🔥 Holiday Gear-Up Series, Part 10: Prevent Equipment Breakdowns Before They Destroy Your December

Every December, the same horror stories hit Queensland venues:

• The coffee machine dies on the busiest Saturday

• The combi oven throws an error code mid-service

• The ice machine collapses in a heatwave

• The dishwasher floods the kitchen

• The fridge sits at 12°C and no one notices until 10am

• The deep fryer starts bubbling like a volcano

• The POS freezes during peak hour

• Someone says, “We’ll just deal with it after Christmas” (you won’t)

Equipment failure in December isn’t just annoying.

It’s service-ending.Cash-draining.Staff-breaking.Customer-losing.

And almost ALL of it is preventable.

Let’s get your venue protected BEFORE peak season hits.

⚡ The 7 Pieces of Equipment MOST Likely to Fail in December

This is based on real venues, real breakdowns, and real pain:

1️⃣ Coffee machine

2️⃣ Ice machine

3️⃣ Fridges + freezers

4️⃣ Dishwasher + glasswasher

5️⃣ Combi oven

6️⃣ POS system

7️⃣ Aircon (yes, it counts — staff can’t work in 40°C)

If you rely on these daily (you do), then you need a pre-December plan.

💥 The 8-Step Equipment Survival Plan

This is your blueprint to surviving December without a meltdown.

1. Book Preventative Services Now (NOT mid-December)

Anything that makes your venue money needs a pre-holiday service:

✔ Coffee machine & grinder

✔ Ice machine deep clean

✔ Dishwasher, rinse arms & filters

✔ Combi oven inspection

✔ Fridge seals + gas checks

✔ Exhaust + hood clean

✔ Aircon service

✔ POS software updates

If you wait until something breaks?Service techs won’t come — they’re drowning.

2. Do a Full Venue Walk-Through With Your Team

Check for:

⚠️ Leaks

⚠️ Cracked seals

⚠️ Smells

⚠️ Strange noises

⚠️ Overheating

⚠️ Rust

⚠️ Slow heating/cooling

⚠️ Worn gaskets

⚠️ Missing screws/knobs/buttons

⚠️ Damaged plugs

⚠️ Blocked drains

Small issues become massive issues in December.

3. Clean Everything That Has a Fan, Filter or Pipe

This includes:

• Coffee machine filters

• Ice machine filters

• Aircon filters

• Combi oven fans

• Deep fryer oil filters

• Fridge condenser coils

• Dishwasher filters

• Exhaust hoods and vents

Dirty equipment = stressed equipment.Stressed equipment = broken equipment.

4. Stock Emergency Backups

You need a backup plan for:

✔ Spare thermometers

✔ Spare blender jugs

✔ POS charger cables

✔ Power boards + extension leads

✔ Ice bags (for the ice machine meltdown)

✔ Gas lighters

✔ Fuses

✔ Gloves, cloths, scrapers

✔ Extra oil for fryers

Small things save big days.

5. Review Cold Storage Flow

December fridges get PACKED.

Fix these now:

✔ Airflow gaps

✔ Shelf organisation

✔ Raw vs cooked layout

✔ Reduce double stacking

✔ Add open-dated labels

✔ Clear expired stock

✔ Add a wireless temp logger

A fridge at 8°C on Christmas morning = game over.

6. Test Your Equipment Under Pressure

Run a “stress test”:

• Full coffee rush simulation

• Full fryers

• Full combi load

• Full dishwashing cycle

• Full seating plan

• Full cabinet + fridge load

If something fails now → better today than December 24.

7. Create an Equipment Emergency Contact List

Your team needs:

✔ Tech phone numbers

✔ After-hours contacts

✔ What to do if a fridge fails

✔ Who to call if the POS crashes

✔ Steps for power outages

✔ Backup plans for coffee/dishwashing

Stick this list ON THE WALL.

8. Train Staff on Basic Troubleshooting

Not everything requires a tech.

Teach staff:

• How to reset the dishwasher

• How to check fridge seals

• How to reboot the POS

• How to refill coffee machine tanks

• How to clear ice machine blockages

• What to do when temps drop or spike

This can save HOURS.

💡 Want a Holiday Equipment Readiness Plan Done For You?

This is included in my Operations Consulting packages.

You’ll get:

✔ A full venue equipment audit

✔ A December maintenance plan

✔ Recommended servicing schedule

✔ Emergency procedures

✔ Staff troubleshooting sheets

✔ Preventative checklists

✔ Pre-Christmas equipment readiness calendar

This plan saves venues from thousands in breakdowns.

🟦 See all services here: https://www.bambamculinaryconsultants.com/services-9

🎁 December Bonus #1:

FREE 1-hour Strategy Session

with every Food Safety PRO System(valued at $220)

Get your processes AND your operations sharp.

🎁 December Bonus #2:

FREE Food Safety Essentials System

when you book the 3-Pack Consulting Bundle(valued at $149)

This is the ultimate holiday-readiness package.

This is one of the smartest investments you can make before the summer rush.

👉 Book your call: https://www.bambamculinaryconsultants.com/book-online

Ben

-Bam Bam Culinary Consultants