Commercial dishwashers are machines specifically designed to handle large numbers of dishwashers at hospitals, restaurants, and many other extremely busy places. These machines ensure the dishware is squeaky clean before offering meals to the clients. But commercial dishwashers tend to run into problems like other electronic appliances as well. This does not only mean professional maintenance is necessary but one should also be aware of the troubleshooting tips to help the unit get back to running normally. However, it’s recommended to have a commercial kitchen appliance repair expert fix the dishwasher. We will take a look at some of the most common commercial dishwasher issues along with diagnoses to help you avoid such situations in the first place.

Boilers & Rinse Tanks Issues

Commercial dishwashers tend to contain boilers and rinse tanks that play a crucial role in the washing and drying process of the dishes. Boilers and rinse tanks often experience rust due to limescale buildup. If you live in a region that has hard water, the probability of limescale buildup is going to be a lot higher.

In this case, the cleaning and maintenance frequency of your commercial dishwasher will increase. The unfortunate thing is that you will not be able to fix or repair the boilers and rinse tanks once they have malfunctioned but will only need replacement.

But you can prevent that from happening if you were to keep a close eye on the limescale buildup and maintenance. Not only does limescale build up affect the boilers and rinse tanks but also blocks inlets and other components making it a lot harder for the dishwasher to work.

At the same time, you will also need to invest in a water filtration plant to soften the water a bit. The best way to ensure limescale does not build up, you should follow the maintenance schedule mentioned in the user manual.

O’rings & Door Seals

O’rings and door seals are more or less the same rubber or plastic components that are installed in different areas of the dishwasher to prevent water leakage or escaping. Since these O’rings and door seals are made of mostly rubber, they tend to crack with time or regular use.

The good news about O’rings and door seals is they are neither expensive to replace nor complicated. O’rings and door seals tend to crack with time, which makes it impossible for the dishwasher to perform its washing and cleaning cycle. So, replace dishwasher door seals when required.

Modern commercial dishwashers are loaded with safety features that automatically shut down the machine or simply do not let the washing cycle start if the washer detects something unusual.

That said, you should keep some spare seals if possible and consult an expert if access to certain areas inside the machine is either risky or not possible.

Water Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve has role in both opening and shutting off water flow to the dishwasher. A malfunctioning water inlet valve means that it will not be able to signal the dishwasher to turn off the water supply, which could lead to leakage. If you come across some water pooling underneath the dishwasher, you should know the water inlet valve is most likely the problem.

Water inlet valve malfunctioning is a common issue among commercial dishwashers and is not difficult to inspect or replace either. If your commercial dishwasher was recently serviced, you might want to make sure the valve is securely fitted as well. The water inlet valve also comes with an O’ring, which you will need to check and replace if required.

Keep in mind that water inlet valve issues are common in ice machines as well. So, if there are leakages or any other issues, check the water inlet valve or hire a commercial ice maker repair Chantilly expert.

Dishes Coming Out Dirty

Perhaps the biggest tell-tale of a problematic dishwasher is the dishes coming out dirty. After all, if a machine that is designed to wash dishes is not able to wash them clearly, there is no benefit in keeping and using them. If the dishes are coming out dirty, there could be several reasons behind it.

To begin with, you will need to check the filters if they need replacement or thorough cleaning. If you were not aware, dishwashers come with filters that need to be cleaned or replaced as well with time. Plus, inappropriate placement of the dishware inside the dishwasher could also lead to ineffective cleaning.

You might have observed that every dishwasher comes with multiple compartments for different types of dishware. This means you should not only place the dishware where it belongs but also not overstuff the unit. Overstuffing makes it difficult for the water to circulate properly and results in the dishes not being cleaned properly as well.

That said, make sure you keep a check on the filters as well to ensure the dishwasher continues running without any complications.

The Machine Is Not Starting

Sometimes, a commercial dishwasher won’t start. Then again, there might be several reasons contributing to this issue but you will need to be very precise and perform a thorough analysis to ensure you are able to get to the root cause.

A commercial dishwasher not starting could be due to a blown fuse, issues with the circuit breaker, or the main power supply. To determine the cause, you will need to check each option. Make sure the power supply of the machine is properly plugged into the power socket.

Plus, if the door is not closing for some reason, the washing machine will not start as well. As mentioned earlier, this is a sort of safety device. But, if that still does not fix the issue, you should contact an expert.

How Does Professional Maintenance Help?

Professional maintenance is all about thoroughly inspecting and cleaning the dishwasher. It is a common misconception that professional maintenance is just limited to thorough cleaning. If you have ever come across an expert performing professional maintenance, you will observe that they go through each and every single detail of the unit, which is mostly ignored by regular users.

While cleaning and washing is one thing, you should keep in mind that repairs and replacement are also part of the process. The experts are able to find out any parts that will need repairs or replacement down the road. So, they save you the trouble of putting your business to a halt by solving an upcoming issue right on the spot.

That said, if you are spending a small amount of money to keep your future troubles at bay, you should definitely consider it.

How To Find The Right Expert?

Finding the right expert can be tricky sometimes. Instead of wasting your time and effort going into every option out there, you should only consider experts who carry insurance, licenses, and certifications. Some states even require experts to gain approval to be qualified to perform such tasks.

And, once you gather multiple options, personally, interview them and pick the one that offers the best package.

Conclusion

You need to be careful with commercial dishwashers. If it’s your first time, you may find everything a bit difficult to absorb but following the information mentioned above, you will quickly become familiar with everything. If anything seems complicated, don’t try it yourself and hire a commercial dishwasher repair Fairfax Station professional to take a look at the appliance.