18

Oct

A Commercial Deep Fryer Troubleshooting Guide

Commercial deep fryers are commonly used in restaurants and cafes. This means if they break down, you would want them fixed ASAP. The right way to fix your deep fryer is to hire a commercial appliances repair expert. However, if you or your staff want to try a few things, here are some ways to fix commercial deep fryer problems.

Commercial Deep Fryer Troubleshooting

Deep Fryer Burners Not Lighting

A problem that irritates many staff members and restaurant owners is the non-responsive burners of a deep fryer. The light pilot will be lit, but the burners won’t light.

Check The Gas Valve

If your commercial deep fryer burners are not lighting, the first thing to check is the gas valve. As the pilot light is on, the gas supply is on, but it may not be completely open. So, check the valve and make sure it’s fully open.

Sometimes, the gas valve is clogged. It might also be stuck so if the gas valve is not moving after applying force and rotating it in the right direction, let an expert have a look at it.

In case you don’t want to involve the gas valve and first want to make sure that it is responsible for your deep fryer burners not lighting, check other gas appliances. Are they lighting fine or do you notice low gas pressure? If the gas pressure is low, the gas valve should be checked. If you hire an expert, they may check the gas pipes as well.

Clean The Burner Orifice

The burner orifice can get clogged with debris and dust. This will close the small holes that allow gas out and light the burner. So, if your deep fryer burner is not lighting while the pilot light is on and you have checked the gas valve and gas pressure, clean the burner orifice. Use a stiff brush to unclog the burner orifice.

Set The Thermostat To A Higher Temperature

When the thermostat is set to a low temperature, that temperature will be reached quickly and the burner will be turned off. So, if your deep fryer burner won’t light, check if the temperature is set too low. Increase the temperature set on the thermostat to see if the burner turns on.

The Thermostat Requires Calibration

If you set the thermostat to a higher temperature and the burner doesn’t light, the thermostat requires calibration. A thermostat that’s not calibrated properly won’t correctly detect the temperature of the deep fryer. In turn, the burners might keep running when they shouldn’t or the burners won’t turn on when they should.

You should read the operator’s manual of your commercial deep fryer to know how you can calibrate its thermostat. You can also get an expert to calibrate it. They will also check the thermostat if it’s faulty or only needs calibration.

Faulty Thermostat

In case you calibrated the thermostat yourself or a staff member did it and the burner is still not lighting, the thermostat may be faulty. There is an easy method of testing the thermostat of a deep fryer using a multimeter.

Go to the back of the commercial deep fryer. You will see two terminals. Turn on the multimeter and set it to the ohms setting. After this, you need to connect the wire of the multimeter to each terminal of the deep fryer.

Check the reading on the multimeter screen. Infinity means the thermostat is fine. However, if you see a reading of zero or anything close to zero, the thermostat is faulty. Hire a professional to replace the thermostat.

Commercial Deep Fryer Has No Power

A no-power problem of a deep fryer is an electrical problem and is not related to the gas supply.

Check And Replace The Power Switch

Power switches of every restaurant appliance is used a lot so they can break over time. If a power switch is broken, the deep fryer won’t power on. Hire an expert to replace the power switch of your deep fryer.

Unplugged Or Broken Power Cord

A broken power cord won’t flow current to the deep fryer and even when the power switch is fine, the appliance won’t turn on. Check the power cord and plug it in. You should also try changing the power outlet and try another one. Plus, inspect the cord for noticeable damage, and if found, have it repaired or replaced by a professional.

Reset The Circuit Breaker

The cause of a commercial deep fryer not powering on could be a tripped circuit breaker. Access the breaker box of the building and flip it on. Sometimes, a breaker is tripped for no big reason, but in some cases, a tripped circuit breaker hints at an issue with the circuit breaker, power distribution to the circuit breaker, or the appliance.

Therefore, if you notice frequent tripping of the circuit breaker, have an electrician check the breaker box.

Commercial Deep Fryer Is Not Draining Oil

Removing old oil from the deep fryer is an important part of frying food that tastes delicious and fresh. So, if your deep fryer doesn’t let you drain old oil, you can’t fry anything in it.

