Vics Appliance Shop

NFPA 96 (Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations) requires cleaning frequency based on cooking volume: monthly for solid fuel cooking (wood, charcoal); quarterly for high-volume cooking (24-hour operations, charbroiling); semi-annually for moderate-volume cooking; and annually for low-volume cooking (pizzerias, churches, seasonal businesses). Your local fire marshal may have additional requirements. Failure to comply can void your fire suppression system coverage.

Preventive maintenance frequency depends on the equipment and usage volume. As a general guideline: fryers and ovens should be inspected every 3-6 months; refrigeration equipment annually or semi-annually; ice machines every 6 months (including cleaning and sanitizing); exhaust hoods quarterly to semi-annually per NFPA 96; and dishwashers quarterly. High-volume operations benefit from more frequent service intervals.

Combi oven steam issues are commonly caused by: clogged steam generator or boiler scale buildup, failed heating element in the steam generator, water inlet valve problems, or steam nozzle blockages. Mineral scale from hard water is the most common culprit and can be prevented with regular descaling. A combi oven specialist should inspect the steam system as improper repairs can damage the boiler.