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Designing Heating and Cooling Systems in Large Buildings

Troubleshooting Your Deep Fryer

18 November 2019

Nicole Jacobs

Most restaurants have at least one deep fryer in the kitchen. Generally, as long as you clean the oil and wipe down the entire unit daily, the fryer will continue to work. However, there are some problems that may cause trouble for you if you do not handle them quickly. You will know there is a problem when the food is not cooking properly or is coming out soggy instead of crisp. Here are a few tips for troubleshooting your restaurant's gas deep fryer.

Pilot Light Out

Of course, you would notice that the pilot light is out when you first turn on the fryer in the morning. However, it must remain lit throughout the day to allow the burners to ignite when the temperature of the oil in the kettle drops below what you have it set to. The first thing you will notice is that the food is not cooking properly. Open the door to check that the pilot light is on and that the burners are lit. If not, try lighting the pilot again manually. If it does not light, shut everything off and carefully clean the pilot opening and all around it. If it still does not light and stay lit, it could be a problem with the thermopile. Contact a repair technician to inspect the situation and do the repair.

Burners Not Lit Properly

Another problem could be dirty burners. Open the door and look inside when the system has kicked on to bring the heat back up. Look at the burners. The flame should be blue and consistent around the entire burner. If it is not, shut the system down, wait for the oil to cool, and then carefully clean all over the burner, paying attention to the orifices. If you are not comfortable doing this, or if the problem is not fixed after you have cleaned everything, it is time to call a professional.

Temperature Problems

You should use an external thermometer and check the temperature of the oil at least once a day. Make sure to check it when the burners are not lit and trying to raise the temperature so you can be sure you know that everything is working correctly. If you find that the oil temperature is not matching the thermometer setting, you need to contact a service person. While it could be something as simple as a loose wire, you may need to have the thermometer replaced. It is always best to let a professional replace any parts, especially if the unit is still under warranty.

Oil Filtration Problems

When you go to empty or filter the oil and it doesn't come out properly, it could be a simple clog. You can carefully use a cleaning rod to try to remove the clog, but you need to be prepared for a sudden gush of oil. Make sure the unit is off and the oil has cooled before attempting this. If you have any problems, you may want to scoop out the oil and try from inside the kettle. However, it would be better to have a professional come look things over so you do not get burned or damage anything.

Keeping your deep fryer in good condition is important to the high-quality of your food. If the temperature is even a few degrees off either high or low will change things. Make sure you clean and filter the oil as necessary and clean the whole unit every day. At the first sign of a problem start to troubleshoot things. Contact a professional when the problem is beyond your capabilities. The sooner the fryer is working properly, the sooner you can keep your kitchen putting out high-quality foods again.

For more information, contact a Frymaster repair service.

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