Purchasing Resources for Commercial Dishwashers

Commercial dishwashers are incredibly helpful pieces of restaurant equipment. When running a food-service business, the last thing you need are stacks of plates, glasses, and utensils piling up in the kitchen. You have more important matters to focus on, such as your customers’ satisfaction with the cuisine. Choosing the right dishwasher for your business requires some thought and research, though. You may find that some models would create more waste rather than reducing it. Others are well worth the investment. Weigh the pros and cons and consider the price to determine whether your business and bottom line will benefit from having one.

Benefits

Almost everyone dreams of owning a restaurant. However, restaurants are known for being low-margin businesses. To make a profit, you have to do everything you can to keep sales high and costs low. Although commercial dishwashers represent a significant financial investment for your business, there are several good reasons to purchase this piece of restaurant equipment.

Save Time on Cleaning

In a high-traffic restaurant, every minute counts. To adhere to government regulations, dishes must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized. It could take a person five minutes or more to complete this process for each dish. You don’t want customers stuck waiting for their orders because it is taking a long time for your staff member to clean a dish. Commercial dishwashers can clean your plates, glassware, cookware, and silverware in half the time it would take a person to do it. Additionally, commercial dishwashers generally take up less space.

Save Money by Reducing Staff

If you have a large or busy restaurant, then you will probably need at least two people on staff to clean dishes. By using a commercial dishwasher, you can reduce the amount of staff you need to complete this task. Additionally, the staff member can do other things while the dishwasher completes its cycle.

Maintain Sanitary Conditions

The Centers for Disease Control estimates 48 million people in America become ill due to foodborne diseases. The last thing your restaurant needs is your clients getting sick because dinnerware and cookware were not cleaned and sanitized properly. A commercial dishwasher typically washes dishes at high temperatures designed to kill bacteria, viruses, and microbes.

Reduce Breakage

A commercial dishwasher can protect your dishes from breakage. The dishes are typically spaced so they do not knock into each other during the wash cycle. This can lead to dishes lasting longer and reduced replacement costs.

Pitfalls

Energy and Hot Water Costs

Commercial dishwashers use large amounts of hot water and electricity, especially during peak hours of operation. As a result of using one, your energy bill may be significantly higher. If you will need to run a dishwasher continuously at any time, it is likely that you’ll need a booster heater to preheat water to the proper temperature. Some dishwashers have booster heaters built in, but you may need to purchase one separately. Don’t forget to consider these extra costs.

Ventilation Requirements

If you decide to place a commercial dishwasher in your establishment, make sure that you put it in a well-ventilated room. Without proper ventilation, steam from the hot water will create high levels of humidity, which could negatively affect the drying cycle of your dishwasher. This also creates an unpleasant and potentially unsafe work environment for your employees. If you don’t already have good ventilation in your kitchen, you may need to spend additional money to have it installed.

Less Kitchen Space

Depending on the type of commercial dishwasher you choose, it will probably take up a considerable amount of space. Make sure you plan for this by measuring the area ahead of time. If you don’t, you could end up with a dishwasher that doesn’t fit or that takes up more space than expected. If space is too limited, your employees might not have enough room to work. Productivity could suffer, and this would hurt your profits.

Maintenance and Repairs

As with any piece of equipment, a dishwasher will need to be maintained, and it may need repairs in the future. You may have to invest in special chemicals to keep it clean, and your employees will have to devote time to taking care of it. Repairs could involve extra costs for replacement parts and labor. Make sure you plan for these additional expenses.

Pricing

According to RestaurantReport.com, commercial dishwashers used as restaurant equipment can handle between 35 and 1,000 racks per hour. Depending on your company’s needs, the pricing of the dishwashers can vary.

Expected Costs

There are a few options available concerning the price of commercial dishwashers. You can either buy or rent new or used equipment to meet your needs. Under-counter dishwashers, for example, range in price from $2,000 to $7,000. Glass washers can cost between $2,500 and $13,000 depending on the model. Pot and pan washers can range between $3,500 and $82,000. It’

Commercial dishwashers are incredibly helpful pieces of restaurant equipment. When running a food-service business, the last thing you need are stacks of plates, glasses, and utensils piling up in the kitchen. You have more important matters to focus on, such as your customers’ satisfaction with the cuisine. Choosing the right dishwasher for your business requires some thought and research, though. You may find that some models would create more waste rather than reducing it. Others are well worth the investment. Weigh the pros and cons and consider the price to determine whether your business and bottom line will benefit from having one.

