Pilot goes out
Weak thermopiles and thermocouples, and dirty pilot orifices.
Typical all-in: Est. $225–$485
A fryer that won't light or keeps going out takes fries, wings and fish off the menu. Most causes are quick fixes once a gas tech finds them.
Reviewed by Mike Larson, Master Appliance Technician · 18+ yrs in-field · Last reviewed
Same-day priority
Commercial dispatch first.
EPA 608 certified
Sealed-system work in-house.
OEM parts on truck
True, Hoshizaki, Manitowoc, Hobart.
1-yr written warranty
Parts & labor in writing.
$199 trip charge — waived with any repair. Approve the work on the same visit and the trip charge comes off the invoice. If you decline, you pay only the $199 and we leave a written scope. Every completed repair carries a 1-year written parts-and-labor warranty.
Quick answer
A commercial gas fryer that won't light or stay lit is most often caused by a weak thermopile or thermocouple, a dirty pilot orifice, a tripped high-limit switch, a failed gas valve, or an ignition module fault on electronic-ignition fryers. Typical repairs are estimated at $225–$785, quoted in writing first. $199 commercial trip fee waived with the repair. Gas-certified techs, same-day priority.
Key facts
| Service | Commercial Fryer Ignition Repair — Twin Cities |
|---|---|
| Common repairs | Pilot goes out; High-limit tripped; Gas valve failure; Electronic ignition; Thermostat and controls |
| Typical repair cost | Pilot goes out: Est. $225–$485 · High-limit tripped: Est. $225–$485 · Gas valve failure: Est. $385–$785 · Electronic ignition: Est. $325–$685 · Thermostat and controls: Est. $285–$685 (written quote before work) |
| Trip fee | $199 commercial trip fee, waived when you approve the repair |
| Warranty | 1-year written parts-and-labor warranty |
| Credentials | Factory-trained technicians; EPA 608 certified for refrigerant work |
| Availability | Same-day priority, plus after-hours and weekend emergency service |
| Brands | Frymaster, Pitco, Vulcan, Henny Penny, Imperial, Dean |
| Phone | (651) 364-7466 |
Services covered
Weak thermopiles and thermocouples, and dirty pilot orifices.
Typical all-in: Est. $225–$485
Tripped or failed high-limit switches, often after the oil overheated.
Typical all-in: Est. $225–$485
Sticking or failed combination gas valves, pressure-tested after repair.
Typical all-in: Est. $385–$785
Failed ignition modules, igniters and flame sensors on solid-state fryers.
Typical all-in: Est. $325–$685
Thermostats and computers that won't call for heat.
Typical all-in: Est. $285–$685
Repair vs. replace
Commercial calls get priority dispatch, with night and weekend emergency service across the Twin Cities.
You get the diagnosis and price first. The $199 commercial trip fee is waived when you approve the repair.
Factory-trained technicians, EPA 608 certified for refrigeration work, with a 1-year parts-and-labor warranty.
Written preventive maintenance contracts to catch problems before they shut down service.
Brands serviced
If your equipment is down right now
If you smell gas, shut the valve, ventilate, and call the gas utility first.
Make sure the quick-disconnect is fully seated and the supply valve is open.
Some fryers have a reset button. Press it once, only after the oil has cooled.
Call (651) 364-7466 with the brand and what happens when you try to light it.
FAQs
Most often a weak thermopile or thermocouple, or a dirty pilot orifice. Both are common, inexpensive repairs.
It shuts off the gas if the oil gets dangerously hot. If it trips, the cause — usually a bad thermostat — needs to be checked.
Yes, along with Vulcan, Henny Penny, Imperial and Dean.
Most repairs are estimated at $225–$785. You get a written quote first, and the $199 trip fee is waived with the repair.
Yes. We issue COIs naming your property manager, hospitality group, hospital facilities office, or municipal account as additional-insured at no charge — typically the same business day. General liability and workers' comp are in force year-round; we can raise limits per contract on request.
First visit is card-on-file or COD. Once an account is established, we invoice Net-15 or Net-30 with itemized statements aligned to your accounting cycle. We accept POs from restaurant groups, hotel brands, property management firms, school districts, and city and county accounts. ACH and card payments both fine.
Yes — quarterly, semi-annual, and annual PM plans tiered by equipment count and equipment class. Every visit includes condenser cleaning, drain flushing, gasket and hinge inspection, electrical-tightness verification, controller and setpoint check, and a written report you can hand to insurers, health inspectors, or franchisors.
Every technician holds EPA Section 608 Universal certification covering R-404A, R-448A / R-449A (Solstice N40, Opteon XP40), R-290 hydrocarbon systems where code permits, and legacy R-22. Cooking-equipment techs are gas-certified for natural gas and LP on ranges, fryers, ovens, and combi-ovens.
Yes. We coordinate dock and freight-elevator windows in advance, badge in through hotel or hospital engineering, and work around banquet, service-window, and clinical-department timing. Overnight and pre-open service is available when a daytime window won't work.
Yes — after-hours, weekend, and holiday emergency dispatch is available for refrigeration, ice, and warewashing failures across the Twin Cities metro. A published after-hours premium applies and is confirmed in writing before the tech leaves the shop.
A 1-year written parts-and-labor warranty on every commercial repair — the same failure mode, on the same unit, within 12 months is covered at no additional charge. Some sealed-system components carry an extended manufacturer warranty on top; those terms are itemized on the invoice.
Yes. Truck-mounted reach-ins, undercounter units, generator-fed ice machines, and mobile prep tables are all serviceable — we typically shop-visit at your commissary or overnight parking rather than roadside so the unit can stabilize before diagnosis.
Yes. Written estimates are issued before any sealed-system, compressor, or major-component work. On request we provide inspector-ready documentation: repair scope, part numbers, refrigerant type and charge, and the date service restored the unit to spec.
Full Twin Cities metro — Minneapolis (55401–55488), Saint Paul (55101–55155), Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Eagan, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Roseville, Burnsville, and the surrounding suburbs — plus Hudson, WI 54016 and Western Wisconsin. Commercial dispatch runs a daily route across the metro.
Related coverage
Who we serve
Commercial Fryer Ignition Repair — Twin Cities covers foodservice, hospitality, healthcare, retail, and institutional accounts across the Twin Cities metro. Multi-location operators get one dispatcher, one COI on file, and Net-15 / Net-30 invoicing.
Service area
Daily route across Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding metro. ZIP coverage: 55401–55488 (Minneapolis), 55101–55155 (Saint Paul), 55420–55439 (Bloomington/Edina), 55304–55449 (north metro), 55044–55124 (Lakeville/Apple Valley/Eagan), 55125–55129 (Woodbury), and 54016 (Hudson, WI).