The commercial freezer is a vital part of your restaurant. But it's often an unsung hero in the kitchen, doing its job silently and with little attention. The smart restaurant owner or manager, though, does well to give the freezer the maintenance and care that it deserves. Why? Here are five reasons that caring for your walk-in freezer boosts your bottom line.

Like most commercial equipment, a walk-in freezer is a big investment - costing thousands of dollars for even a minimal unit. The longer you can keep yours in good working order, the better it will be for your budget and your wallet.

Running appliances on a daily basis costs money, but you can keep those bills down. Basically, there are two ways to keep energy bills lower. The first is by using the equipment correctly. This means not overfilling or under-filling dishwashers, freezers, or refrigerators. Correct use includes training staff on the proper way to use appliances and choose settings. And it involves opting for the right temperature for the right usage.

The second way to reduce waste is by ensuring that the unit is operating at peak efficiency. The harder it must work to perform its role, the more energy it will consume doing so. Removing debris and buildup, maintaining tubes and wiring in good order, and keeping thermostats operating optimally all avoid overworking your cooler.

The last thing you need is to suffer a total breakdown of the freezer. You could lose all the food kept inside. You may even face an expensive replacement with added rush costs and no time to shop around. And you might lose business while dealing with the breakdown, repair, or replacement.

Many breakdown emergencies can be avoided with regular inspection and maintenance. During a maintenance visit, a professional repair tech will look over the entire unit from top to bottom. They will remove and clear the lines, degrease and clean coils, check oil and refrigerant, inspect compressor operation, verify thermostats, and sanitize ice machines (if applicable).

The best schedule for maintenance calls depends on your particular unit, its age, and its size. A reach-in freezer may only need annual or semi-annual checkups, but walk-in models may need maintenance more often due to equipment differences.

The main reason your freezer and coolers are so valuable is that they protect customer health. Without proper refrigeration at correct temperatures, the health of everyone who eats at your establishment is at risk from bacteria like botulism, E. coli, and salmonella. Without clean tubing, even the ice in drinks could carry mold and mildew that threaten customers.

Improper cooling not only puts customers at risk but also puts your business at risk from legal and financial troubles - trouble that could even put you out of business if it's big enough. A simple maintenance call is an easy way to reduce your overall liability.

Having working equipment that does its job means that you and your staff are free to do their jobs.

If you can rely on the freezer to maintain the right food temperatures, you don't have to check up on it and can focus on getting orders out. If you know that your freezer is reliable to contain larger orders, you can purchase more in bulk and even expand your services. And if the cooler is kept clean and fresh, you don't have to worry about sanitation issues behind the counter.

Any of these reasons alone is enough to see how valuable regular commercial freezer maintenance is. Added together, they're a compelling reason to schedule your next maintenance checkup today. At Appliance Repair Service, we are your partners in getting the most out of all your restaurant appliances. Call today to make an appointment.