Your commercial dishwasher might be one of the most important pieces of equipment in your chain of operations. It's true that a good restaurant dishwasher does the obvious—wash dishes. But there's much more to consider when it comes to selecting a dishwasher for your business! For example, do you have the room to accommodate a conveyor dishwasher or does kitchen space come at a premium and require a small undercounter dishwasher to suit your needs? In addition to commercial dishwashers, check out our selection of glass washers and pot and pan washers to help you get the job done more quickly. Ultimately there's nothing like having a dishwasher that gets the job done quickly and efficiently!
Types of Commercial Dishwashers
When it comes to purchasing a restaurant dishwasher, chances are you'll be looking at an undercounter dishwasher, door type dishwasher or a conveyor dishwasher. Undercounter dishwashers can typically handle up to 35 racks per hour and have a built-in heating element, whereas conveyor models can process over 400 racks per hour (though they do require a separate booster heater element to help the water achieve the 180° F NSF-required temperature). When space is at a premium, many restaurants opt for a door type of dishwasher, which is slightly larger than an undercounter model.
High Temperature Versus Low Temperature Commercial Dishwasher
There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing a high temperature or low temperature commercial dishwasher—it's really up to personal preference. A low temperature dishwasher relies on a chemical agent to sanitize dishes unlike a high temperature dishwasher which utilizes high heat (about 180° F to meet NSF regulations). Though the initial cost of a low temperature dishwasher is lower than its high temp equivalent, you are responsible for purchasing cleaning agents regularly, which, over time, could make those initial cost savings nonexistent. Plus, take caution with what cleaning agents you buy since some can damage or tarnish your chinaware and flatware.
Some high temp dishwashers utilize more energy for its "flash dry" drying method, which dries dishes quickly at the end of the cycle. This type of drying method lets you wash dishes and glassware faster so you can bring them back into the rotation during a busy service, which is key when the bar is packed!
Energy Star Dishwashers
Unfortunately commercial dishwashers are known as the biggest water and energy guzzlers in the kitchen. Luckily, many manufacturers are making more energy efficient models that meet government Energy Star regulations. Energy Star dishwashers are on average 40% more energy and water efficient than standard models, can save you an average of almost $3,000 per year! Energy Star commercial dishwashers must meet maximum water consumption requirements and utilize less energy while idling between wash cycles. Some manufacturers even utilize the clean rinse water from the previous cycle as the new wash water for the next cycle, dramatically reducing the amount of water used for each load of dishes.
