and leave spares in the exhaust housing for emergency repairs. Keeping your exhaust system working efficiently will help reduce persistent smells and indoor air pollution.
Dishwashers—Yearly
A semi-annual or yearly commercial dishwasher inspection
is key to keeping this essential commercial kitchen component in good repair. It’s one of the pieces of equipment most likely to fail because of its many components. A commercial dishwasher check-up will check water connections and temperatures, spray arm function, and drying capacity. Never ignore leaking from a dishwasher, even if it appears minor. It can indicate a much larger problem with the machine.
Ice Machines—Every 3 Months
Ice machines need regular cleaning, de-liming, and sanitizing to continue functioning properly. An equipment repair technician will check freeze cycles and harvest times, check the evaporator coil and fan, and look at the condenser in an ice machine.
Ready for Your Scheduled Maintenance Appointment?
To keep restaurant equipment fully functional, work with an authorized equipment repair company to build a schedule of planned maintenance that is customized to meet your business’s needs. ATECH is committed to repairing and maintaining your equipment quickly, efficiently, and effectively. To help you keep a regular schedule for servicing your commercial kitchen equipment,
reach out to us for a planned maintenance visit today.
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