For the most part, commercial restaurant equipment is built to last. You can keep fridges, ovens, and grills working all day every day without having to worry about a breakdown or costly repair. 

However, as reliable as these machines are, they do require regular care and attention. Just because they’re built to withstand the demands of your business doesn’t mean they are invincible to wear and tear. Instead, you want to make sure that you schedule routine inspections and maintenance. 

That being said, we believe that the best time of year to get your machines serviced is winter. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of annual maintenance, as well as the reason why winter is the ideal season for it to happen. 

Why Regular Maintenance is Crucial

Simply put, the demands of your business require that everything works in peak condition at all times. You can’t expect to provide excellent service to your customers if you have machines breaking down all the time. Not only that, but the appearance of old and dirty equipment can be a huge turnoff, particularly in a restaurant. 

Here are the top reasons why you need to maintain your commercial equipment consistently. 

Avoid Disruptive Repairs

If an oven or refrigerator breaks down in the middle of the day, how will you respond? What happens if the equipment shuts off overnight? You don’t want to have to scramble to find a technician, nor do you want to come into a fridge full of spoiled food. 

Save on Energy Costs

When your commercial equipment is serviced regularly, you don’t need to use as much electricity (or gas) to operate them. Instead, you can maintain lower utility bills all year long.

Maintain High Standards

Unlike other industries, restaurants live and die by their appearance and atmosphere. Not only that, but your equipment can affect how well you prepare the food. 

Broken fridges can lead to the spread of bacteria. Subpar ovens can over or undercook dishes. Dirty ice machines can leave a literal bad taste in your customer’s mouths. Don’t let your quality slide because of substandard equipment. 

Extend the Life of Your Equipment

Whether you bought your commercial machinery new or used, chances are that it was a significant investment. You don’t want to have to replace your equipment every other year or so because it breaks down, do you? Routine inspections and maintenance can ensure that each piece will be in tip-top shape for years to come. 

Why Winter Maintenance is Ideal

Now that we understand the value of routine equipment management, when is the best time of year to get serviced? We believe that winter is actually the perfect season, and here are a few reasons why. 

Less Stress on the Machinery

When the weather is colder outside, your equipment doesn’t have to work as hard. You don’t need to run the air conditioner as often, and your refrigerators will be able to maintain temperatures more efficiently. 

Because the machines are under less stress, it’s so much more efficient to service them during this season. Overall, it’s much better to do it now than to wait until the temperatures rise and start overworking the equipment. 

Less Business

When winter rolls around, people are less likely to be out and about. The best time to service your commercial machinery is when you don’t have to worry about disrupting your daily operations. It’s typically easier to find a slow day during the winter, meaning that you get the benefit of routine maintenance without disturbing your bottom line. 

Contact Us Today to Keep Your Equipment Running Smoothly

Although winter is typically the ideal time for service, the fact is that you should get your machines inspected all year long. Call us today to set up a regular schedule so that we can make sure that your equipment will be in pristine shape. 

When it comes to running your restaurant, there are tons of variables that you need to pay attention to at all times. That said, your commercial refrigerators are the backbone of your business. If you didn’t have them, how would you be able to operate? You would need to buy food every morning and toss out any leftovers by the end of the day. 

Unfortunately, while refrigerators are linchpins of any restaurant, they are largely ignored - unless there’s a problem. However, rather than waiting for a fridge to break down and leave you in a bind, you should be performing routine maintenance and management. 

So, with that in mind, here are five reasons why you need to manage your commercial refrigeration equipment. 

1 Prevent Costly Repairs

Here’s the scenario: you’re getting ready for the lunch rush when suddenly one of your refrigerators breaks down. It’s sweltering hot outside, and the heat from the kitchen will push the fridge into the danger zone in a matter of minutes. You call a repair technician, who can’t come out for a few hours. 

That scene would send chills down any restauranteur’s spine. You don’t want to be caught in that situation. Worst of all, getting same-day service can be much more expensive than having a routine inspection. Plus, whatever caused the fridge to break down will likely be costly by itself. 

Instead, maintaining a consistent management schedule will avoid scenarios like this. Overall, it’s much cheaper to fix something before it breaks than after the fact. Not only that, but you don’t have to worry about the costs of losing products (and customers) because of broken equipment.

2 Keep Food at the Right Temp

During the hottest parts of the year, your commercial refrigerators work overtime to keep food at the proper temperature. However, if the equipment isn’t operating at peak efficiency, you could put the food (and your customers) at risk. 

Routine maintenance ensures that the cooling system is working well at all times. Not only that, but you can make sure that the air circulating in the fridge isn’t contaminated. If it’s been months since you last cleaned and serviced your equipment, it’s past time to take action. 

3 Save Energy

We’ve already covered the financial benefit of managing your equipment before it breaks down, but the fact is that routine inspections can save you even more in the long run. When your fridges are working at optimum performance, you won’t need as much electricity to keep them cool. Your utility bills can stay relatively low, meaning that your profit margin will be that much higher. Even saving $50 a month can add up over time. 

4 Improve Long-Term Performance

Chances are that you don’t appreciate how hard your commercial refrigerators work. They have to stay running all day every day without a break. While these machines are built for that kind of wear and tear, you still need to manage them with a little TLC. 

By cleaning and servicing your equipment regularly, you can be sure that your fridges will last for years and years. Get the most out of your investment by keeping them in tip-top shape. 

5 Save Money on New Equipment

If you run your commercial refrigeration all day long for months on end without service, chances are that you’ll need to buy a replacement soon. However, it’s much more expensive to buy a whole new machine than it is to manage the one you have. Keeping a regular inspection schedule ensures that you don’t have to upgrade your machinery every couple of years. 

Bottom Line: Schedule Commercial Refrigeration Maintenance Today

Now is the perfect time to show your fridges how much you appreciate them. Schedule an onsite visit from us today, and we can keep your equipment in pristine condition. Not only will we inspect them, but we’ll recommend service options that fit your needs and your budget.