Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning And Service

The frequency of your commercial kitchen exhaust hood cleaning depends on several factors, including the type of cooking done in your kitchen, the volume of cooking, and specific local regulations. However, as a rule of thumb:

For systems serving solid fuel cooking operations, cleaning should be performed monthly.

Quarterly cleaning is recommended for kitchens serving high-volume cooking situations such as 24-hour cooking, charbroiling, or wok cooking.

A semi-annual cleaning schedule is typically sufficient for systems serving moderate-volume cooking operations.

An annual cleaning may be enough for kitchens serving low-volume cooking, such as churches, day camps, seasonal businesses, or senior centers.

Remember, these are just general guidelines for hood cleaning. Your individual circumstances might require more frequent cleanings. Monitoring your system regularly is crucial to identify when cleaning is needed, ensuring a safe and efficient operation. 

At D-Grease, our team can create a custom schedule that fully meets the needs of your commercial kitchen, ensuring you always stay in line with health and safety regulations.

The time it takes to clean a commercial kitchen hood varies based on several factors, like the size of the kitchen hood, the amount of grease buildup, and the system’s complexity. As a general estimate, a thorough cleaning can take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. At D-Grease, our experienced team works efficiently to minimize downtime while ensuring a comprehensive, high-quality cleaning. Please note that cleaning may take longer for larger or more complex systems. We always strive to provide accurate time estimates before beginning the service.

A professional hood cleaning service thoroughly cleans the entire kitchen exhaust system. Here’s what you can typically expect from a comprehensive service like the one provided by D-Grease:

Hood Interior: The interior of the hood is meticulously cleaned to remove all accumulated grease and grime.

Filters: Filters are removed and cleaned separately. They play a critical role in trapping grease particles, so keeping them clean is essential.

Ductwork: The ducts are cleaned from the hood to the fan on the roof. This is a crucial part of the system where grease can accumulate over time, potentially creating a fire hazard.

Exhaust Fan: The fan is cleaned, and its blades are degreased. This helps ensure optimal efficiency and prolongs the life of your equipment.

Final Polishing and Report: After the cleaning, the hood is polished for a professional appearance. A comprehensive report, including before and after pictures, confirms the thorough cleaning.

Please note that services can vary based on the provider and the specific needs of your commercial kitchen. We strive to provide top-notch cleaning services tailored to your specific needs.

Putting off regular hood cleaning in a commercial kitchen can lead to a multitude of risks, including:

Fire Risk: The most significant risk is the potential for fire. As grease builds up in the hood and duct system, it can become a significant fire hazard. If ignited, this grease can cause a fire that spreads rapidly through the ducts and into the building.

Poor Ventilation: Grease and grime buildup can reduce the effectiveness of your kitchen’s ventilation. This can lead to a hotter and smokier kitchen, making the working environment uncomfortable and potentially unsafe for your staff.

Health Code Violations: Regular hood cleaning is not just a safety best practice; it’s usually a health code requirement. Neglecting this duty could result in fines or even closure of your business until you are compliant.

Damage to Equipment: Over time, failure to clean your hood system can lead to damage and eventual system failure. Which usually leads to costly repairs or replacements and interruption of your business operations.

Reduced Air Quality: Without regular cleaning, grease, and particulates that are not effectively filtered can reduce air quality in your kitchen, potentially impacting staff health and comfort.

Regular, professional cleaning by a company like D-Grease can help mitigate these risks, ensuring your kitchen operates safely and efficiently, and stays in line with local regulations.

Yes, a comprehensive hood cleaning service typically involves cleaning the exhaust fan located on the roof. This is because grease can accumulate in the fan and the ducts leading up to it, presenting a potential fire hazard. At D-Grease, our team will safely access the roof and thoroughly clean the fan and the ducts. We also inspect the fan and its belts and grease the fan bearings to ensure optimal operation. However, please note that while we clean the areas around the fan and the duct exit, we don’t perform general roof cleaning as it is outside the kitchen exhaust hood cleaning scope.

A hinge kit is a device installed on your kitchen exhaust fan to enable it to be safely lifted and tilted during the cleaning process. Hinge kits are often required by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for several reasons:

Safety: A hinged fan can be opened and secured, preventing it from falling or being dropped during cleaning or inspection. This greatly reduces the risk of injuries and damage to the roof or fan.

Accessibility: Hinge kits allow easier access to the ductwork beneath the fan for thorough cleaning and inspection.

Equipment Longevity: Regularly lifting and moving fans without hinge kits can cause damage over time. A hinged fan is much less likely to be damaged, extending the fan’s lifespan and reducing repair costs.

At D-Grease, we can install a hinge kit if your system doesn’t already have one. It’s one more way we help ensure your kitchen exhaust system is as safe and clean as possible.

At D-Grease, we understand that our clients have different operational schedules, and we aim to provide flexible service times to accommodate these needs. We offer services seven days a week and can schedule cleanings during your business’s off-hours or downtimes to minimize disruptions. Our availability may vary, so it’s best to contact us directly for the most accurate and current scheduling information. We will work with you to find a service time that meets your business needs.

UV hood systems, also known as UV exhaust hoods, incorporate ultraviolet (UV) light technology into the hood system to help control grease buildup. UV light is used to break down grease particles in the exhaust airflow into simpler compounds (such as water and carbon dioxide) through a process called photolysis. This can help reduce the overall grease buildup in the hood system and ductwork.

Compared to standard hood systems, UV hood systems can potentially offer some benefits, including:

Decreased frequency of manual cleaning due to less grease accumulation.

Lower fire risk as grease deposits in the ductwork are reduced.

Potential energy savings as they can help maintain better airflow efficiency.

It is important to note that even with a UV hood system, regular cleaning and maintenance of the hood and ductwork are still necessary because the UV system doesn’t eliminate all grease and other particles. UV systems also require regular replacement of UV lamps and additional safety measures due to the harmful nature of UV light.

At D-Grease, we recommend solutions based on the specific needs of your kitchen. While UV hood systems can offer certain benefits, there might be better solutions for some kitchen, especially considering their higher upfront costs and maintenance requirements. We’re always here to provide advice and help you choose the most cost-effective solutions for your kitchen exhaust system needs.

D-Grease is primarily a commercial kitchen hood cleaning and repair service. While our experienced technicians can perform a range of maintenance tasks and minor repairs as part of our cleaning service, we do not specialize in installing new exhaust hoods, ductwork, or exhaust fans or perform major mechanical work or ductwork repairs. We always recommend that our clients seek out licensed and certified professionals for these specialized tasks. As for specific recommendations, contacting D-Grease directly for the most up-to-date and localized advice is best.