Hood cleaning is an important part of commercial kitchen maintenance. NFPA 96, the National Fire Protection Association’s regulation for restaurant exhaust hoods, states that commercial kitchen exhaust systems should be cleaned at least once every year. But how often should a kitchen hood or exhaust system be cleaned?
The answer to this question depends on several factors including the type of cooking you do in your commercial kitchen and what kind of ventilation system you have installed in your restaurant. The NFPA 96 compliance rules suggest that commercial restaurant exhaust systems should be cleaned at least once per year. If you have a large, open kitchen with heavy cooking and lots of food particles that can build up quickly on the hood (such as when frying food), then it is highly recommended to clean your system more often than just once annually.
How does a professionally certified company clean a commercial kitchen hood?
A certified kitchen hood cleaning company will clean a commercial kitchen hood and ventilation system using what is called the “double-wet cleaning method.” This process typically involves first vacuuming all of the particulate matter from your exhaust system, including grease, dust, smoke particles. Then they will remove any residue with soap and water before wiping down your entire cooking surface for that final step to complete the process.
How often do commercial kitchen hoods need to be cleaned?
Most commercial restaurant exhaust hoods need to be cleaned every six months to a year, depending on how often they are in use.
As the kitchen exhaust hood is used more frequently, so too does its grease and grime build up faster; leaving it with an increased need for commercial restaurant exhaust cleaning services. For this reason there should be established protocols in place which detail when your kitchen hoods to maintain cleanliness and fire safety.
The risks of not cleaning a restaurant kitchen hood include:
- The increased risk of fire.
- Greater chance of grease fires in the kitchen, which will also increase your chances of a commercial restaurant exhaust cleaning service being needed and putting you at greater financial risk to do so.
- Health hazards resulting from cooking with dirty air ducts or not having enough ventilation for food preparation.
How much does it cost to clean a kitchen hood
Commercial kitchen hood cleaning costs vary depending on the size of your restaurant. Some factors influencing commercial kitchen hood cleaning costs can include:
- The type and amount of grease build up in different areas throughout the exhaust system.
- Whether or not there are any repairs needed for damaged ductwork, filters or fans.
- If your restaurant is a high volume operation or if it has been open for many years, the cost of commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning will be higher than newer operations with less grease build up and wear on ductwork.
- The time needed to complete the project due to how heavily contaminated the system might be. Some systems may need a deep cleaning while others might just need a light touch-up.
There are many factors that go into the cost of commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning for different restaurants, and it is important to get an estimate before agreeing to any type of work. NFPA 96 requires commercial kitchens to clean their exhaust systems at least once per year, and some commercial exhaust cleaning might need to be done more often.
The NFPA standard specifies that a restaurant kitchen hood should have its filters changed every six months or when they become visibly soiled. Filters can get very dirty from grease buildup over time or if the system is not properly maintained.
How long does it take to clean a commercial kitchen
Certified professionals can clean a restaurant hood in about an hour from start to finish adhering to NFP 96 guidelines. Many hood cleaning companies provide a free consultation to determine the best course of action for your restaurant.
Commercial hood cleaning services are a must for restaurant kitchen safety and for maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness. Fire prevention is a main issues for requiring hood cleaning for NFPA 96 compliance.
A safe clean commercial kitchen will prevent grease fires and decrease the likelihood of a fire and deliver a sanitized cooking environment. This benefits both the restaurant and consumers.
While it may seem time-consuming, taking the extra steps to clean your commercial kitchen exhaust system will save you money in the long run. The restaurant owner has legal obligations and must adhere to NFPA 96 standards of cleaning for proper safety precautions as well.
