Commercial Kitchen Chronicles

I'm just a blue-collar guy trying to shine a light on my little corner of the HVACR industry. I've spent the last 20 years working in commercial kitchen equipment repair. Ovens, fryers, refrigeration, ice machines, dishmachines, combi ovens, steamers, and just about anything else that keeps a commercial kitchen running. I'm a technician first. Always have been. Along the way, I've been fortunate enough to become a CFESA Master Technician, an instructor, and an award-winning technician. But some of the most rewarding things I've done in this industry have nothing to do with awards or certifications. They've come from helping another technician figure something out, watching someone develop their skills, or encouraging somebody to take a chance on a career in the skilled trades. A few years ago, I started sharing my everyday work on social media. What began as simply documenting service calls turned into something much bigger. Today, I create repair content, share lessons learned in the field, and host Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, a podcast dedicated to the people, stories, and experiences that make our industry what it is. I'm constantly learning, whether that's becoming a better technician, instructor, podcaster, or content creator. I spend a ridiculous amount of time studying photography, filming, editing, storytelling, and what other creators are doing. Not because I think I've figured everything out, but because I know I haven't. If you see me following you, commenting, asking questions, or interacting with your content, it's because I'm genuinely interested in what you're doing. I'm learning from you, just like I hope someone might learn something from me. My goal is pretty simple. Share what I know. Learn what I don't. Help others along the way. And hopefully leave this industry a little better than I found it. If you're in HVACR, commercial refrigeration, foodservice equipment repair, or any of the skilled trades, I'd love to connect. And to everyone out there teaching, creating, documenting their journey, or helping the next generation find their way... Keep that shit up. 👊 #HVACR #SkilledTrades #CommercialKitchenEquipment – at Elwood, IN

Allow that and more just to grill burgers. – at Noblesville, IN

First call of the day. Alto shaam combi would not turn on due to a tripped internal circuit breaker. Nope to figure out why it tripped.... – at New Whiteland, IN

From Wrenches to Championships: Kyle Burkholder’s Rise to the Top | Commercial Kitchen Chronicles xitter.gq/i/broadcasts/1rxmqpBOR…

🔥 TWO MAJOR AWARDS. ONE HELL OF A TECHNICIAN! 🏆 TONIGHT at 8 PM Eastern! We're going LIVE with Kyle Burkholder, the 2026 CFESA TopTech Throwdown National Hot Side Champion AND 2026 CFESA Outstanding Technician! From earning his CFESA Master Technician certification in just 18 months to becoming a national champion and branch manager at Clark Service Group, Kyle has one incredible story to tell! 🔧 Technical excellence 🏆 National championships 💪 Leadership, training, and developing the next generation of technicians 🎙️ Commercial Kitchen Chronicles 📅 TONIGHT | October 28 ⏰ 8 PM Eastern | LIVE on YouTube 🐍 Proudly brought to you by Viper from Refrigeration Technologies! 💬 What does it take to become one of the best technicians in the country? Join us LIVE, bring your questions, and SHARE this with a fellow technician! #CommercialKitchenChronicles #CFESA #TopTechThrowdown #HVACR #FoodserviceEquipmentRepair #SkilledTrades #Viper #RefrigerationTechnologies – at Noblesville, IN

Wow putting livestreams behind a paywall afterwards is wild. Sorry I got a job and couldn't catch it live.... – at Noblesville, IN

