Restaurant Equipment Maintenance

Last updated on 5/11/2020

You can extend the life of your commercial equipment and reduce service calls by performing preventative maintenance on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. You'll also find that keeping up with a regular schedule to remove grease and buildup from your equipment will make cleaning and sanitizing your kitchen much easier. We always advise that you follow your manufacturer's specific guidelines for maintenance and cleaning, but we've created a checklist to help keep you on track.

Refrigerator Maintenance

You already know that your reach-in refrigeration units are essential to the daily operations of your kitchen. If you takes steps to properly maintain your commercial refrigerator, you can ensure many years of uninterrupted use. Make sure you review and follow all manufacturer guidelines on cleaning and maintenance. You may need to consult a certified professional to perform some of the more technical tasks below:

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Daily

Make sure temperature reading is at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below
Wipe down shelves and interiors
Wipe down gasket with approved cleaner

Monthly

Inspect gaskets for any tears
Clean condenser and evaporator coils
Clean fan blades
Inspect compressor operation

Quarterly

Check refrigerant levels
Test temperature controls

Griddle and Range Top Maintenance

Cleaning your flat top griddle and charbroiler on a daily basis not only keeps grease buildup from getting out of control, but it also ensures that your foods taste great. Flavor transfer from stale grease is a quick way to ruin your dishes. It's also a fire hazard that can be easily prevented with daily maintenance. As always, follow the manufacturer guidelines in your owner's manual before performing griddle maintenance.

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Daily

Clean flat top griddle plate or charbroiler grates
Season cooking surface if necessary
Empty and clean grease cup or waste drawer

Monthly

Inspect and calibrate thermostat

Quarterly

Perform a visual inspection of the unit
Check cooking surface for cracks or signs of stress
Inspect and replace worn knobs or controls

Ice Machine Maintenance

Neglecting to clean and sanitize your ice machine regularly can lead to a failed health inspection. It's not uncommon for operators to forget that ice is considered a food, and any surface, bin, or scoop that touches ice should be treated as a food-contact surface. Before following our tips for cleaning, make sure you are using approved chemicals:

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Daily

Check temperature settings
Make sure ice maker is producing ice
Check drain pipes to make sure they are free of debris

Weekly

Clean ice machine exterior

Semi-Annually

Clean and sanitize interior bin
Clean condenser
Replace water filtration cartridges
Clean or replace air filters

Fryer Maintenance

Your deep fryer is a perfect example of how regular equipment maintenance can actually improve your product. It's essential to develop an oil filtration and replacement schedule so that your fried foods taste fresh and crispy with no flavor transfer. Our guidelines are a general recommendation and could vary depending on how often you use your fryer and the amount of product you sell each day:

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Daily

Wipe down fryer exterior
Clean fryer baskets
Filter the oil

Weekly

Replace filter oil

Monthly

Pull fryer out from the wall and clean surrounding area
Inspect pilot light
Check o-rings and drain pain connection
Clean blower and air vents

Quarterly

Boil out and deep clean the fryer

Walk-In Maintenance

Turning off the interior lights of your walk-in coolers and freezers is one of the simplest things you can do to save energy and keep your unit from overworking the compressor. When the lights are left on overnight, they heat up the interior and the unit must compensate for the rising temperature. It's also important not to overfill your walk-in and always keep the aisles clear. Consult your equipment manual for specific maintenance protocols but use the following steps as a guideline:

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Daily

Turn off all interior lights at closing
Check temperature settings
Make sure aisles are clear and cooler isn't overloaded
Sweep floors and clean up any spills immediately

Weekly

Wipe down shelves and interiors
Inspect and clean gaskets with an approved cleaner
Check doors and hinges to make sure they are properly aligned
Inspect door sweep for tears

Quarterly

Inspect wall and door panels for loose caulking
Clean condenser and evaporator coils
Clean fan blades
Check refrigerant levels
Inspect compressor operation
Calibrate thermometers

Yearly

Clean and inspect freezer drain lines
Hire electrician to inspect electrical connections

Combi Oven Maintenance

Because your combi oven relies on steam to cook foods, you'll need to perform regular deliming maintenance to prevent scale buildup. Thankfully, many combi ovens include an automatic cleaning feature that can be performed with the touch of a button. When your combi program alerts you that it's time for a cleaning cycle, you should begin one as soon as possible. Your equipment manual will contain more detailed information on the types of cleaning cycles your combi oven requires.

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Daily

Clean racks and interiors
Remove and clean drip tray
Clean and sanitize food probe
Wipe down door gasket with approved cleaner

Monthly

Delime the steam generator
Remove and clean air filters
Inspect drain lines
Check door gasket for tears
Inspect door hinges for signs of wear

Annually

Test and recalibrate thermostat

Convection Oven Maintenance

Convection ovens require little in the way of maintenance but benefit greatly from a regular cleaning schedule. Removing grease on a daily basis prevents buildup from becoming a problem. Make sure to use approved cleaners for the interior and exterior of the oven and follow your manual's cleaning instructions.

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Daily

Clean racks and interiors
Remove and clean drip tray
Wipe down door gasket with approved cleaner

Monthly

Clean fan blade and housing
Inspect and clean air intake vent
Inspect and clean flue
Check door gasket for tears
Inspect door hinges for signs of wear

Annually

Test and recalibrate thermostat

Dishmachine Maintenance

Rinsing food scraps from soiled dishes prior to placing them in the dishmachine will help to keep the interior of your unit clean and prevent greasy residue from clinging to your clean dishes. Daily cleaning will be much easier and you won't need to empty the scrap basket or filter as often. Another way to prevent bacteria growth inside your dishmachine is to leave it open to air dry every night.

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Daily

Empty scrap basket
Check detergent, sanitizer, and rinse aid levels
Inspect rinse arm nozzles for clogs
Leave dishwasher open to air dry overnight

Weekly

Test water temperature and rinse pressure
Delime interior
Inspect drain lines to make sure they are clear

Annually

Hire a certified technician to do a full inspection

Stand Mixer Maintenance

To avoid possible injuries, always make sure to unplug your mixer before daily cleaning. Pay special attention to the areas where batter will often splatter and harden, like the attachment hub and gear shaft. Hand dry or air dry any removable parts before reassembling the mixer.

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Daily

Clean and dry mixer attachments, shield, and bowl
Wipe down shaft, motor head, and attachment hub
Remove any debris from air vents
Wipe down mixer body and dry with a soft towel

Monthly

Check lubricants and apply as needed

Soda Dispenser Maintenance

Daily cleaning is essential for your soda and beverage dispensers. Syrup that collects in the nozzles or soda lines can become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. To encourage daily cleaning, make sure to train your staff to disassemble the machine nozzles. It's also helpful to post step-by-step instructions near your machines.

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Daily

Remove nozzles for cleaning and sanitizing
Remove and clean drip tray
Clean underside of dispensing valves
Empty all ice from drop-in ice bin
Clean and sanitize bin and ice chute

Weekly

Disconnect syrup lines and soak connectors
Let connectors air dry before reconnecting

Monthly

Empty ice from top loading ice bin
Clean and sanitize bin and ice chute
Clean condenser
Check and replace water filters

Use this checklist as a general guide to schedule preventative maintenance, but always follow the guidelines set forth by the manufacturer. Consult the manual that came with your equipment for specific cleaning instructions and safety warnings. Also, remember that some maintenance must be performed by a certified technician, especially if it involves electrical components. Attempting to perform technical repairs on your own could void your warranty.

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