Do you know if your commercial dishwasher can handle another busy year of constant usage? Do you have a plan for if your dishwasher starts to falter? 

Inefficient or outdated appliances can have a significant impact on your restaurant’s performance and therefore affect your bottom line. In order to have another successful year in operation, you need to be aware of the signs that it’s time to invest in new equipment. 

Signs That it’s Time to Upgrade

1. Frequent Breakdowns
If you’re calling the repair man every month or more, this is definitely a red flag. Frequent breakdowns not only lead to higher maintenance costs but also cause operational downtime, impacting your service and profitability. A new machine is likely to be more economical in the long run than frequent repair costs.

2. Poor Cleaning Results
If your staff are having to redo the dishwashing because the dishes are not being cleaned sufficiently on the first try, it indicates there are problems with your dishwasher. This could be caused by worn out or fault spray arms, pumps, or jets. 

3. Increased Water and Energy Usage
Older models of dishwashers can be less efficient and use more water and energy than necessary, resulting in sky high utility bills. Modern commercial dishwashers are design to be more eco-friendly and use less water and energy whilst providing superior cleaning power. If you notice a spike in your utility bills, an inefficient dishwasher may be to blame.

4. Difficulty Finding Replacement Parts
As technology improves, and more and more newer models get produced, parts for older machines become harder to find and often more expensive. If you’re struggling to find replacement parts, this might be the sign it’s time to upgrade to a newer model. Newer models will not only be more readily serviced but also feature the latest advancements in dishwasher technology, offering better performance and efficiency.

5. Compliance and Health Code Issues
Commercial kitchens must adhere to health and sanitation regulations by ensuring that their dishwasher meets the required sanitation temperatures and health codes. Upgrading to a new dishwasher is essential to maintain compliance and protect the health of customers as well as uphold the reputation of the establishment.

Paying for constant repairs and rising energy costs due to inefficient and faulty equipment can end up being more expensive in the long run than just accepting your fate and buying a newer model.

When looking at commercial dishwashers specifically, it’s key that you monitor yours for any sign of failure as a non-functional dishwasher can pose a real health concern. Restaurants can be shut down if dishes are not sanitary and clean. Secondly, any small breaks in a dishwasher could lead to catastrophic flooding. 

Dishwasher issues are most commonly caused by problems with the drain, pump, hose, rubber seal, or filter. A clogged drain or filter can be easily cleaned and remedied but if your dishwasher is quite old, it will be time to replace it with a more efficient and updated model. 

Maintenance Advice for Your Commercial Dishwasher

Maybe your dishwasher isn’t ready to call it quits just yet.  If you think your dishwasher still has life left in it yet, here are some maintenance tips to keeping it going through 2025:

•    Prevent freezing with well insulated pipes
•    Check door seals for cracks or signs of leakage
•    Check heating elements for limescale build up
•    Monitor temperature setting to ensure proper sanitation
•    Lubricate any moving parts
•    Regularly check filters
•    Drain machine fully at the end of the working day

You can read our full dishwasher maintenance guide here.

The Cost of a New Dishwasher
You’ve decided that your current dishwasher isn’t going to make it through 2025 so it’s time to look at getting a new one. Perhaps you’re worried about budget, commercial equipment is not cheap after all. If you find yourself in this scenario, we recommend leasing. 

Here are some questions to consider before deciding whether to buy or lease:

•    How much money do you have?
•    How important is it for my business to have the latest equipment?
•    How do you want to deal with equipment maintenance?
•    How quickly will your equipment become outdated?

For a more in-depth breakdown of the pros and cons of buying vs leasing, read our blog on the topic here.

Looking for a new dishwasher for 2025? Dishwashers direct have got you covered. Discover our full range of commercial dishwashers with a range of different functions and specifications.