When looking for the right warewasher, there are a several factors to take into consideration. These include where the washer will go, what and how much it will clean, how it is accessed, temperature, sterilisation uses and energy efficiency. With so many factors to consider, this can be a daunting process. For anyone shopping for a warewasher, we have put together a quick guide to highlight what is important.
Size and capacity
For small loads in cafes and bars, under-counter and door-type dishwashers − which handle between 20 and 50 racks of dishes an hour − are ideal. This type of machine is ideal for somewhere like a Nightclub Cheltenham location, which if you look at sites like www.undertheprom.com/ they take pride in their appearance and they will want to be sure that their glasses are kept clean throughout the night. The next step up is hood machines, which average around 60 to 80 racks an hour and are great in small- to medium-sized restaurants. For larger catering needs, conveyor machines can manage 200 and 250 racks an hour. Finally, seriously-high volume operations can opt for rackless conveyor units, which wash around 21,000 dishes per hour.
Energy requirements
Commercial warewashers are one of the biggest energy users in the professional kitchen, which means it is important to find the right balance of power and usage. You don’t want to run your machine half empty too often, and you don’t want to run it hotter than you need. The majority of washers operate on 115V to 460V; however, some can be hooked up to your steam or gas water heating systems and some are available only for gas. Look for the Energy Star on international models and remember that the more water they use, the more water needs to be heated.
Standard features
Always look for hard-wearing stainless steel construction, standard utility connections, door safety switches, automatic shutoffs for idling, tank heaters, and low water levels protection. Most warewashers also have some variety of energy- or water-saving feature, such as spray nozzles in conveyor models to reduce water usage.
Maintenance requirements
Most warewashers are straightforward to maintain; however, when choosing a model, you will want to be sure that the supplier or someone in your area can repair it easily. Manufacturers usually suggest using a specific type of commercial grade detergent; therefore, it is important to make sure this product is available when you buy your machine.