The Oil Temperature Is High

Some deep fryers have the safety feature that they don’t let the user drain oil if the temperature of the oil is higher than a certain limit. Oil with a higher temperature is only safe inside the deep fryer. If hot oil is drained, it can damage the valve and the drain filter. Moreover, if the hot oil comes in contact with the user, it can cause burns.

Therefore, if your deep fryer is not draining oil and you just fried something and the oil is hot, let it cool down. When the oil is at room temperature, try draining the oil again.

Clogged Or Dirty Drain Filter

As you keep using the deep fryer and keep draining, the drain filter slowly becomes dirty and partially or completely clogged. It won’t drain oil in this situation. So, cleaning the drain filter should be one of the main deep fryer maintenance tasks for yourself or your staff.

To clean the drain filter of your deep fryer, you should empty the appliance first. Then, use warm water and a non-metallic brush to remove particles from the drain filter. Make sure to use a non-metallic brush because if you use a metallic brush, it can damage the drain filter or any other component of the deep fryer. If the drain filter is too clogged, you can also use dishwashing soap along with warm water.

Dirty Or Obstructed Drain Valve

You use the drain valve to drain the oil. If it’s obstructed or dirty, oil won’t pass through it and won’t drain. In case of partial block, oil will drain slowly, but if totally blocked or obstructed, oil won’t drain at all. Make sure the drain valve is open and completely clean.

Conclusion

Due to heavy daily usage in commercial settings, your commercial deep fryer will run into problems. With the above troubleshooting tips, you know what to check if your deep fryer burners won’t light, the fryer doesn’t power up, or if the deep fryer doesn’t drain. Some problems are easy to fix while some require an authorized deep fryer repair Alexandria expert to fix them.

24

May

Why Is My Commercial Deep Fryer Not Working?

Commercial deep fryers are one of the essential appliances for any restaurant and commercial kitchen. If a deep fryer breaks down, it can put your food preparations to a halt. So, you should have some commercial appliances repair tricks up your sleeves. Here are the common reasons for commercial deep fryer issues.

No Gas Supply

A common cause of any commercial appliance not working that operates on natural gas is a closed gas supply valve. The gas supply is turned off at the end of the workday to avoid leaks and conserve resources. So, if someone tries to turn on the commercial deep fryer the next day and forgets to open the gas valve, the appliance won’t turn on.

Therefore, if your commercial deep fryer is not turning on, check the gas supply and make sure it’s on. You should also turn off the gas supply and turn it on again. Moreover, check the gas line that leads from the valve to the appliance and if there are any visible parts, look for damages or leaks.

Additionally, if your commercial deep fryer is lighting but the pilot light or burners are not lighting properly, there may be a blockage or leakage in the gas supply line or the gas supply valve is not completely open.

You should check the gas hoses for leaks every month by spraying the hoses with a soapy solution. If you see bubbles, they indicate a leak.

Clogged Pilot Light Or Burners

Another reason for the pilot light and burners not lighting at all or not lighting properly is the buildup of dust and debris in their orifices. You can clean the pilot light and burners to prevent this issue. You can clean the pilot light and burners with a small pin or a stiff-bristled brush to clear anything that may be clogging them.

If you clean the pilot light and burner orifices and still notice irregular flames, the issue could be with the gas supply. You may have already checked out the gas supply valve and the hoses for leaks. If everything concerning the gas supply is fine from your end, consult your gas company to an agent from the company who can inspect and fix the issue of low or fluctuating gas supply to your establishment.

The Thermostat Is Set Too Low

The thermostat of your commercial deep fryer is set too low if the burners are not lighting or the flames are not lighting in high intensity. So, check the thermostat setting of your deep fryer. You should proceed with restarting the thermostat and setting it again to see if it fixes the problem.

This instruction is also suggested if the oil in your commercial deep fryer is not heating enough for frying food. If you find yourself taking too much than usual to fry food items, either the gas supply is low, the burners are clogged, or the thermostat settings are too low.

Broken Thermopile

The heating element of deep fryers is called a thermopile. A thermopile in a commercial deep fryer is responsible for converting the thermal heat into electric energy for heating the oil that you put in the fryer. It is a part of the pilot light. We know that a pilot light is a small flame that stays on so the burner can be turned on whenever required.

With frequent use of the deep fryer, the thermopile of the appliance wears off and breaks down. When it malfunctions, it can’t convert the heat into electrical energy so the burner won’t light even when you need it.

