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Experience Superior Kitchen Exhaust Hood Cleaning Solutions in Raleigh, NC. Choose Us for Expertise, Reliability, and Safety Compliance Excellence.

A kitchen exhaust is a ventilation system that extracts smoke, heat, and odor from cooking surfaces. If you are a restaurant manager, this device can come in handy for your restaurants. Large-scale cooking is bound to get messy at some point, and if commercial owners do not take precautions, a fire outburst will occur. The kitchen exhaust protects the restaurant from hazards, but more importantly, clients and staff. No doubt, the kitchen exhaust is great, but over time, depending on the cooking scale, grease builds up in parts of the system.

Restaurant managers are often clueless about what a properly cleaned exhaust system looks like and might find it difficult to choose the right equipment or professional cleaning service. A complete kitchen exhaust is fitted with a hood, hood filters, exhaust fan, and horizontal and vertical ductwork; this is necessary to comply with certain protection standards. Commercial facility owners should always have a guideline from a standard association on the safety requirements for public and private cooking operations.

A great guideline is the NFPA-96 Standard (National Fire Protection Association Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations 2011 edition). Understanding the requirements for proper equipment and cleaning necessities provides laws for virtually every commercial cooking establishment that requires a base for owners to keep to standard, such as kitchen exhaust cleaning.

What is Hood Cleaning (Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning)?

Kitchen exhaust cleaning (often referred to as hood cleaning) is the process of removing grease that has accumulated inside the ducts, hoods, fans, and vents of commercial kitchen exhaust systems. Left uncleaned, kitchen exhaust systems eventually accumulate enough grease to become extreme fire hazards. Exhaust systems must be inspected regularly, at intervals consistent with usage, to determine whether cleaning is needed before a dangerous amount of grease has accumulated.

Kitchen exhaust cleaning or restaurant hood cleaning service is a service required by law to be served in regular basic. Elite Hood Service has specialized in kitchen exhaust hood cleaning for restaurants and other commercial facilities in North Carolina for years.

How Often Should You Clean The Exhaust System?

Cleaning an exhaust system would have to depend on how frequently the kitchen is used and what type of system that has been installed. Kitchen exhausts have hoods and ductwork to remove smoke from kitchens, but some of the exhaust gases have a residual impact on the ductwork. Generally, it is advisable to clean every three months, but if the restaurant uses wood-burning or charcoal-burning stoves, you should clean as often as two weeks; the type of fuel and how much food you cook can also be a determining factor.

For solid fuel cooking, you should clean the exhaust systems on a monthly basis. Clean exhaust systems in kitchens that cook meals moderately on a semi-annual basis and kitchens that cook a lot of food every 24 hours. Open cooking: Chinese cooking that involves cooking on the wok should be quarterly cleaning. Clean exhaust systems in restaurants that use low-volume cooking, for instance, seasonal restaurants even less frequently. These are baseline requirements for cleaning, but local fire codes and the type and quantity of food might require different cleaning frequencies.

Employees should wipe down the hood box with non-reactive soap and water every day to protect the hood from grease. Restaurants that use solid fuel should have the spark arrestors in the wood cleaned on a daily basis. Some restaurants clean filters on a weekly basis to get rid of grease buildup, but some clean daily to avoid the challenges that come with either soaking the hood filter overnight or scrapping filters to get rid of grease. Cleaning filters can also be dependent on health codes for the restaurant; some require washing in three-compartment sinks, and others allow running through a dishwasher.

The design of hoods installed in restaurants is a very important thing to observer, as some hoods come with other filters that you should maintain or replace regularly. Exhaust systems that have pollution control equipment also come with pressure sensors to give the users a sign that the filters are full and need to be changed; solid fuel users with charcoal filters should change these units bi-annually or quarterly. The staff should wash filter cells by hand using detergent and hot water bi-annually. It is important to regularly inspect the parts of the exhaust system that can be cleaned with a water-wash or have self-cleaning hoods to prevent grease buildup.

Table 11.4 Schedule of Inspection for Grease Buildup

While many kitchen exhaust cleaning contractors tell their customers that a kitchen exhaust system must be CLEANED at specific periods of time, you must understand that there is no requirement within NFPA 96 identifying “scheduled cleaning.” Table 11.4 does, however, illustrate the Schedule for Inspection for Grease Buildup within a commercial ventilation system:

Monthly: Solid Fuel Cooking Operations such as Wood or Charcoal.
Quarterly: High-volume cooking such as 24-hour, char-broil, and oriental.
Semi-annual: Moderate Volume cooking such as Schools and independent restaurants (Mom & Pop’s).
Annually: Low-volume cooking such as Churches, day camps, and senior centers.

How Do You Decide If Your Exhaust Is Clean?

Carry out frequent inspections, check for grease buildup on the surfaces; if you find any, get it cleaned. You can also determine how clean your exhaust surface is by using a Grease Gauge; this provides an accurate measurement by determining the fuel buildup on the surface of the exhaust system.

Importance of Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning!

