Pitco Fryer Troubleshooting
Pitco makes some of the best deep fryers in the foodservice industry, whipping up everything from delicious chicken to crispy onion rings with ease. When your unit isn't working properly, it can cause major problems. But don't panic! We have helpful Pitco fryer troubleshooting tips to help get your unit back on track in no time.
This guide is designed to help you identify an issue so you know what's wrong with the machine. Some of the issues outlined below will need to be resolved by an authorized service technician. This troubleshooting guide can be used for Pitco fryers SG14, solstice supreme and ssh55 models.
Fryer Won't Turn on
There are a few issues that could cause a unit to not turn on or heat up. In fact, you might even notice the pilot light on but no power in some cases. Here’s what to look for.
- Power cord is unplugged - Check the outlet to verify if the unit is plugged in. If it’s unplugged, plug it in.
- Controller is off - Check the controller and turn it on.
- Tripped circuit breaker – If the fryer has a tripped circuit breaker, have the circuit reset.
- High temperature limit is tripped or faulty - Either reset the high temperature limit or have it replaced by a technician if it’s faulty.
- SCBS thermal limit switch is tripped or faulty - Either reset the switch or have it replaced by a technician if it’s faulty.
- Faulty temperature probe - Contact an authorized technician to replace it.
- Faulty computer - Contact an authorized technician to replace it.
- Faulty power switch or power cord – See if the unit's power switch or cord on the fryer is damaged. If either is defective, have it replaced by an authorized technician immediately.
Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit or Ignite
When the pilot light won't ignite or stay on, this prevents the oil from heating properly. On select models, such as the Pitco solstice supreme, the controller will display "ignition failure." When this happens, turn the controller off and check the pilot light for the following issue.
- Gas valve is closed - Open the gas valve.
- Poor gas supply – The supply of gas could be limited by a grease or debris buildup in the burner assembly. There also could be pressure issues coming from the source supplying gas to your machine.
- Shut off valve is closed - Check the valve either behind the front door or in the back of the unit. If the valve is closed, open it.
- Loss of electrical power - If a power outage cuts the power, an electric computer fryer model will need to be restarted 5-10 minutes after the power is restored.
- Tripped high limit switch - Reset the high limit switch by pressing the red button.
- Not sparking – When you open the unit, turn the control on and see if there are sparks coming out of the pilot. If it's not sparking, hit the high limit reset button. If the button clicks, this means the unit overheats or the limit is bad. Press the button until it stops clicking. If clicking persists or the issue continues, further troubleshooting should be done by an authorized technician.
- Won't light after setup – Reset the pilot knob by turning it off. Then, turn it to the "Pilot" position, and push and hold it in for 15-30 seconds. While you're holding the knob in, light the pilot with a match or lighter. If it lights, turn the knob to the "On" position. If it won't light, have the parts reinstalled by an authorized technician.
Not Filtering
A fryer that won’t filter can leave you with dirty oil and product that just doesn’t taste the way it should. Get back to filtering the fryer with these tips:
- Filter paper is dirty - Change the filter paper following the operator manual’s instructions.
- Strainer cap is dirty - Clean the strainer cap following the operator manual’s cleaning instructions.
- Filter pan isn’t properly installed - Check if the filter pan isn’t completely pushed in. Then fully push the pan into place.
Heat Failure
Your unit might be running but won't heat or circulate properly. The following can cause temperature or airflow issues.
- No heat – If the unit is running without heat, there could be a defective or tripped high limit or an internal wiring error. If the limit is tripped, reset it, for defective parts, have them serviced by an authorized technician.
- Pilot isn’t lit - Light the pilot.
- Machine heating slowly – Dirty heating elements could affect the temperature. Remember to clean your fryer regularly on a daily or weekly basis. A faulty heat demand relay or element also could prevent the unit from heating properly. If either isn’t working, troubleshooting and replacing it must be done by an authorized technician.
- Overheated unit with little to no airflow – An internal wiring error, failed circulation motor or improper voltage can affect the airflow of your fryer. Contact an authorized service technician for troubleshooting and repairs.
Won't Drain
When it comes time to change the oil or deep clean the fryer, it needs to be drained. So if something is clogging it up, try the following Pitco fryer troubleshooting tips:
- Drain valve isn’t opened - Whether the valve is fully closed or just wasn’t fully opened, turn the handle to open the valve all the way.
- Tank drain is clogged - Clear away the blockage.
Need a little more help troubleshooting your fryer? Check out our large collection of Pitco manuals for tips on your specific model.