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.