Aged Care Dishwasher Serviced in Perth: Fault Found, Staff Informed

A Perth aged care kitchen team had been watching their dishwasher pause mid-cycle for weeks.

Every time the rinse phase started, the machine sat at 14 seconds and waited.

Staff thought it was broken. Some had started working around it, running shorter loads, second-guessing whether dishes were coming out clean.

What Was Happening

The dishwasher was working correctly. The rinse cycle is designed to hold until the water reaches sanitising temperature. On cooler mornings, cold incoming water pulls heat from the system and extends that warm-up period. The machine was doing exactly what it should. Staff had never been told why.

A separate inspection found a small leak in the drain hose. The machine had been running with it undetected. A slow drain leak in a commercial kitchen rarely announces itself. It shows up as a damp patch under the machine, a smell, or a rusted floor fixing, long after the hose first started weeping.

How It Was Handled

The PEMS technician attended, tested the electrical draw on the rinse elements, confirmed normal operation across the board, and traced the leak to a pinhole in the drain hose. Staff were walked through why the pause happens and what temperature threshold triggers the countdown. The drain hose part was not locally available and has been ordered direct from the supplier. The site was advised and the job remains open pending part arrival.

The Result

Staff left with a clear understanding of normal machine behaviour. The leak was found and logged. Running shorter loads to work around a machine that was never faulty had been costing the team time and water for weeks, and that stopped immediately. The operator has a documented open job with part status confirmed, not a vague "we'll be in touch."

Why PEMS

Finding a leak that nobody reported, on a machine everybody thought was the problem, on the same visit. That is what a thorough inspection looks like versus a quick reset and sign-off.

Aged care kitchen operators managing food safety obligations need contractors who document, explain, and follow through. If your current provider's reports leave your team with more questions than answers, it may be worth a conversation with PEMS. Call 08 9554 3123 or visit pemservices.com.au.