Know When to Replace Your Beverage Dispenser

Beverage dispensers are a necessary addition for anyone operating a self-serve beverage station. This includes buffet lines, catering operations, or concessions units. While regular maintenance can help extend the life of your beverage dispenser, the fact of the matter is that everything, in due time, will wear and tear and become either too costly to repair or too outdated to fit in with your evolving commercial kitchen. Here are some signs that could signify that it’s time to replace your beverage dispenser. 

Leaks Have Become Significant

It’s fairly typical for a liquid dispenser of any sort to, over the course of its life, suffer some small abrasions and leaks in the containment unit. But there are some moments when a leak can signify more than a simple repair. For instance, if water begins to leak through the chassis or the bin seal, this can indicate one of many things. A crack in the bin or a rupture in the corner seal could be the cause of the problem, and if that’s the case, then it’s likely time to replace the unit as a whole. Similarly, the insulation for the unit will break down over time, and eventually this breakdown can cause excess condensation, signifying the end to the usable life of your unit.

Cost of Repairs vs Cost of Machine

There’s always that breaking point or that threshold wherein one has to balance the costs of repairing the unit versus the cost of replacing the unit as a whole. Once costs have mounted and the maintenance has become just as pricey as an investment in a new unit altogether, it’s probably time to consider ditching the old one. In fact, don’t wait until the costs are equal. Instead, when maintenance and repair costs amount to about 50% of the value of the unit, then it’s likely time to replace.

Aesthetics and Usability

Like anything that resides in front-of-house, units can become worn and appear old even before they’ve reached the end of their usable life. Remember that anything in the front-of-house is visible to customers, thus making aesthetics just as important as usability. When your beverage dispenser begins to look ragged and is becoming an eyesore in your beverage dispensing station, then it’s time to move it to back-of-house or dispense of it altogether. 

Similarly, your unit may long outlive its original intended use as your menu continues to evolve. There may be a point where maintaining it becomes too much of an investment in effort, time, and money compared to its use, and at this point you may need to consider pitching it in favor of a different unit that matches your menu better.

JENIFER AQUINO

Sales Consultant

CKitchen.com

E Friedman Associates Inc

T: 800-555-0666 x 1975

D: 516-882-1975

jenifer@ckitchen.com