Of all the appliances in a commercial kitchen, the dishwasher is the most overlooked and underappreciated. Sure, a commercial dishwasher isn’t serving up hot meals or keeping food safely stored, but without clean dishes service will quickly come grinding to a halt.
Troubleshoots Some Common Commercial Dishwasher Problems
A commercial dishwasher has a lot of moving parts, and it also has to stand up against significant abuse in the kitchen. However, some of the most common repair issues relate more to improper use and maintenance rather than mechanical failures.
Dishes Aren’t Coming Out Clean
Dishes coming out of a wash cycle dirty might sound some alarm bells, but before you get the repair technician in, check to see if the spray nozzles and filter are clean and free of debris or greasy buildup. If those look good, double-check that dishes are getting a good spray down beforehand and that the dishwasher isn’t being overloaded.
Other potential causes of poor cleaning performance could relate to water pressure and temperature. Unless familiar with commercial kitchen appliances, these repairs might be outside the scope of a DIY fix and are better left to the pros.
Water is Leaking
With all the action going on, it’s not uncommon for the dish pit to be a little wet. However, lots of water on the floor or a significant drop in cleaning performance are signs the dishwasher could be leaking.
Commercial dishwasher leaks might not actually be leaks at all; incorrect loading or overfilling racks can send water splashing out. Always make sure the racks are loaded properly and that no dishes or utensils are blocking the spray arms or door seal.
If loading isn’t the issue, it could be that door gaskets or rubber hoses have become damaged or worn and need to be replaced. These are easy to spot and straightforward to replace. More serious problems that would require a commercial repair technical involve the mechanic of the dishwasher. Boilers and rinse tanks and susceptible to limescale buildup and rust, and once they have been damaged, they will need to be replaced. The water inlet valve is another common cause of dishwasher leaks and can lead to water pooling in the machine; if this piece is damaged it needs to be replaced immediately.
Dishwasher Not Heating
A dishwasher must heat to the right temperature to ensure cleaning performance and sanitization. This is especially important in a commercial kitchen. The first thing to check is the thermostat setting to ensure it’s at the correct temperature.
If the temperature setting is correct but the water is still not heating, the issue might be with the heating element or the thermostat itself is malfunctioning. A burnt-out heating element will need to be replaced, while a faulty thermostat might require recalibration or replacement. In both cases, these repairs are best handled by a commercial kitchen repair technician.
Dishwasher Not Starting
Few things are as frustrating as a dishwasher that refuses to start, especially during a busy service. Start by checking the basics: make sure the power supply is connected and the circuit breaker hasn’t been tripped. If the power supply isn’t the issue, inspect the door to ensure it’s fully closed and the door latch is functioning correctly. Many commercial dishwashers won’t operate if the door isn’t sealed properly.
Another potential cause is a problem with the control panel or a blown fuse. If the control panel isn’t responsive or the machine clicks but doesn’t start, it’s time to call a professional to diagnose and repair the issue.