Importance of Water Filtration Systems with Commercial Kitchen Equipment
Managing costs is critical for any business, and reducing unnecessary expenditures is a key component of that effort. In restaurants, a lot of small, behind the scenes components may be left to the wayside, deemed unnecessary for efficient operation.
Water filtration systems are one such consideration, a minor factor that contributes in ways many employees and even restaurant patrons may not even notice. However, these systems are vitally important to the health of a commercial kitchen.
Restaurant Water Filtration Systems Explained
Restaurants maintain a vast array of appliances that depend on water for their production, including:
- Soda fountains
- Ice makers
- Coffee makers
- Steamers
- Dishwashers
The water that flows to and through these machines is often unpurified, full of contaminants such as minerals, sediment, bacteria, water treatment chemicals and scale. Eliminating these materials can be beneficial in several ways.
Improved Odor and Taste
Keeping customers satisfied is the primary goal of a business trying to grow, and water quality plays an integral role towards ensuring a pleasant experience. Glasses of water, soft drinks and hot beverages can be noticeably affected by quality water filtration. Poorly filtered water often carries an unpleasant odor, hard water and traces of treatment chemicals like chlorine, which will undoubtedly leave a bad taste in your customer’s mouth.
Better Equipment Performance
Water filters remove damaging elements like minerals and scale, which can build up in the mechanisms of kitchen appliances if given free passage. Over time, machines will become less efficient and potentially break down from the excess material clogging them up. This means you will have to repair or replace them more often, costing you more money and potentially affecting your business’s profitability if you can’t fulfill certain orders.
Keeping your appliances free of these contaminants and running smoothly also means repairs may be covered. It is important to remember that damage caused by unfiltered water can void warranties, leaving the owner responsible for the full cost of repairs.
Greater Efficiency and Lower Costs
Having clean, uncontaminated water flowing to kitchen appliances not only improves their longevity and output quality but also their efficiency. With filtered water, equipment benefits from less energy consumption, meaning your annual operating costs could be reduced considerably.
Maintaining a clean water supply also means more efficient work from kitchen staff. In-line filtration systems running to dishwashers, for example, make dishes and glasses cleaner the first time. Hard water stains and other grime that normally accumulates are eliminated, reducing the extra time needed to hand wash and polish items to a presentable state.
Common Water Filtration Options
Water filters greatly improve the taste and safety of beverages, reduce operating and maintenance costs and generally add to greater efficiency in the kitchen. A number of water filtration options are available to accomplish those goals.
Reverse Osmosis
For appliances that need extremely high quality water, such as ice machines and coffee makers, reverse osmosis filters provide exceptional filtration. Water is pushed through a semipermeable membrane to remove a number of ultra-fine contaminants, including heavy metals, sulfates, dissolved materials, chlorides and other water treatment additives. While not the most efficient in terms of water usage, these filters are an ideal solution for consumable water.
Carbon Block Filters
Often paired with reverse osmosis filters, carbon filters remove most flavor-inhibiting contaminants from drinking water. They can eliminate lead, bacteria, pesticides, chloramines and PCBs, giving water a much more natural taste. Carbon filters can easily be blocked by large sediment, however, and may need frequent upkeep to ensure their continued performance. Using a pre-filter system to remove large materials is an effective way to reduce clogged carbon filters.
Ultraviolet Light
A less common filtration method normally reserved for low-quality incoming water, UV light kills off many harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria and parasites. These need to be a pre-filter, used in conjunction with carbon or reverse osmosis filters, as they do not remove hard particles from water.
All of Your Water Filtration Needs
There is a wide assortment of water filtration systems and kitchen appliances that need them. We carry the largest selection of commercial kitchen water filtration options in Texas at value pricing. If you need help finding the right filter for your equipment, contact our team today to find the best option at the best price available.