Restaurants are hopeful that a busy summer – driven by longer days, patio dining and seasonal travel – will bring an increase in foot traffic. Whether they fully capture the increased revenue depends on how efficiently their kitchens can accommodate the rise in tickets. After all, no operator wants their equipment to fail during peak periods – whether it's an ice machine going down on a triple-digit day or a fryer that takes too long to cook. Across the country, we frequently see common issues that could slow kitchen operations or contribute to early failure – many of which could have been prevented or caught earlier. These are ideal preventative maintenance tasks that operators can often handle themselves. While DIY upkeep complements professional maintenance, it shouldn't replace it. Scheduled maintenance programs prevent costly breakdowns, extend equipment life and ensure efficient operation. Maintenance Tasks to Increase Uptime and Efficiency A little preventative maintenance now can go a long way toward letting your restaurant focus on what it does best this summer: delighting guests. Follow these five steps to keep kitchens running smoothly all summer. Before maintaining any equipment, always consult the manufacturer’s manual for instructions. Clean condenser coils on refrigerators, freezers and ice machines. These coils release heat from inside the unit to the surrounding environment, allowing the system to maintain proper cooling. When coils become covered with dirt, dust and grease, they cannot dissipate heat efficiently, forcing the compressor to work harder. Over time, this increases energy consumption and strains the compressor,…
