Commercial Dishwasher Troubleshooting

Commercial dishwashers that work the way they should are a critical component for restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, and other businesses in the hospitality industry. A reliable commercial dishwasher can handle the cleaning of large amounts of dishes, cutlery, silverware, pots, cooking utensils, and more while washing them faster and better than a person. A commercial dishwasher that isn’t working properly can be a real problem for any business. It costs money and time to repair if you have to have someone come out to fix it. All appliances will eventually have some issues that you’ll have to deal with, and if you know that many of the problems can be handled DIY, you’ll save money and get back to business in no time! Regular maintenance of your commercial dishwasher is the best way to protect it and ensure it lasts a long time.

Common Dishwasher Problems

Below are a few of the most common issues that occur with commercial dishwashers:

Leaking Dishwasher

Commercial dishwashers may spring a leak for a whole host of reasons. This will cause damage so it’s important to first find out where the leak is occurring. They’re typically caused by damaged or worn hoses, pipe fittings, or seals. The rinse and boiler tanks may, over time, have a buildup of limescale and they will rust, causing leaks and other problems. In order to stop this buildup from happening quicker than it should, it’s important to wash it every day. You can also add a water softener or use a water descaler.

Dishwasher Not Starting

All of the dishes are loaded and ready to be washed, but your dishwasher doesn’t start. What should you do, besides being really irritated? The first thing you should do is check to make sure the power is on. It sounds simple, but it happens more than you think. Here are some other common reasons why it won’t start:
Faulty Door Switches or Selector Switches – the control board won’t get the message that it’s supposed to start if you have issues with either of these switches.
Drive Motor or Motor Relay Problem – The switch on the dishwasher motor is controlled by the motor relay. If the relay is working, then check the drive motor as that could be the problem. If it’s damaged or doesn’t work, it won’t start.
Control Board and Timer – They control where the power goes and for how long. If either has an issue, the dishwasher will not start.

Dishwasher Won’t Drain

If it isn’t draining properly, check the dishwasher filter and make sure it’s clear of any obstructions. If it’s clogged, simply remove the cage and clean it and replace it. If it’s backed up, then the drain and pipes need to be checked and cleared of any debris that’s causing the problem. With the right tools, this is something you can do on your own, in most cases.

Dishes Are Not Being Cleaned Properly

If your dishwasher is starting and it appears to work, but the dishes it’s supposed to be cleaning aren’t coming out nice and clean, there could be a few reasons why this is happening. It could be old or poor quality detergent that’s being used, a problem with the water not heating up, or an issue with not enough water filling up the dishwasher. In these instances, check the inlet valve and floating wave as they may be the problem. Buy some good quality, detergent as well!

There are a variety of reasons why your commercial dishwasher may break down. We’ve gone over just a few of the issues that may occur, but there could be other, more complex problems that you can’t fix on your own. When that happens, and you need your dishwasher up and running as soon as possible, give the professionals at Quick Servant a call at 888-238-4133. We’ll be there when you need us and our prices are competitive. We won’t leave until you are 100% satisfied!