Posted on 1 Comment

Got Water Problems? We can help!

Problem:

Client: I’m having issues with my restaurant steamer oven having to be cleaned of a hard rock like substance on the heating elements and on the inside of the ovens boiler tank every 1 to 2 weeks. I’m also having to use more soap and cleaning supplies in the kitchen and bathrooms of my facility. I also have 2 large 1600 pound ice makers and 2 fountain beverage stations with 2 carbonators. My drinking water tastes bad and my glasses and flatware look dirty even after they have been cleaned in the dishwasher or by hand. My steamer oven manufacturer technician says I need an Everpure SRX scale inhibitor feeder bowl with a Scale Stick. Can you help? FPS: Yes we can but before we go any further and we sell you the wrong thing based on someone else. Can I ask you a few questions? Have you done a water sample recently to know what is in your water? Client: No, Why? FPS: The Everpure SRX scale inhibitor may not be enough or the right solution to take care of the entire problem you’re having. To know what is causing your problem in your steamer oven, bad smelling and tasting drinking water, high usage amount of detergents, liquid cleaning supplies, fountain beverage syrups, quick clogging ice machine water filters and dirty dishes it would be best to find out what’s in your water. How much water does your facility use? Client: Approximately 150 gallons per hour for 20 hours per day. FPS: What size is your water line to your kitchen and restaurant? Client: 3/4 inch FPS: Does the ¾” water line supply water to the entire facility? Client: Yes, it goes to the bathrooms and deep sinks. I want to make sure we don’t lose any water flow because we use a lot of water. I don’t want to use anything to make us lose water flow. FPS: No problem. Solution: Municipal water test results revealed the grains per gallon of hardness was 21, total dissolved solids were 289, chloride level of 237 and PH was 7.2. The levels of hardness would not have been controlled properly by the scale inhibitor system originally suggested and the issues in the other part of the building would not have been solved. We recommended to the client the Hydrotech Duplex 9×48 alternating tank water softener, a salt brine tank and a metered head which handles 10 gallons per minute flow rate. We also recommend an Everpure Triple 7FC for the beverage stations. Results: We talked to the client just one week after installation and asked how the system and his facility were doing after the installation. He said he did another water test after the system was installed and that the new water test sample reported the PH level was now 7.7, the hardness grains per gallon was now 7.5 down from 21, the chloride level are under 100 and the smell in the drinking water is gone. That was not the only good news. He also reported that the beverage syrup consumption is down and the soap usage has now been reduced by more than half than before. Also, the dishes and glasses are cleaner and shinier. The original problem with the limescale buildup issue in his steamer cooker, coffee machines and ice machine has been eliminated, saving money on downtime and additional service and replacement parts costs. He calculated his savings from this recommendation we gave and the equipment we supplied, he now will be able to save enough money to upgrade his facilities and add more revenue making equipment. Are you having problems with your water filtration or the quality of your water? Please do not hesitate to call us. We are trained professionals dedicated to solving all your water quality issues. Call us at 800-942-7873 or click the link below to ask a question.

Posted on

Lovin' Your Combi-Oven

Michael Engel, owner of Pastiche Bistro in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his favorite piece of kitchen equipment, the Alto Shaam Mini Combi oven. Photo by Kevin J. Miyazaki/Redux
One of the functions of a Combi-oven is its steam feature. Steam equipment is very susceptible to scale and corrosion problems. The last thing you want is your combi-oven breaking down, leaving you scrambling to figure out how you’re going to prepare your food and then trying to find a technician to fix the combi-oven, and you KNOW how expensive that can be! So it’s time to show your combi-oven some LOVE! Take careful consideration of its water quality by understanding a few basic characteristics about your water: 

  • Chlorine/Chloramines
  • Hardness (scale)
  • Chlorides

Chlorine and Chloramines are disinfectants that protect us from water-borne disease and other health risks, but they also promote corrosion in cooking equipment. The scale forming compounds of calcium and magnesium carbonate are found in most water supplies. The physics of generating steam results in the precipitation of these dissolved minerals which forms hard scale in boilers, valves and fittings, and on elements, cabinet walls and glass. Chlorides are common, active ions of dissolved solids in water that can cause pitting and crevice corrosion. At high temperatures chlorides are particularly corrosive to stainless steel.  Chlorides can only be removed with a system that utilizes reverse osmosis.

With these facts in mind, you want to make sure you pick the right water filtration system for your combi-oven. Here are a few options:

(Click the image to see more information on these systems.)

To figure out what is in your water, call us today for a water test kit!