Kitchen exhaust cleaning is important in order to maintain the health of a commercial kitchen and keep the kitchen working effectively. Whether you’re a restaurant owner or a small business, you should be aware of the risks that can be associated with a dirty kitchen exhaust system. If you don’t clean your kitchen regularly, it could pose an environmental risk and create a fire hazard.
Grease and vapor from cooking can accumulate in the hood and ductwork of your kitchen. When a fire occurs, the grease can ignite, causing a fire that may spread to your home and cause substantial damage. Cleaning your kitchen exhaust system will remove the flammable buildup and help protect your family, employees, and your equipment.
To ensure that your kitchen operates safely and efficiently, your exhaust system should be professionally cleaned at least once a year. However, this frequency can vary depending on the type of foods that are prepared and how often you cook them. For instance, if you serve fish fry every week, you should have the hood and ductwork of your system cleaned more frequently.
During a cleaning, a professional will scrub the hood and ductwork of your commercial kitchen to remove the greasy buildup and other debris. This process ensures that your kitchen remains in compliance with Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning NFPA 96 standards. It also helps to improve airflow, which increases the efficiency of your equipment. The more efficient your equipment, the lower your costs.
A professional should also make sure that your hood and ductwork are properly secured. In some cases, access panels may need to be installed in order to complete the job.
Upon completion of the cleaning, your technician will provide you with a written report detailing the cleaning. This report will be sent to the appropriate contacts at your restaurant. You can also ask your technician to email it to you, so that you have a copy of it on hand.
Before your next scheduled cleaning, you should remove the grease filter from your hood. Place it in a large container. Fill it with dish soap and baking soda. Let the solution sit for at least 15 to 30 minutes. After you have completed this, you can re-insert the filter.
Depending on your insurance policy, you may need to have the hood and ductwork of the kitchen cleaned more frequently. This will ensure that your restaurant stays compliant with NFPA 96 standards and the EPA’s Clean Air Act.
Choosing a certified contractor for your kitchen exhaust cleaning will ensure that the job is done properly. These companies have a higher standard of inspection, testing, and cleaning than other contractors. They will provide a certification sticker, which allows the authorities to verify your compliance with local fire codes.
In addition to protecting your family and your employees, a kitchen exhaust cleaning can also keep your business running at full capacity. A clean kitchen shows a commitment to providing top-quality service to customers. Additionally, a clean kitchen can reduce employee sick days.