It does seem an awful bother to keep checking and cleaning exhaust systems, but the truth is more often than not, fire outbreaks from restaurants occur. Yes, insurance might cover the cost of the burning building, but there is a lot of time that will be lost during trying to get the restaurant back on track. Customers might decide to find other places to eat. On the question of what could possibly be the cause of these fires, the answer is grease. This residue is not only a fire hazard, but it could also be a health hazard; grease produces odors and smoke that has a negative influence on customers. As such, it is important to get the kitchen exhaust cleaned as at when due.

Restaurant owners and managers should know that kitchen exhaust cleaning is standard in the maintenance of cooking operations. This makes it important to clean the kitchen exhaust because this is one of the ways to grade food establishments. It is important to clean the kitchen exhaust and keep all the units free from grease because health code violations are often met with strict enforcement and punishment like license retractions of the food outlets that fall short of the cleanliness criteria.

Why You Should Use A Specialized Cleaning Service?

Once you understand how important it is to meet the assessment criteria for health inspection officers, you take steps to ensure the restaurant does not lose its license or get into a fire accident. Restaurant managers should get an exhaust cleaning service to take care of all units attached to the system because they have the necessary training for it. It is easy to get rid of grease on the exhaust surface, but some units have to be dismantled before cleaning. The areas you might not be able to reach, or you do not have the proper cleaning tools for should be outsourced to an exhaust cleaning service. Areas that are not visible could have grease deposits, cleaning services are able to go through the entry point of the hood to reach the grease in the kitchen exhaust.

Professional service ensures that you are ready for a fire department inspection and insurance inspection. These services find out mechanical faults during cleaning that enables you to get preventive maintenance. These services do the hard work of cleaning filters, so you do not have to. A professional cleaning service ensures that the exhaust is cleaned according to NFPA 96 requirements. It is important to take note of all reviews before choosing a service. Choose professionals that have good reputations to their names.

The Compliance Engine

The Compliance Engine is an efficient online tool designed for Fire Prevention Bureaus, Water Departments, and Building Departments to ensure compliance with local regulations regarding inspection and testing. It enables third-party contractors to submit reports directly to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, streamlining the review process and facilitating corrective actions for deficiencies. BRYCER’s services include notifications, analytics, consultation, and 24hr support, aiding in increasing testing and maintenance activities. This ensures accurate data aggregation on system status and compliance with local laws, empowering Code Officials to enforce regulations effectively and achieve 100% compliance.

We Are the #1 Raleigh NC Hood Cleaning Professionals

Expertise and Experience:

With years of experience in the industry, our team of skilled professionals possesses the expertise needed to deliver thorough and effective kitchen exhaust cleaning services. We know the ins and outs of kitchen ventilation systems and use proven techniques to ensure optimal cleanliness and safety.

Compliance and Safety:

Safety is our top priority. We adhere to strict safety standards and regulations to ensure that your kitchen meets all compliance requirements. By choosing us, you can rest assured that your establishment is not only clean but also safe from potential fire hazards.

Customized Solutions:

We understand that every kitchen is unique. That's why we offer customized cleaning solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of your establishment. Whether you run a restaurant, cafeteria, or commercial kitchen, we have the expertise to deliver personalized cleaning services that address your requirements effectively

Quality Assurance:

We take pride in the quality of our work. Our attention to detail and commitment to excellence guarantee superior results with every cleaning job. From thorough inspections to meticulous cleaning processes, we go above and beyond to ensure that your kitchen exhaust system is spotless and operating at its best.

Reliability and Convenience:

We value your time and strive to make the cleaning process as convenient and hassle-free as possible. With flexible scheduling options and prompt service, you can count on us to deliver reliable cleaning solutions with minimal disruption to your operations.

Exceptional Customer Service:

From your initial inquiry to the completion of the job, we're committed to providing an exceptional customer experience. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is dedicated to addressing your inquiries promptly and ensuring that your needs are met with professionalism and care.

Advanced Technology for Efficiency and Transparency:

We leverage cutting-edge technology to streamline our operations and enhance transparency throughout the cleaning process. Through the use of Servicem8 software, we digitally document all aspects of the job, including before and after photos, service reports, and any deficiencies found during the service. Our technicians are equipped with mobile devices that allow for real-time tracking and communication, ensuring efficient scheduling and on-time arrivals.

Customer Satisfaction:

Your satisfaction is our ultimate goal. We prioritize open communication, transparency, and accountability to ensure that you are fully satisfied with our services. By embracing technology and delivering exceptional customer service, we aim to exceed your expectations and build long-lasting relationships based on trust and reliability.

Kitchen Exhaust Service Area

For a professional Quotation please call (919) 229-9599 today and book your personal consultation with the hood cleaning industry leader in Raleigh, North Carolina and surrounding areas.

Rocky Mount NC, Wilson NC, Wake Forest NC, Raleigh NC, Garner NC, Clayton NC, Cary NC, Morrisville NC, Chapel Hill NC, Durham NC, Burlington NC, Greensboro NC, Winston-Salem NC, and surrounding areas.

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