If you own a commercial restaurant, you must have an idea about the importance of a commercial food steamer. Many restaurants and fast-food businesses rely heavily on commercial food steamers and can face a lot of problems if something unexpectedly goes wrong. But you can avoid them by offering your food steamer regular cleaning and maintenance. However, for some maintenance procedures and repairs, you should hire commercial appliances repair experts. Follow below to learn how you can keep your food steamer running like new.

Make Sure The Steamer Is Cool Before Cleaning

When it comes to cleaning and maintaining your food steamer, you should make sure it is cool. If the steamer was recently used, you will have to wait a bit for the temperature to come down. Keep in mind, it is the minor factors that make all the difference when dealing with commercial kitchen appliances.

If you were to start cleaning the steamer while it is hot, you might end up warping or damaging the components. That said, switch off the steamer from the main power supply and give it some time to cool off. In the meantime, you can start removing the removable parts.

At the same time, go through the user manual and try to understand the maintenance process. Make sure to opt for the recommended cleaning agents and techniques. A commercial food steamer is an expensive item. The last thing you would want is for it not to turn on once you are done cleaning.

Inspect The Steamer

This basic yet important step is crucial to determining the existing condition of the steamer and avoiding potential problems. Once the steamer has cooled down and you have removed the necessary parts, you should perform a thorough inspection of the steamer.

With time, it is possible for the steamer to experience some cracks, damage, or leakages. If possible, use a flashlight to inspect the hidden or intricate areas. If you find some unusual signs, do not ignore them and note them down on a piece of paper. Perform an inspection of the filters, pipes, and other components as well.

Check For Limescale Buildup

Since you are working with a commercial food steamer, you should know you will have to check for lime buildup as well, considering the machine uses steam to prepare food. Limescale buildup is a common occurrence in such appliances and does not pose much danger or threat unless ignored for a long time.

Fortunately, cleaning limescale buildup is easy as well. All you need to do is grab a cleaning agent and a soft brush, and scrape and wipe away all the lime. You will need to make sure you get rid of all the limescale as it can lead to clogging, which will further trigger problems at some point.

Clean Those Specific Spots

While thoroughly cleaning the commercial food steamer, you cannot just expect to clean it from the inside and call it a day. You will also have to clean the touch points like the outside walls, operation pad, and the base of the steamer, etc.

Keep in mind that these areas are also very sensitive to water and you do not want to blow up any connections that could cause permanent damage. That said, when maintaining your oven or steamer, simply use a cleaning agent or a slightly wet cloth to remove any layers of grime, dirt, and dust.

Don’t Ignore Unusual Signs

Steamers often break down, but before they do, they usually show signs that you should not ignore. Usually, when running, commercial food steamers tend to make a slight humming sound. But if you hear unusual or weird noises, it means something is wrong.

Sometimes, these issues go unnoticed or ignored as business owners assume it is a temporary issue and will go away on its own. You will only be able to spot these issues when you regularly maintain the steamer. When you are inspecting and maintaining the steamer, keep an eye out for something out of the ordinary.

You should check for leaks and also the valves and other components. If you spot any unusual signs, try to fix it by following the usual manual. If the issue seems to be complicated, you should consult an expert who can determine the cause of the problem and fix it properly. Apart from steamers, keep an eye on ovens as well for signs of problems and get in touch with a commercial oven repair Arlington professional for fixes.

Change The Filters

As mentioned previously, steamers use water for preparing food items. This means these appliances come with filters as well to help trap impurities that could impact the taste and food quality. Ignoring the cleaning and replacing of the filters is a common practice in the food industry.

In fact, some business owners believe that food steamers do not require any maintenance at all since they use water or steam. They only realize the importance of the filters when the customer complains about the food quality or the machine stops working.

That said, inspecting and cleaning the filters is as important as cleaning the limescale and other accumulations. Fortunately, cleaning the filters is easy as all you need to do is remove them and give them a thorough wash.

If the commercial food steamer happens to be old, it is possible for the filters to be cracked or damaged. You will need to replace them and contact the manufacturer for exact replacement.

Don’t Forget The Seals

Another extremely important part of a commercial food steamer is the seal. The water inside the commercial food steamer is stored in a chamber or container. It is because of the seal or gasket that the water or stream does not leak or escape from the steamer.

But, with time, the seals and gaskets turn weaker due to cracking. You will need to closely inspect the seals and gaskets to determine if they need replacing. If they do, simply contact an expert or a manufacturer to ship you the exact replacements.

Hire An Expert

Finally, your commercial food steamer is going to need an expert to help keep it running without any complications. Depending on the usage frequency, the expert will perform maintenance at least once every 6 months.

Hiring an expert is a complete package, including the inspection, maintenance, repairs, and replacement. This way, you won’t have to worry about your appliance giving up when you need it the most. Plus, you also get the most out of your investment by keeping troubles at bay.

Conclusion

In the beginning, the process might seem difficult, but after doing it a few times, it will be a lot easier for you to manage. Make sure to hire a certified commercial kitchen appliance repair Chantilly expert to repair and maintain the steamer to allow you to focus on business operations.