How to Limit the Impact of Restaurant Equipment Repair in Toronto

Running a successful restaurant in Toronto requires efficiency and consistency; your corporate lunch crowd does not want to be turned away at the door because you’re having an issue with your range firing. Managing customer expectations and kitchen equipment repairs requires a careful balance of proactive planning and quick problem-solving. But what do you do when a critical repair simply can’t be avoided? This blog will outline ways to help prevent equipment breakdowns and offer tips on how to minimize disruptions from necessary repairs.

Planned Maintenance is Your Best Prevention Tool

You’ve likely heard it a dozen times, but the best way to avoid unexpected restaurant equipment breakdowns is by investing in a scheduled maintenance program. These routine checks by qualified, factory-trained commercial appliance repair technicians not only help keep your kitchen equipment operating at peak performance but are instrumental in spotting and repairing minor issues before they become bigger problems.

In addition to your professional maintenance, every kitchen employee should be taught how to properly shut down, clean, and inspect key equipment. Not only will this keep your restaurant kitchen clean and food preparation areas safe, but it’s also another opportunity to spot early signs of wear or damage.

Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs

Some things we have no control over, like rush hour traffic in Toronto. But other times, the signs are right in front of us, we just need to pay attention. Being attuned to the performance of your restaurant kitchen equipment can help you identify early warning signs and have them addressed before they lead to costly downtime. If you’re not in the kitchen every day, training your staff to be observant and report any irregularities is key.

Let’s say you own a busy sandwich shop and you’ve recently noticed your convection oven is taking longer to heat than usual. While it may be convenient to simply adjust your cooking time and continue on like nothing is wrong, ignoring the issue can lead to a full breakdown at the worst possible time—like during your lunch rush. Addressing the problem early with a quick service call can prevent a bigger, more expensive repair down the road.

Schedule Critical Restaurant Equipment Repairs During Off-Peak Hours

Even with professional maintenance, you’re likely to encounter a scenario where you need to have a piece of restaurant equipment repaired. Fortunately, it’s rare for commercial appliances to just stop working, and if you’ve been diligent about monitoring the performance of your equipment you can schedule your repairs at a time when the impact on your business will be lowest.

If a key piece of equipment does encounter a critical malfunction during your service hours train staff to be able to quickly assess the situation while they wait for your repair technician. For example, food stored on your cold side will maintain temperatures for a few hours provided the doors are not being continually opened and closed. It’s also a good idea to have a contingency plan if one of your hot-side elements isn’t working, whether that’s alternative cooking methods or easy menu substitutions.

The Restaurant Equipment Repair Company You Choose Matters

This is where it pays to have a reliable, certified restaurant equipment repair company on hand. When service technicians like ours are familiar with your kitchen, appliances, and operations, we can diagnose and repair issues quicker, getting your line back up faster. We also understand that restaurant equipment repairs can be disruptive to your daily operations, that’s why we work with you to carry out repairs at a time when it’s most convenient, even if that’s outside regular business hours.

This type of established working relationship also increases the likelihood that critical replacement parts will be readily available, helping to speed up your repairs and reduce kitchen disruptions. If a component needs to be ordered, we leverage our relationships with key restaurant equipment manufacturers to get OEM parts to you faster.