Why is my gas fryer not heating?

The most common causes are a failed thermopile or pilot assembly, a faulty high-limit switch that has tripped or died, a bad thermostat, or a failed gas combination valve. A technician can usually isolate the failed component in one visit.

Is a 10 year old commercial fryer worth repairing?

Often no. Open-pot gas fryers commonly last 8 to 12 years in daily service. Past that point, repeated repairs plus the efficiency gains of a newer high-efficiency fryer usually favor replacement, especially if the frypot itself is worn or leaking.

Commercial Fryer Repair: Costs and Common Problems

Published 07.27.2026. Written for restaurant operators and kitchen managers.

A dead fryer during service is one of the most expensive equipment failures a kitchen can have, because fried items usually anchor the menu. Here is how the common failures break down, what repairs tend to cost, and how to think about the repair versus replace decision.

The failures behind the symptoms

Pilot will not stay lit (gas): usually a thermopile or pilot assembly, one of the cheapest and most common fryer repairs.
No heat at all: tripped or failed high-limit switch, failed thermostat, or a bad gas valve on gas units; failed elements or contactors on electric units.
Slow recovery or wild temperature swings: failing thermostat or temperature probe, or a burner problem. Also degrades food quality and increases oil absorption long before total failure.
Oil leaking from the drain or frypot: drain valve repairs are routine; a leaking frypot weld is usually the end of the fryer.
Filtration system faults (on built-in filter models): pump, hoses, and o-rings are all serviceable parts.

What repairs typically cost

Exact pricing varies by market, brand, and access, so treat these as planning ranges rather than quotes. Small component repairs such as pilot assemblies, thermopiles, and high-limit switches commonly land in the low hundreds of dollars including the service call. Thermostat and gas valve replacements typically run higher, often in the mid hundreds. Major work such as burner assemblies or electric element replacement can approach four figures, which is the zone where the replacement conversation starts. Always ask the service company for their diagnostic fee and hourly rate up front, and whether the diagnostic fee applies toward the repair.

Repair or replace?

A workable rule of thumb used across the industry: if a repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new unit, or the fryer is past roughly 80 percent of its expected life, price out replacement. Open-pot gas fryers commonly serve 8 to 12 years. Newer high-efficiency fryers also recover faster and burn less gas, and utility rebates for high-efficiency foodservice equipment exist in many territories, which shifts the math further toward replacement for older units.

Prevention that actually moves the needle

Boil-outs on schedule, calibration checks, and keeping the combustion area clean are the maintenance items technicians say prevent the most fryer calls. If your fryer is mission critical, a preventive maintenance contract that includes calibration is cheap insurance compared to a Friday night failure.

Find a fryer service company

Browse verified commercial cooking equipment repair companies, or jump straight to your metro: Cincinnati, Columbus, or Dayton.

What companies actually put in writing

Published repair cost ranges are estimates. What is not an estimate is the terms a company commits to in writing, and those vary more than most operators expect. These are taken from the companies’ own websites while verifying 117 listings, and are worth reading before you approve work, because a cheaper hourly rate with no warranty can cost more than a dearer one with ninety days behind it.

Warranty and guarantee terms

AirTech Heating & Cooling Charleston, West Virginia Maintenance plans: 10, 13 or 15 percent off parts and labour by tier; extended warranty on parts and labour at the top tier.
Days Appliance Repair Cincinnati, Ohio 30-day labour warranty; 90-day manufacturer warranty on most parts
Dine Company Louisville, Kentucky 90-day warranty on repairs
DRD Repair Lexington, Kentucky 90-day labour warranty on repairs; 1-year on installations; OEM parts under manufacturer warranty
Electrical Appliance Repair Service Cleveland, Ohio 90-day factory warranty on most parts
Facilities Management (Tech24) Indianapolis, Indiana 90-day parts and labour guarantee
General Parts Group Columbus, Ohio 90-day guarantee on every service call
ICC Mechanical Services South Bend, Indiana They state repairs use OEM parts and that results are guaranteed, without publishing a warranty period.
K&D Factory Service Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 90-day warranty on OEM parts and labour
McCleaners Restaurant Services Allentown, Pennsylvania Satisfaction guarantee; certificate of performance provided on completion.
Phillips Ice Service Bowling Green, Kentucky Their site states they process all warranty claims on the customer's behalf, and separately lists the conditions they treat as billable rather than warranty work.
Quality Plumbing & Heating (QPH) Indianapolis, Indiana 12-month parts and labour warranty; 100% satisfaction guarantee
Restaurant Services LLC Columbus, Ohio Guaranteed pricing on quotes
Tech24 Cincinnati, Ohio 90-day parts and labour guarantee
Vasey Facility Service Indianapolis, Indiana Guaranteed Lifetime Protection: annual fee, replacement at no extra cost
Whaley Foodservice Louisville, Kentucky 90-day parts and labour warranty

Pricing and estimate terms

Air Service of West Virginia Morgantown, West Virginia Planned maintenance agreements offered to both residential and commercial clients.
Coffee Service Pros Fort Wayne, Indiana Publishes prices: equipment repair $150 for 90 minutes, preventive maintenance $100 for an hour, brewing consultation $80 for 45 minutes, bookable online.
E.L. Walters Air Conditioning Evansville, Indiana Free estimates
Force Heating & Cooling Toledo, Ohio Free estimates on all new installations
Fugh Refrigeration Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Up-front pricing
Hood Pursuit Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Detailed service report with every clean, and photo documentation on request, to support inspections and insurance.
Jags Mechanical Cincinnati, Ohio Asks for a not-to-exceed amount when you book
Retail Food Equipment (Lobalzo) Akron, Ohio States labour and travel rates lower than competitors
Steers Heating & Cooling Parkersburg, West Virginia Maintenance plan offered after every installation, with priority scheduling, discounted repair rates and detailed service reports.

Only companies that publish a specific term appear here. Many others say they stand behind their work without saying for how long, which is not the same thing and is worth asking about on the phone. Terms can change; confirm before you book.