In Business World Commercial Kitchen – Grease build-up is quite common in restaurant kitchens, but sometimes it can lead to severe fire hazards if not removed.
In fact, the vent or flue system in a commercial kitchen is highly prone to grease and oil build-ups along with other contaminants. Under these circumstances, it’s best to hire a professional who can properly clean the hood, exhaust fans, and filters to keep them spick and span.
While hiring a professional for cleaning the exhaust hood can help you maintain a safe kitchen environment, you must have a fundamental idea about the importance of hood cleaning. This will help you hire a trained professional at the right time to get the job done.
In today’s article, we’ll cover all the basics about exhaust hood cleaning in a commercial kitchen and much more.
Table of Contents
Why Do Exhaust Hoods Require Proper Cleaning?
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Fire Prevention
A leading cause of commercial kitchen fires is grease build-up in the exhaust system. Commercial hood cleaning of the exhaust fans, filters, and hoods is, therefore, essential to remove grease and oil. Oil and grease build-in in exhaust hoods increases the risks of fire, and a build-up of only ⅛-inch grease can increase fire hazards by almost 400%.
In a recent survey taken by 500 restaurant owners, 68% of the participants said that they had experienced fires due to grease in their kitchens. And 42% of them responded that they were forced to close their restaurants for at least a day due to safety issues after the fire.
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Insurance Liability
If a commercial kitchen doesn’t conduct exhaust hood cleaning through a professional service provider experienced in this type of cleaning, the restaurant has to take full liability for fire damages. This is as per the rules of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), so insurance won’t cover the damages under these circumstances.
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Efficiency And Productivity
Keeping the exhaust and vent system clean helps increase efficiency and food production in a commercial kitchen by reducing the hassle of maintenance. It improves airflow to properly eliminate smoke, fumes, and unpleasant odor while cooking. Furthermore, proper cleaning of the exhaust hoods ensures that there are no unexpected system breakdowns that can interrupt kitchen operations.
How Often Do You Need To Clean Exhaust Hoods In Commercial Kitchens?
The frequency of cleaning will vary from business to business. It usually depends on the size of the commercial kitchen, the amount of cooking that’s done regularly, and the local health department regulations.
Large and busy commercial kitchens might require exhaust hood cleaning every month, while other less active kitchens can do it a few times a year. For instance, restaurants using firewood or charcoal need exhaust hood cleaning every month, while commercial kitchens performing high-volume, 24-hour cooking can schedule a quarterly cleaning.
Kitchens with low-volume cooking, such as churches or seasonal businesses, can perform the hood cleaning and inspection annually.
What Are The Particles That Buildup In Exhaust Hoods?
Along with grease and grime, several airborne contaminants and particles can build up in the exhaust hoods of a commercial kitchen’s vent system. Mold, dust, oil, and soot can accumulate inside the exhaust fan, hood, ducts, and filters.
Even though these particles might not cause fire hazards like grease, they can block airflow and lead to the build-up of smoke and fumes inside the commercial kitchen when cooking. Thus, regular inspection and exhaust hood cleaning reduces fire risk while maintaining safety and hygiene inside the kitchen.
Why Hire Experts For Exhaust Hood Cleaning?
Cleaning the vent and exhaust hood can be a troublesome and messy task, requiring expert supervision and guidance. The process usually includes cleaning the hood, filters, fans, and ducts by applying a combination of power washing and manual scrubbing.
Moreover, you can’t use harsh chemicals to clean the exhaust hood because toxic chemicals might compromise the health and safety of the kitchen environment and the employees. Not to mention, it can take several hours to complete the job properly.
That’s why it’s best to hire a professional who is experienced and well-trained in exhaust hood cleaning to avoid any damage. A professional can use advanced equipment and cutting-edge technology to get the exhaust hood and vent system squeaky clean.
They get the job done with utmost efficiency and prevent your restaurant from suffering any setback or loss of business during the entire cleaning process. Furthermore, an expert can take care of everything, from cleaning the exhaust hood to safely getting rid of the debris for greater convenience.
What Is The Average Cost Of Professional Exhaust Hood Cleaning?
The cost of hood cleaning can vary depending on the size of the kitchen, the amount of cleaning that needs to be done, and the frequency of cleaning. Also, the cleaning costs can vary based on the charges of your service provider but the average exhaust hood cleaning costs in a commercial kitchen range between $100 and $400.
However, you can ask for free quotes from professional service providers and compare the prices before hiring their services. This way, you can save a lot of money on kitchen exhaust cleaning.
With a little research, it’s possible to find local yet professional service providers who offer reliable and top-notch commercial kitchen cleaning services at an affordable rate.
Exhaust Hood Cleaning Is A Top Priority For Restaurant Managers
After going through our article, you must have a better idea that exhaust hood cleaning in commercial kitchens is a serious business and can’t be overlooked. Keeping aside the potential fire risks, cleaning the exhaust hood and vent system is essential to maintain optimal airflow inside the kitchen for proper emission of fumes and smoke.
You can even enhance the restaurant’s food productivity and efficiency by regularly cleaning and inspecting the hoods, filters, fans, and ductwork. So, get in touch with a professional service provider and schedule a date for an exhaust hood cleaning to keep the kitchen in pristine condition.
You can also talk to other people in the food business who have recently had their exhaust hood cleaned to choose a reliable cleaning service.