Top Tips for Choosing an Effective Dishwasher

In the unlikely event that you do not already use a commercial dishwasher, think about the real cost of your manual washing up. You may be surprised by how much staff time is spent on this task, while the consistently hygienic results that a good quality dish or glasswasher produces cannot possibly be maintained by hand washing.   The dishwashing options available to you are vast with specifications varying considerably, as well as prices.   ipa is pleased to offer some pointers on choosing your next machine, courtesy of Nelson Dish and Glasswashing specialists.

1) Never pick a domestic machine

Nobody should ever be tempted to use a domestic machine in place of a commercial one. Conditions in a commercial environment are very different and not suitable for a domestic product:

• The machine might need to be used many times a day 
• Short cycles are required (just 2 or 3 minutes) 
• Staff often place heavily soiled items in the machine 
• Careful stacking is usually overtaken by urgent loading 
• And finally, if a service engineer is required, a wait of 2 or 3 days would certainly not be acceptable 

2) Hygiene

There has been increased pressure on caterers to look at hygiene and environmental issues and this has to be reflected in the equipment they select.
 
There are several important features on all Nelson machines that help to promote the highest standards of hygiene. For example, double filters effectively trap all debris before it has a chance to contaminate the load and all parts are easily accessible for cleaning with no hidden dirt traps.

3) Energy Efficiency

The Climate Change Levy means that energy efficiency is now more critical than ever before. Nelson dishwashers are designed for maximum energy efficiency. Special features include a shallow, sloping wash tank which greatly reduces water consumption and a double skinned and insulated construction helps to keep the heat in the machine throughout the cycle.

4) Price

Customers should not buy on cost alone, but should pinpoint the features that are important. There is little point paying for a feature that you don't need, but similarly, there is no point in buying a cheap machine which does not suit your purposes.

5) Take professional advice

Rather than making all the decisions yourself, take the advice of professionals. Nelson strongly recommends that 2 or 3 companies are asked to quote.
 
Ensure that the machine specified is CE approved and aim to choose a Water Board approved model.

6) Training and after sales support

Finally, it is also important to consider the inherent value of warranties and general service support offered. Nelson provides in-situ training at the time of installation and has a dedicated customer service department to deal with any problems that arise.

To find out more about ipa's glass and dishwashing suppliers, including the savings available through Nelson, please contact the ipa office on 01372 466 966 or email enquiries@ipapurchasing.co.uk.

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