Which Garland griddle this page covers
This page is about single-sided flat griddles. The two-sided clamshell units are a different machine. You will find those on our Garland grill repair page.
Garland makes three kinds of flat griddle. The Master Series production griddle is the big one. It runs from 24 to 72 inches wide. Then there are heavy-duty counter griddles. Last, there are griddle sections built into a range top. The range-top plates are 5/8 inch thick. The Master and counter plates are a full inch.
How a Master griddle makes and holds heat
Each 12 inches of plate has its own heat source and its own thermostat. On gas models that is a burner bent in a U shape. Garland rates it at 30,000 BTU. It has flame-failure protection. On electric models it is a three-bar element rated at 4.3 kW. The dial for each zone runs from 150 to 450 degrees. Ignition is electronic, with a main power switch.
So the plate is really a row of 12 inch zones. When a cook tells us the left side is cold, we know which burner and which thermostat to test.
One zone runs cold
- Gas zone will not light. The igniter for that burner is dead, or the pilot is out.
- Lights but shuts off. The flame-failure sensor is not seeing the flame.
- Low, lazy flame. The burner ports or the orifice are clogged with grease.
- Electric zone dead. The element has burned out or a contactor has failed.
- Zone runs hot and burns product. The thermostat is stuck closed.
- Zone lags behind the dial. The thermostat bulb has slipped out of its pocket.
The thermostat bulb is the one people miss. It must sit tight against the underside of the plate. If a clip breaks, the bulb hangs in open air and reads low. The burner then runs flat out and scorches that zone.
Warped plates, carbon and grease faults
When the cold spot is not tied to one zone, look at the plate. Years of ice and cold water on a hot plate will warp it. A warped plate lifts off its supports and heats in patches. Heavy carbon on top acts like a blanket and does the same thing. We can confirm it with a surface probe at a dozen points. Carbon can be cleaned off. A badly warped plate has to be replaced.
A Master griddle drains to a grease drawer in the front. If the chute clogs, grease backs up onto the plate or runs down inside the body. That grease can reach the burners and the wiring. Flare-ups under the plate or smoke from the front panel are warning signs. Shut the unit down and call. We clear the chute and check what the grease reached.
Service call pricing for kitchens
A griddle diagnostic for a business is $149. Approve the griddle quote and the $149 is not charged. That quote is a set figure. Labor and parts are both in it, and the manager sees it first. Most griddle calls get a visit the same day. Common thermostats, igniters and valves ride on our trucks. A+ is an independent griddle repair outfit, family owned. Each griddle repair leaves with a 30-day repair warranty.
Is an old Garland griddle worth the money
In most kitchens, yes. The frame is steel and the parts bolt on. Thermostats, burners, elements and valves can all be swapped. A new plate is the one big ticket. If the plate is warped and the body is rusted, replacing the unit may cost less over time. We will price both for you.
Where we fix Garland griddles
Our Los Angeles techs cover the city and Pasadena. See the California service page for more. Garland griddle calls also come from Chicago, from Houston, from D.C. and from Northern Virginia. Visit our Garland appliance repair page for other equipment. If the griddle sits on a range, read Garland range repair too. When you call, count the zones from left to right and tell us which number is cold. We will bring the burner parts and thermostat for that one.