You should look out for signs that the thermopile of your commercial deep fryer is faulty. A common sign is that the pilot light won’t light and if it doesn’t, it won’t stay lit and turns off frequently.

Replacing the thermopile of a commercial deep fryer requires a professional. Never let your staff replace it and always hire an expert.

Malfunctioning Thermostat

A thermostat is a component that keeps track of the oil temperature in the deep fryer and triggers an action. So, when the oil in commercial deep fryers reaches a certain temperature that you have set, the thermostat will detect it and turn off the burner.

You need to cook and fry food at a certain temperature and if the temperature of the oil is too hot, it can lead to burned food or other problems. Similarly, low oil temperatures won’t cook the food properly. So, the right temperature is of utmost importance when using any appliance.

A faulty thermostat will no longer regular the temperature correctly which will result in food quality issues among other problems.

Thermostat problems are a fire hazard because if the deep fryer is not sensing the temperature correctly, it can overheat and the deep fryer will catch fire. So, if you sense that the thermostat is not keeping the temperatures in check properly, you should consult an expert ASAP.

However, keep in mind that your thermostat could be fine and not calibrated correctly. So, you should first calibrate the thermostat. If it doesn’t regular the temperature of the deep fryer is after calibration, consider its replacement.

Faulty High Limit Switch

Another component that takes part in the temperature regulation process of a commercial deep fryer is the high limit switch. It is the high limit switch that monitors the oil temperature of the deep fryer and keeps the thermostat alerted. When the desired temperature is reached, the high limit switch alerts the thermostat. As the thermostat is set to turn off the burner at that temperature, it will then trigger the heating element to turn off.

So, if the high limit switch is faulty, the temperature won’t be regulated and the oil in the fryer will be too cold or too hot. So, if this is the case, you should also check the high limit switch after inspecting the thermostat.

Clogged Oil Filter

Oil circulation is necessary for the deep fryer to receive enough oil for cooking food. When the oil circulation is fine, you will hear the sound of the oil flowing when you turn on the appliance. So, if you see that the oil levels are low, you should check the oil filter. It may require replacement. This is an easy fix because all you need is to take out the existing filter and place a new one in its place.

Damaged O-Rings

Another reason for low oil circulation in a commercial deep fryer is damaged O-rings. This is because if the O-rings are not secure, they will lead to unstable air pressure and impact the oil circulation.

If you have changed the oil filter and the oil in the fryer is not enough for cooking, check the O-rings. Keep in mind that O-rings should be replaced by a professional.

Blown Fuse

A fuse is a component in commercial deep fryers that protects other components from electric spikes. It blows and protects other parts. However, if other parts of your deep fryers are malfunctioning, the fuse is not working properly which means it’s blown.

Conclusion

Various problems can cause a commercial deep fryer to stop working. So, check the gas supply and the thermostat settings. If they are fine, find a deep fryer repair Springfield technician to inspect the appliance.

13

Apr

When to Replace Commercial Kitchen Appliances

Commercial kitchen equipment is a big investment for your business and their efficiency is paramount. Proper care and maintenance is vital to ensure that the equipment last long but its however inevitable that at one point you have to replace the kitchen equipment due to various reasons. To keep your business in profitable it’s paramount that you replace worn out appliances when the lifespan of the equipment nears its end. It’s important that you know when to order new equipment and at this point, it’s necessary that you consult t the commercial kitchen appliance repair expert on when to buy new appliances.

When to Buy New Commercial Appliances for Your Investment

  • High Repair cost

When an appliance keeps breaking down and the repair cost keeps pilling up, then its time to replace that equipment as it will not only cost you money but also time. Commercial refrigerator repairs will cost you money, time and loss of clients especially if the fridge keeps failing and there are no fresh foods. The need to keep repairing an appliance then calls for replacement as the cost of buying a new one may be cheaper than repair.

  • Repair Parts availability

The older model of the appliances may pose a challenge as the spare parts may not be available locally. The spare parts may also be available but at a high cost. To fix such appliances, it may take time causing considerable inconvenience and cause loss of business and thus a reduced profit.

