A number of things can go wrong in a restaurant that can upset customers. Most are inconveniences that probably will not pose an existential threat to the establishment. What will shut it down completely, however, is a broken water heater. In a poll of restaurant facility managers asking, “What is the single biggest item at a restaurant that causes you the most concern and can shut you down?” an overwhelming 95% responded with “water heater.”
Restaurants need hot water in massive amounts to meet all of their cooking, washing, and sanitation needs. According to the National Restaurant Association, quick-service restaurants consume 500 to 1,500 gallons of water daily while full-service restaurants consume as much as 5,000 gallons — most of which is heated. Arguably, a restaurant needs hot water more than any other modern establishment. Indeed, by local ordinance, it cannot exist otherwise.