Benefits

Almost everyone dreams of owning a restaurant. However, restaurants are known for being low-margin businesses. To make a profit, you have to do everything you can to keep sales high and costs low. Although commercial dishwashers represent a significant financial investment for your business, there are several good reasons to purchase this piece of restaurant equipment.

Save Time on Cleaning

In a high-traffic restaurant, every minute counts. To adhere to government regulations, dishes must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized. It could take a person five minutes or more to complete this process for each dish. You don’t want customers stuck waiting for their orders because it is taking a long time for your staff member to clean a dish. Commercial dishwashers can clean your plates, glassware, cookware, and silverware in half the time it would take a person to do it. Additionally, commercial dishwashers generally take up less space.

Save Money by Reducing Staff

If you have a large or busy restaurant, then you will probably need at least two people on staff to clean dishes. By using a commercial dishwasher, you can reduce the amount of staff you need to complete this task. Additionally, the staff member can do other things while the dishwasher completes its cycle.

Maintain Sanitary Conditions

The Centers for Disease Control estimates 48 million people in America become ill due to foodborne diseases. The last thing your restaurant needs is your clients getting sick because dinnerware and cookware were not cleaned and sanitized properly. A commercial dishwasher typically washes dishes at high temperatures designed to kill bacteria, viruses, and microbes.

Reduce Breakage

A commercial dishwasher can protect your dishes from breakage. The dishes are typically spaced so they do not knock into each other during the wash cycle. This can lead to dishes lasting longer and reduced replacement costs.

Pitfalls

Energy and Hot Water Costs

Commercial dishwashers use large amounts of hot water and electricity, especially during peak hours of operation. As a result of using one, your energy bill may be significantly higher. If you will need to run a dishwasher continuously at any time, it is likely that you’ll need a booster heater to preheat water to the proper temperature. Some dishwashers have booster heaters built in, but you may need to purchase one separately. Don’t forget to consider these extra costs.

Ventilation Requirements

If you decide to place a commercial dishwasher in your establishment, make sure that you put it in a well-ventilated room. Without proper ventilation, steam from the hot water will create high levels of humidity, which could negatively affect the drying cycle of your dishwasher. This also creates an unpleasant and potentially unsafe work environment for your employees. If you don’t already have good ventilation in your kitchen, you may need to spend additional money to have it installed.

Less Kitchen Space

Depending on the type of commercial dishwasher you choose, it will probably take up a considerable amount of space. Make sure you plan for this by measuring the area ahead of time. If you don’t, you could end up with a dishwasher that doesn’t fit or that takes up more space than expected. If space is too limited, your employees might not have enough room to work. Productivity could suffer, and this would hurt your profits.

Maintenance and Repairs

As with any piece of equipment, a dishwasher will need to be maintained, and it may need repairs in the future. You may have to invest in special chemicals to keep it clean, and your employees will have to devote time to taking care of it. Repairs could involve extra costs for replacement parts and labor. Make sure you plan for these additional expenses.

Pricing

According to RestaurantReport.com, commercial dishwashers used as restaurant equipment can handle between 35 and 1,000 racks per hour. Depending on your company’s needs, the pricing of the dishwashers can vary.

Expected Costs

There are a few options available concerning the price of commercial dishwashers. You can either buy or rent new or used equipment to meet your needs. Under-counter dishwashers, for example, range in price from $2,000 to $7,000. Glass washers can cost between $2,500 and $13,000 depending on the model. Pot and pan washers can range between $3,500 and $82,000. It’s important to know the needs of your business to prevent overspending.

Conclusion

Although commercial dishwashers can take up a substantial amount of space and go on the fritz like any other type of equipment, they can ultimately save you a substantial amount of money. With fewer employees needed for kitchen detail and fewer dishes lost from breakage, you have more money to devote to other areas of your business, such as marketing and remodeling. While proper ventilation may be an additional expense, you may decide it is worth it for maintaining optimal sanitary conditions. Food-borne illnesses can endanger lives, so they can also quickly ruin a restaurant’s reputation. The benefits of using commercial dishwashers may far outweigh the potential pitfalls.

s important to know the needs of your business to prevent overspending.

Conclusion

Although commercial dishwashers can take up a substantial amount of space and go on the fritz like any other type of equipment, they can ultimately save you a substantial amount of money. With fewer employees needed for kitchen detail and fewer dishes lost from breakage, you have more money to devote to other areas of your business, such as marketing and remodeling. While proper ventilation may be an additional expense, you may decide it is worth it for maintaining optimal sanitary conditions. Food-borne illnesses can endanger lives, so they can also quickly ruin a restaurant’s reputation. The benefits of using commercial dishwashers may far outweigh the potential pitfalls.