Seasonal Maintenance Tips for Commercial Appliances

Different seasons mess with your appliances in different ways. Summer? Overheating. Winter? Freezing pipes. You need to prep your gear for the weather—same way you’d prep your car. Skip it, and you’re heading for appliance repair bills faster than you can say “service rush.”

Start with fridges and freezers. In summer, they work overtime just to stay cold. Clean the condenser coils—dust and grime act like insulation. That makes them overheat and maybe conk out completely. Also, give them space. No boxes stacked around the vents. These machines need room to breathe.

In winter, seals and insulation matter more. Cold air from outside can confuse internal sensors. Make sure your units aren’t stuck next to drafty windows or back doors. And don’t store appliances in unheated spaces unless they’re made for it. Some models stop working properly below 5°C. Not ideal when you’re trying to keep food safe.

Dishwashers and washing machines aren’t off the hook either. Limescale builds up faster in winter—especially in hard water areas. Run a descaling cycle once a month. It helps water flow better and keeps everything running smooth.

Summer means humidity, and that’s bad news for electrics. Dryers, especially. Clean your vents regularly. Moisture leads to short circuits, mould, and a nasty smell you don’t want near clean laundry or uniforms.

Air conditioning and ventilation systems need seasonal love too. In summer, clean filters monthly. Dirty filters = weak airflow and rising energy bills. In winter, watch for blockages. Fallen leaves or snow can clog up outside vents and mess with efficiency.

Your combi ovens and grills take a beating in hot months. Summer kitchens get brutal. Overheating appliances fail faster, plain and simple. Clean grease traps. Service gas units. Check that fans are doing their job. You don’t want gear quitting on you mid-rush.

Hot water heaters need bleeding—especially after cold snaps. Trapped air messes with pressure and flow. Plus, winter water’s colder, which means your heater’s working double time. Might be worth turning the temp up a notch in colder months. Just don’t go too high or you’ll risk scalding.

Label everything with the last service date. Keep a seasonal checklist. It’s not a huge task. Just carve out a bit of time every 3 months. Your future self will owe you a pint.

Backup appliances? Don’t ignore ‘em. Test your portable heaters, extra fans, spare fridges. Make sure they actually work before you need them. Nothing worse than pulling out a backup unit in a pinch and finding it’s bust.

The weather’s going to change. Your kitchen kit has to keep up. Treat seasonal checks like mise en place. Prep it right or deal with the chaos.

Ignore the basics and you’ll end up knee-deep in spoiled food, angry staff, and a fat appliance repair invoice. Oh, and sweating in a 40-degree kitchen with a dead extraction fan?

That’s a bloody nitemare.