Kitchen equipment works like an engine for any restaurant or catering services business. It is what keeps your business up and running every hour. And if any of the equipment suddenly goes out of order, your commercial kitchen could seem like a disaster, disappointing your customers. This is why it is important that you keep them in check to avoid malfunctioning at a critical time.
So, if you are looking to keep your kitchen in a well-functioning condition, here we have 5 essential tips for commercial kitchen equipment repair. Using these proactive tips and strategies, you can tackle unexpected breakdowns efficiently and maintain your kitchen’s safety. So, let’s get you started!
Tip 1: Proactive Preventive Approach
Many restaurant owners think that using quality appliances in their commercial kitchens means they would not require any repair from time to time. However, no appliance is invincible against everyday wear and tear. Your stoves, ovens, coolers, and other equipment can accumulate grease, have clogged filters, or may corrode as daily use takes its toll.
That’s why it’s important that you remain proactive and have a preventative maintenance plan in place. Firstly, you need to create a list of all the appliances in your kitchen and identify their maintenance needs. Then, block out slots in your staff schedule to inspect their maintenance regularly.
For more risky things like gas leakage and wiring issues, you can set the inspection frequency daily or weekly. For other clogging and wear and tear issues, you can choose weekly or quarterly inspections. With these inspections, you will know the condition of your kitchen appliances and can reduce the risk of breakdown.
Tip 2: Train Your Staff for Basic Troubleshooting
Another thing that many commercial kitchens may neglect is the training of their staff. Your staff should not only be perfect with their cooking expertise, they should be well-trained to use the equipment properly and know basic troubleshooting. They should know how to operate the appliances with care to maintain the safety of customers and their fellow staff members.
Furthermore, sometimes, the issues that may seem like a complete failure of appliances require only small fixes. For instance, the dishwasher often stops working because of a clogged spray arm or a defective detergent dispenser. If your staff knows about these problems and can clean the clogged spray and refill the detergent dispenser, they can easily fix the dishwasher.
Many of these issues could arise in your daily kitchen operations. But they do not always require technical expertise. So, if your staff is well-trained to do the basic troubleshooting, they can help you save the cost of hiring professional restaurant equipment service.
Tip 3: Know When to Call a Professional
Although training your staff for basic troubleshooting is necessary for minor issues, other technical faults in your appliances cry out for professional help. This is why you need to know when to call professional repair services for your commercial kitchen needs. It is crucial to maintain the safety of your kitchen and to make sure the operations do not get affected.
Any complex repair that could be a risk to your kitchen’s safety, like gas leakage or electricity spark, should be left to the experts. Similarly, if you see persistent issues in your kitchen appliances that basic troubleshooting can’t solve, then it’s time to call a professional. Also, you should get help from certified technicians when considering equipment warranty.
Tip 4: Opt for Reliable Restaurant Equipment Service for Repair
Another thing that goes without saying is to opt for a reliable service for the repairing needs of your commercial kitchen. Having a reliable technician within your reach when a breakdown occurs could be a lifesaver. They can help you significantly reduce the downtime due to appliance failure and ensure it does not pose any risk to your staff or customers.
For this reason, a qualified partner like Kelly Equipment Services (KES) could be your best bet. They offer comprehensive restaurant equipment services that can help you resolve technical repair tasks as well as offer appliance installation services.
Tip 5: Plan for the Unexpected
No matter how carefully you carry out maintenance inspections, there can be unforeseen equipment failure. That’s why you need to have a backup plan in case of an unexpected emergency in your kitchen.
For this, you should consider working with a delivery service for prepped ingredients. You should also have a backup for your stoves, ovens, and refrigerators. Besides, you must have options available for borrowing equipment in case of a sudden breakdown.
Final Thoughts
As a restaurant owner, you must understand that your kitchen equipment needs regular maintenance to prevent major failures. Here, we discussed some essential tips and strategies that you can follow to make sure your kitchen is always ready to serve your customers. One important thing you should remember is that working with a reliable repair service is just as necessary for your restaurant as other preventive measures.