  • Change in Menu

Every business goes through seasons of change and it may mean change of menu. The change will have a huge impact on the appliances that you need. You need to incorporate commercial kitchen appliance repair expert when purchasing a new equipment as they are able to advise on various issues like new technology appliances, spare parts and multi-use equipment like ovens.

  • Business Growth

Expanding business will require appliances that can handle much more. An increased sales volume will introduce the need for appliances that handle the volumes. Consult your commercial appliances repair experts on the best appliances for an expanding business. As you purchase the new equipment consider projected growth to ensure that you can use the equipment for a while before your business outgrows the appliances.

  • Safety while Using the Machines

Safety should be a priority when using any equipment and any equipment that doesn’t guarantee safety should be replaced immediately if for example a fryer is leaking of oil and you have called the Commercial deep fryer repair team several times, its time to replace the fryer. It’s important that any appliance that could be a hazard be replaced immediately.

  • Inefficient Appliances

When an appliance uses too much energy for one reason or another it’s time to replace the equipment. There are many energy saving restaurant appliances that you can buy and replace the ones that are inefficient. Other appliances may not perform as they used to due to age and require replacement to keep the business profitable. If the ice maker has slowed down and in spite of the commercial ice maker repairs specialist checking it, then its realistic to replace the appliances. Power surges, worn gaskets, rust, and griddles are some of the reasons that could cause an appliance to be inefficient.

The decision to buy new appliances is inevitable and even the commercial appliances repair expert has confirmed the need for new equipment. Below the top things to consider buying the new commercial kitchen appliances.

Factors to Consider when Replacing Commercial Appliances

  • Durability

Ensure the appliances you buy will serve for a long time. Your commercial kitchen appliances repair expert will help in choosing the best brands for your business

  • Volume and projected growth

Choose the appliances that are able to handle growth and increased volumes. Look at the projected volumes of your business or institution and consider that while purchasing the appliances. The commercial appliances repair expert will be helpful with the estimates.

  • Regulations

Consider the regulations from departments such as energy and choose models and brands that are compliant. Commercial refrigerators have seen changes over time and the commercial refrigerator repairs expert will be advice on the compliant models and brands.

Once you have installed the new equipment it’s important that all your employees are able to use them. You can invite the commercial appliances repair Virginia team to train the workers on how to use and maintain the new appliances for longevity and optimal results.

18

Jun

How to Clean a Commercial Deep Fryer

In order to keep the deep fryer in proper working condition, daily cleaning is must. Oil buildups on the walls of fryer, and impurities settle at the bottom of the fryer, preventing food to get fried properly. It is important to perform normal cleaning on regular basis and also hire commercial deep fryer repair services once in a month for thorough cleaning of your appliance. There are many parts of this appliance that are needed to be cleaned so it heats the oil sufficiently.

Commercial Deep Fryer Maintenance

Proper maintenance and cleaning is must for keeping your appliance in good working condition for years to come. You can refer the manufacturer manual for proper cleaning and maintenance instructions. Every deep fryer has its own unique maintenance needs.

Tips For Cleaning Your Commercial Deep Fryer

Before you begin the cleaning task, unplug the fryer and let oil to cool down. Do not touch the fryer until it is cool down up to 150 Degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, you will get burned. Detach baskets and place them into a sink to adequately clean the fryer.

Drain oil back to the container before you start to clean the fryer. Get rid of any sediment or crumbs from the bottom of the deep fryer with the help of a slotted spoon and throw them into a waste can. Scooping off these impurities is one of the important tasks involved in deep fryer cleaning.

Clean the walls of your fryer using a metal spatula in order to loosen sticky deposits. Wipe out the deposits from the walls with a damp towel. This is the best way to clean the walls of your commercial deep fryer. You are required to clean the walls on the regular basis.

Put the fryer into a sink and fill it with water. You can use pails of hot water if you cannot put the fryer into the sink. Then pour dish soap to the water into it. Drain the water and wash the fryer after 30 minutes. This will reduce your cleaning efforts.

Scrub the fryer at corners. Many times it happens that food get stuck in the corners. These deposits decrease the efficiency of the fryer. You can perform this cleaning once in a week.

Hire commercial appliance repair company Fairfax for regular cleaning and maintenance tasks. Professional cleaning and maintenance of commercial deep fryer are highly recommended once in a month.