🔥 STILL STARTING UP GAS EQUIPMENT WITH JUST ONE MANOMETER? YOU MIGHT BE MISSING HALF THE STORY. 👀 Another early morning @FrymasterMTWFS fryer startup, fueled by @GhostLifestyle But the REAL star of today's show? The @JBIND Climate Class Digital Manometers! 🔧🔥 When I'm commissioning commercial gas equipment, I don't want to guess what's happening with my gas supply. This kit comes with TWO digital manometers, allowing me to monitor incoming gas pressure AND manifold pressure simultaneously. Why does that matter? Because when something isn't operating correctly, I want to know what's happening on BOTH sides of that gas valve. ✅ Monitor inlet and manifold gas pressures simultaneously. ✅ Identify pressure drops under load. ✅ Help troubleshoot potential gas supply and regulator issues. ✅ Bluetooth app connectivity for remote monitoring. ✅ Built-in digital displays when I don't feel like messing with another app. No constantly swapping hoses. No bouncing back and forth between test ports. Just real-time pressure readings while the equipment is operating. And that's exactly why these have become my go-to manometers for commercial kitchen equipment startups and gas appliance troubleshooting. 💥 Here's where I might upset a few technicians... If you're only checking manifold pressure during a gas equipment startup, are you really getting the whole picture? I'm a firm believer that better diagnostics lead to better repairs, fewer callbacks, and happier customers. 👇 TECHS, LET'S HEAR IT! Are you running TWO manometers during gas equipment startups, or are you still using one and switching between ports? And what's your go-to manometer in the field? Drop your setup in the comments! 👇 🔧 Commercial Kitchen Equipment Repair | Frymaster Fryer Startup | Gas Pressure Testing | HVAC/R Diagnostics #Frymaster #JBIndustries #CommercialKitchenRepair #FoodserviceEquipment #HVACR #GasPressure #DigitalManometer #CommercialKitchenEquipment #ServiceTechnician #SkilledTrades #FryerRepair #HVACTools #GasApplianceRepair – at Noblesville, IN

Leg day – at Elwood, IN

Finally wrapped up. Steaming like crazy. Also quoted an R/O system to help with this nonsense.... – at Elwood, IN

I've had great results from.@Pentair products in my area. What options are you giving your clients? – at Warren Park, IN

Definitely looking at getting this one. Perfect size for me to take on the go amd more than enough power to do what I need.

🔥 I USED TO THINK PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE WAS BENEATH ME. Yep, I said it. For years, I looked at PMs as the boring, monotonous, low-man-on-the-totem-pole kind of work. I wanted to troubleshoot problems, diagnose failures, and FIX things. Not spend my day cleaning coils and checking equipment that was already running. But somewhere along the way, my perspective changed. The reality is that preventive maintenance might be one of the most valuable services we provide our customers. Think about it. That heating element pulling higher amperage than it should? That fan motor starting to slow down? That refrigeration system operating right on the edge of failure? Those are problems we can potentially catch BEFORE they turn into expensive emergency service calls. And that's where the real value is. It's not just about keeping equipment running. It's about preventing downtime, protecting our customers' businesses, and helping them take better care of THEIR customers. A good technician can fix something when it breaks. A great technician recognizes the warning signs before it breaks. I've learned that being a better technician isn't always about tackling the most complicated repairs. Sometimes it's about doing the simple things exceptionally well. And honestly, I wish I'd figured that out sooner. 💬 TECHNICIANS, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Do you enjoy doing PMs? Do you see their value? Or do you still think they're boring, tedious work that you'd rather leave to someone else? And here's another question... Are we doing enough to teach younger technicians the VALUE of preventive maintenance, or are we treating it like busywork? 👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let's have a conversation! 🔧 Follow for more real-world discussions about commercial kitchen equipment repair, HVAC/R, refrigeration, technician development, and life in the skilled trades. #PreventiveMaintenance #HVACR #CommercialKitchenRepair #FoodserviceEquipment #ServiceTechnician #SkilledTrades #Refrigeration #HVACTechnician #TechnicianTraining #CommercialKitchenChronicles

Why work when you can bowhunt whitetail???? – at Daleville, IN

There will be no Little Debbie snack cakes consumed in my hunts this year. This hunt is fueled be @1stPhorm Jalepeno Heat meat stick. I turn 45 in 6 months and want to be in the best shape of my life. I am down over 120lbs since my heaviest point. Last weight in was around 310lbs. I dont focus on the scale. I am not perfect or want to be. If I become super strict its a recipe for disaster. So I focus on being better than yesterday. Yea isvrew up, but I don't dwell or obsess over it. I learn from it and move on.