Would you ignore your car’s regular service? It’s unlikely, because there is real value in looking after your car and knowing that it’s safe to drive.
Your kitchen equipment is a big investment, like a car, so it’s important not to ignore the regular maintenance your kitchen needs. Here are five reasons why it pays to have regular maintenance checks on your kitchen equipment.
It reduces the risk of breakdowns
Planned maintenance checks should include inspections for wear and tear, replacing worn components and lubricating moving parts. Engineers can often spot potential problems with your equipment early. By nipping problems in the bud, it can avoid costly breakdowns. Your chiller has to constantly battle with its external environment to keep the inside cool. A fault with a door seal makes it work harder and can mean it’s not working properly. Maintenance checks allow the door seal to be replaced, before it becomes a costly breakdown.
- It reduces the risk of fire
Don’t forget to service ductwork and ventilation. Just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean the dirt isn’t there. If you haven’t had a regular ductwork clean by an accredited organisation to TR/19 standards, any insurance policies will potentially be invalidated.
Accumulated grease and oil within an extract system build up fast. Flash flame or very high temperature within the duct can ignite the grease, causing fire to spread rapidly, igniting flammable materials at various points along the ductwork path. We advise that ductwork checks are carried out quarterly, but at a minimum, every 6 months.
- It prolongs the life of your equipment
Regular check-ups at the dentist help to keep our teeth in good condition. Regular maintenance on your kitchen equipment means you’ll have it working in your kitchen for a lot longer. A combi oven is an expensive piece of equipment, so paying to look after it makes good business sense. And imagine if you have to replace it unexpectedly and it causes delays to your service. You don’t want to disappoint hungry customers.
- It’s more energy efficient
Every time we carry out a planned maintenance check, we make sure your equipment is running efficiently. Is the ware washer on the correct setting, is your refrigeration set to the right temperature? Small changes can affect how hard your kitchen equipment has to work, and as a result, how much energy it uses. Not only is energy consumption important for your budget, it’s also a contributing factor of climate change.
- It supports good health & safety
Poorly maintained equipment can increase the risk of breaching health & safety regulations. So not keeping up with regular maintenance can be costly in a number of ways. Imagine dishes not being cleaned properly or equipment that is unsafe for staff to use.
A gas interlock device monitors the airflow in your kitchen. If the airflow is unsafe or there is complete kitchen extract fan failure, the interlock will cut off the gas to the appliances, so they can’t be used. It should be included in an annual maintenance check. With TWO Services, every visit includes inspecting for wear and tear, checking gas ranges and carbon monoxide emissions.
How often should maintenance be carried out?
It depends on the kitchen and the intensity of equipment use – how many people are being catered for, how many days per week and the hours a kitchen is in operation. At TWO Services, our maintenance plans are flexible and can be offered on a 6 or a 12-month basis.
We also advise that ductwork checks are carried out quarterly, but at a minimum, every 6 months.
If you would like more advice on how to keep your kitchen running smoothly, call us on 0800 22 44 33
And for new customers, book your first kitchen deep clean with us and get your second half price. Just use the code ‘H&C’ when you call or use it in the form below and we will be in touch.
