Commercial dishwasher and dish machine repair in Ottawa and Gatineau
We repair under-counter, door-type (hood) and conveyor dish machines, glass washers and pot washers, high-temperature and low-temperature (chemical) models, for restaurants, bars, cafés and institutional kitchens. Diagnostic: $129 + tax, waived when you proceed with the repair.
A dish machine has to do more than clean: it has to sanitize. Ontario's food premises rules expect wash water at 60–71 °C and a final rinse of at least 82 °C for at least 10 seconds, or an approved chemical sanitizer, and thermometers that show wash and rinse temperatures (machines with NSF commercial certification follow their certified settings). When the rinse is not getting hot enough, the cause is often a booster heater element, a thermostat, a fill problem or scale.
We check the machine against its own data plate, find what failed and give you the price in writing before any repair.
Equipment we repair
- Under-counter machines. Bar, café and staff-room commercial units, high- or low-temperature.
- Door-type (hood) machines. Single-rack upright machines with a lift-up hood.
- Conveyor and rack machines. Multi-tank machines with a conveyor drive.
- Glass washers and pot washers. Bar glass washers and pot-and-pan machines.
- Booster heaters. Built-in and stand-alone boosters for high-temperature rinse.
Problems we fix, and what can cause them
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. The technician confirms the cause on site and writes it down before any repair.
| Symptom | Possible causes |
|---|---|
| Rinse not reaching temperature | Booster heater element, thermostat or high limit, contactor, scale on the element, low incoming water temperature. |
| Wash tank not heating | Tank heater element, thermostat, low-water cut-off, contactor or control. |
| Machine not filling or overfilling | Fill solenoid valve, float or level switch, pressure switch, strainer. |
| Not draining | Drain valve or pump, blocked drain, overflow tube, strainer. |
| Dishes coming out dirty | Wash pump, blocked or missing wash arms or nozzles, low wash temperature, detergent feed. |
| Leaking | Door or hood gasket, pump seal, hoses and fittings, tank seams. |
| Hood or door won't start a cycle | Door switch, hood switch, timer or control board. |
| Conveyor not moving | Drive motor, gearbox, clutch, conveyor switch. |
Parts we test and replace
- wash and rinse pumps and seals
- tank and booster heater elements
- thermostats, high limits and temperature probes
- fill solenoid valves and float switches
- drain valves and pumps
- wash and rinse arms and nozzles
- door and hood switches and gaskets
- timers and control boards
- conveyor drive motors and gearboxes
- chemical pumps' tubing (dispenser service remains with your chemical supplier)
Repairs a technician may recommend
- Replace a booster or tank heater element, thermostat or high limit
- Replace the wash pump or its seal
- Replace the fill valve, float or level switch
- Replace the drain valve or pump and clear the drain
- Clear and refit wash and rinse arms
- Replace door or hood switches and gaskets
- Replace the timer or control board
- Repair the conveyor drive
- Descale heaters and tanks where scale is the cause
Safe checks before you call
- Read the wash and rinse thermometers or display and write the numbers down
- Check that the strainers and scrap baskets are clean and in place
- Make sure the wash and rinse arms are seated and the nozzles are not blocked
- Check that the detergent and sanitizer containers are not empty
- Confirm the incoming water valve is open
Stop using it if
- Water leaking near electrical connections or under the control panel
- A burning smell or a breaker that keeps tripping
- Rinse temperature or sanitizer concentration below what your machine requires: switch to manual washing and sanitizing until it is fixed
Never work on gas lines, wiring or refrigerant yourself.
What to expect at the visit
The technician runs the machine and records wash and final-rinse temperatures, checks fill, drain, pumps, arms and switches, then tests heaters and controls. You get a written finding with the cause, parts, labour and our verdict before any repair.
Repair or replace?
Heater elements, pumps, valves, switches and controls are worth repairing. Corroded tanks or a failed conveyor drive on an older machine are the cases to weigh against replacement; the finding puts both numbers on paper.
What moves the price
- Diagnostic: $129 + tax, waived when you proceed with the repair. Written finding and quote before any work.
- Heater element versus control board or pump
- Under-counter versus conveyor machine access
- Whether descaling is needed
- Part on the truck or ordered
Warranty: 90 days on parts replaced; labour coverage depends on the work done. Emergency service runs 6 pm to midnight: a $169 + tax emergency call within 35 km; beyond 35 km extra travel is quoted from your address. Emergency repairs are quoted on site and cost more than regular repairs.
Questions
What rinse temperature does a high-temperature dish machine need?
Ontario's food premises rules call for a sanitizing rinse of at least 82 °C applied for at least 10 seconds, or an approved chemical sanitizer, unless the machine carries NSF commercial certification and is run as certified. Your machine's data plate gives its own minimums.
Do you service the chemical dispensers?
Dispensers are usually owned and maintained by your chemical supplier. We repair the dish machine itself and tell you if the finding points to the chemical feed.
Can you repair a residential-style dishwasher in an office?
Yes. See dishwasher repair; in a business it is billed at the commercial rate.
What does the visit cost?
The diagnostic is $129 + tax, waived when you proceed with the repair.
Related commercial repairs
Sources
Sources checked 2026-10-21.
Equipment down?
Call with the equipment type and the symptom, or book online. You get a written finding and the price before any repair.
Pick a preferred day and arrival window online; we confirm by email once a technician is assigned.
- $129 + tax diagnosticAny commercial appliance, gas or electric; waived when you proceed with the repair
- Written finding on every visitCause, price and our repair-or-replace verdict
- 90-day warrantyOn parts replaced; labour depends on the work done