Restaurants and commercial kitchens rely heavily on exhaust hoods to maintain a safe and comfortable environment. These hoods play a crucial role in keeping the kitchen free from grease and grime. However, it is equally important to regularly clean and maintain the commercial kitchen hoods to ensure smooth operations and compliance with codes and regulations.
Why Commercial Kitchen Hoods Need Cleaning
As a restaurant owner, you understand the importance of cleanliness. Failure to clean and maintain your kitchen exhaust hoods can lead to serious consequences. Here are some key reasons why exhaust system cleaning is essential:
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Fire Prevention: The accumulation of grease and grime in uncleaned range hoods increases the risk of dangerous kitchen fires. By keeping your kitchen hoods clean, you can prevent fire hazards and protect your establishment.
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Insurance Liability: Failure to clean your exhaust system can result in insurance claims being denied in the event of a fire. To avoid this situation, it is important to have professionals inspect and clean your hoods regularly.
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Productivity: Clean range hoods improve indoor air quality and prevent the buildup of heat, smoke, and contaminated air. This creates a healthier and more efficient working environment for your kitchen staff, ultimately boosting productivity.
Regular hood exhaust cleaning and grease trap maintenance will keep your restaurant running smoothly, ensuring the safety and well-being of your employees.
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What are the Components of a Commercial Kitchen Hood?
A typical commercial kitchen hood consists of three main parts: the Type I or Type II hood, the grease ductwork, and an exhaust fan. These components work together to collect and remove grease from the kitchen. It is important to understand that cleaning each part separately is crucial for maintaining a clean and efficient exhaust system.
Restaurant Hood Cleaning Procedure
Following a step-by-step process for hood cleaning is essential to prevent safety hazards and fire risks. Here’s a breakdown of the procedure:
Exhaust Hood Cleaning
The function of an exhaust hood is to expel contaminated air from your kitchen. To clean range hoods effectively, a trained professional will first remove all the components, such as grease traps, hood filters, and exhaust fans. This allows for a thorough and efficient cleaning process.
The technician then prepares a cleaning solution using a liquid degreaser and warm water. They scrub and wipe the interior of the hood, ensuring a deep clean. The exteriors of the range hoods are also cleaned meticulously. Various methods and tools are used to achieve a thorough clean. At APS Hoods, our certified technicians are well-versed in commercial kitchen cleaning, ensuring the highest level of professionalism and cleanliness.
Grease Trap Cleaning
Grease traps are essential for preventing greasy substances from entering the ventilation and sewage systems. Neglecting grease trap cleaning can lead to overflow, which can damage the entire exhaust hood system.
During grease trap cleaning, the technician removes the trap from the range hood and scrubs and degreases it. To prevent any grease from passing through the drain, all greasy material is collected in a container. After scrubbing, the grease traps are placed in a cleaning solution for a specified time. Once removed from the solution, they are air-dried before reinstallation.
Kitchen Hood Filter Cleaning
Hood filters are vital for filtering the air pushed through the hood system. Failure to clean these filters can lead to grease buildup inside the air ducts, posing a fire hazard.
To clean the filters, the technician uninstalls them from the range hood and places them in a degreasing solution. Depending on the specific needs, the filters may soak in the solution for several hours. After scrubbing and rinsing, the fully cleaned filters are ready for reinstallation. Regular cleaning of hood filters ensures the longevity and efficiency of your kitchen exhaust hood system.
Hood Fan Cleaning
The exhaust hood fan plays a crucial role in maintaining proper airflow and balance in the kitchen. It is important to keep the hood fans clean, just like other components of the exhaust hood system.
To clean the hood fans, the professional uninstalls them for easy access and thorough cleaning. After removing the fan blade covers, each fan blade is detached and cleaned individually. If your hood system has multiple fans, it is crucial to not mix up the blades. Once all the blades are cleaned and dried, they are reattached to the hood. Finally, the blower is reinstalled, completing the hood cleaning procedure.
Kitchen Hood Duct Cleaning
Cleaning all the hood ducts is essential for maximum efficiency. Experienced professionals use cleaning solutions to scrub and wash the interiors and exteriors of the ducts. Easily reachable ducts as well as hard-to-reach ones are cleaned thoroughly.
Once the duct cleaning is complete, the ducts are left to dry. For more information on hood duct cleaning, speak to one of our experts at APS Hoods in Denver, CO.
How Often Should Commercial Kitchen Hoods be Cleaned?
The frequency of hood cleaning depends on factors such as the menu items, cooking volume, and the types of equipment used. Many restaurants are required to clean their exhaust hoods every three months. Some establishments using solid fuel for cooking operations may need monthly hood inspections and cleanings.
To determine the ideal cleaning schedule for your business, consult with our experts at APS Hoods. We will evaluate your specific needs and develop a customized cleaning schedule to ensure compliance with fire safety codes and eliminate potential hazards.
Professional Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Services
Cleaning a restaurant’s kitchen hood requires specialized knowledge and experience. If you lack the expertise, it is recommended to seek professional cleaning services. Trained professionals understand the codes and regulations related to commercial kitchen hood cleaning and use the right tools and methods for a thorough clean.
In addition to cleaning, you can also hire professional services for inspection and maintenance of your hood systems. To learn more about these services, reach out to one of our specialists.
Still Have Questions?
As a responsible restaurant owner, never ignore or delay the inspection and cleaning of your exhaust hood system. Uncleaned hoods pose serious safety hazards and can result in violations of essential codes. If you have additional questions or want to schedule restaurant hood cleaning in Denver, CO, contact APS Hoods. Our bar and restaurant cleaning services are designed to eliminate potential fire hazards and ensure smooth operations.
For a free consultation, reach out to our Denver office via phone or email using the contact form.
Along with APS Hoods, we also operate Hood Builder and Nationwide Fire Protection, providing a range of restaurant design-related services. For a free consultation, call our office number or reach out to us through the contact form.
Remember, a clean and well-maintained kitchen hood is essential for a safe and efficient restaurant.
