The Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center

High-temperature commercial dishwashers must reach 180°F (82°C) at the final rinse to achieve proper sanitization per NSF and health department standards. Low-temperature chemical sanitizing machines must maintain proper chemical concentrations (chlorine, iodine, or quaternary). If your high-temp machine isn't reaching 180°F, it's not properly sanitizing and may fail health inspection. Call a technician immediately.

Emergency repair typically costs 1.5-2.5x normal rates. After-hours service calls usually run $150-$300 for the diagnostic fee, plus parts and labor. Weekend and holiday rates can be higher. However, the cost of downtime — lost revenue, food waste, and staff idle time — almost always exceeds the emergency service premium. Most providers charge $100-$200 diagnostic fees that apply to the total repair.

Oil quality directly affects fryer performance and longevity. Degraded oil causes: higher operating temperatures needed, longer cook times, off-flavors, and increased carbon buildup on heating elements and thermostat probes. Proper oil management includes: filtering daily, testing oil quality with strips or meters, full oil changes based on usage (typically every 1-3 weeks), and cleaning the fryer tank when changing oil. Poor oil management is a leading cause of premature fryer failure.