Having a great energy-efficient commercial warewasher is arguably as important as any other aspect of a professional kitchen. More robust than their domestic counterparts, commercial dishwashers and glasswashers are vital when it comes to efficiently cleaning large volumes of kitchenware.
Commercial Warewashers – Dish Washers & Glasswashers
When in the market for a commercial warewasher, it’s important to understand that the term ‘warewasher’ refers to both professional dish washers and commercial glass washers.
There are several significant differences between commercial warewashing equipment and standard domestic alternatives, so don’t assume that a typical household dishwasher will cut the mustard. Commercial warewashers are designed specifically to tackle professional levels of grease, to accommodate larger pots and pans, and to function continuously for long periods of time. Commercial dishwashers accomplish this using higher temperatures, specialist cleaning solutions, and high-powered water jets.
Perhaps most importantly, a commercial warewasher completes a wash cycle in a fraction of the time that it takes a domestic warewasher – this is true of both dish washers and glass washers. By functioning at such a high rate, they can meet the high demands of professional catering environments such as busy restaurant kitchens.
What to Look for When Buying an Energy Efficient Commercial Dishwasher
- Double skin commercial warewashers such as the Smeg HTY615D Double Skinned Hood type Dishwasher offer an added layer of insulation, which helps to improve the heat retention of a commercial dishwasher or glasswasher whilst also reducing the amount of noise it makes.
- Heat recovery is a feature which enables the warewasher to recycle waste steam and/or water, using it to pre-heat the cold water intake. In the case of the Winterhalter PT Series of dish washers, this can reduce energy costs by 10-15%.
- ‘Eco’ modes are a common feature on commercial warewashers, and they enable the machine to run cleaning cycles at a reduced power level, thereby improving energy efficiency.
- Commissioning a custom dish washer which fits your individual requirements may be the right choice for your kitchen, as it enables you to make the best of the available space, and to have the ideal workflow system.
- Energy & water consumption is key to efficiency. Always consider the kWh/hr rating and the estimated water consumption of each model. This will help when estimating potential operating costs moving forward.
- Warranty is important when shopping for any commercial catering appliance, but the reliance that most kitchens have on their warewasher makes it extra vital here. The duration and terms of the warranty will vary from one manufacturer to the next, but some of the best offer 24 plus months of cover.
- Capacity is a key factor to consider when choosing a commercial warewasher, one which will depend on the size of your business and budget. Investing in a model that isn't capable of meeting cleaning demand will see your machine running more cycles, adding additional pressure to equipment. Choosing a model too large for requirements will see wasted water and energy consumption. Bear in mind that a larger commercial dish washer or glass washer is typically more energy-efficient overall, and that some of the most high-end options can wash more than 500 racks per day.
- Pay Per Wash schemes such as those operated by Winterhalter allow businesses to benefit from advanced washing while only paying upfront for the cycles they use.
Top 5 Tips for Efficient Use of Commercial Dish Washers
- Only run your warewasher when it’s full. By doing this, you can minimise the amount of water, energy and cleaning fluids that go to waste. Make the best of your warewasher’s capacity.
- Use the ‘eco’ program. Many dish washers and glass washers can achieve fantastic results without running at full power. Some modern warewashers also include ‘auto’ programs, which detect when your dishes are clean.
- Shop around for your cleaning fluids. Professional catering warewashers – both dish washers and glass washers – clean so well partly because they use specialist chemical solutions. Be sure to compare the prices of these, as the differences can really add up over time.
- Reduce the temperature. Not all dishes need to be washed at high temperatures so, if you don’t need full sterilisation, adjust the temperatures to find out what works best for you. This may take a bit of trial and error, but it’s worthwhile.
- Take advantage of off-peak rates. Buying a warewasher with a delayed start or timer function will enable you to set a load to run during off-peak hours, giving you more for your money in the long run.
Warewashing Brands to Look Out For
For those looking to equip a professional kitchen with a premium, top-of-the range catering dishwasher, Winterhalter is likely to be a brand worth considering. The high quality Winterhalter PT Series of pass-through warewashers are a fantastic choice for those less concerned with budget, and they’re used by some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world. Winterhalter dish washers boast many features which are designed to fine-tune their economic efficiency and performance. Other high end brands of warewasher include Meiko, Hobart, Smeg and Maidaid.
DC Products is another strong brand, which is both economically and environmentally responsible, and which offers a solid range of under-counter and pass-through commercial catering warewashers at a more affordable price. Plus, with each sale, DC plant a tree, helping to offset your carbon emissions, and they’re always looking for innovative new ways to improve the efficiency of their dishwashers in regard to water, energy and chemical consumption. Warewashers from Fagor and Prodis are also great for those who want something which is more affordable or smaller.
