How to Detect Fryer Tank Leaks

A leaky fryer tank just won’t do. So if you’ve been called to a commercial kitchen and need to get to the bottom of where the leak is coming from, there are a few key places to start looking. It’s important to start with the diagnostics before you can move onto repairs. So if you’re not sure where to begin, this guide will show you how to detect fryer tank leaks. 

Identifying Leak Location

There are a few important locations to check first when getting a call for a leaking fryer tank.

Welding

Inside the cabinet, check the welding of the fryer tank. You’re going to be looking for a build up of oil in these areas. Look for this along the heat exchanger, the bottom and around the pilot assembly. If end-users leave the fryer running without oil and the pilot on it will weaken portions of the weld, causing the leak. You’ll also want to make sure oil isn’t coming from the top and leaking down to the bottom. That oil can come from product being moved around. The burners can be removed once they’re cool to get a better visual when inspecting this area.

Flue

You can use a flashlight to get a better look down the flue. If you notice wet spots down at the bottom of the flue, it would indicate the fryer is leaking oil through the heat exchanger and pushing oil back through the flue.

Internal

If the welding and flue aren’t the culprit for the fryer tank leaking oil, then it could be happening somewhere internally. The front and side panels can be removed to inspect for wet spots and oil build up.