Commercial ovens are one of the largest investments you can make in your kitchen. Cleaning, inspection, maintenance, and repair can keep your ovens running at peak performance for years to come.

On average, commercial kitchen appliances have a 7-year lifespan. But with preventative care, maintenance and cleaning, they can perform much longer.

Every oven has its own list of preventative maintenance, but there are universal recommendations to help you squeeze more value out of your oven.

 
Cleaning
Perform a thorough cleaning of your oven’s rear filters and cooking grates. Sweep out any carbon build up inside of the oven. Clean the inside cavity and door, jet plates, front door cooling fans, and the rack and pinion gear.

If your oven has conveyor assembly or a conveyor belt, that needs routine cleaning approximately every six months, as well as any entry or exit doors.

Other cleaning habits include correct disposal of grease and fat to help prevent blockages. Keep the drain cover in place and only use recommended or approved cleaning chemicals for your oven.

 
Inspection and maintenance
Regularly-scheduled inspections will prevent maintenance surprises for major repairs. Complete a six-month maintenance and inspection checklist to preserve the life of your oven.

Some inspection checks include monitoring the thermostat and oven door seal. Inspect the drain lines of a combination oven and door hinges. Pay attention to voltage, cooking temperature, and ventilation.

Other maintenance checks include checking the drive gear set screws, checking wing balance, and running the blower and element diagnostics for proper operation and excess noise. (Note: the oven must be cool.)

Verify the thermocouples are within 10 degrees of each other (the oven must be hot). In a conveyor oven, check the drive belt and conveyor belt for tension.

Inspect if the conveyor belt has stretched or if there is significant sag or slack. If so, take out a link. Be sure to also monitor the operation of IR sensors. Pull the conveyor belt manually to test bearing functionality.

Of course, always visually check for damaged, broken or inoperative items.

Regularly scheduled cleaning maintenance contributes to your oven’s longevity, ease of use, and consistent cooking. Your diligence in cleaning, inspection, and maintenance will help you contribute to your oven’s return on investment.