Restaurant hood systems work hard to keep your Albuquerque kitchen safe, sanitary and up to code. Installed above stoves, fryers and other cooking equipment, commercial kitchen hoods capture grease splatter, smoke and vapors that emanate from preparing food. Without this critical equipment it would be nearly impossible to operate a commercial kitchen.
Commercial kitchen hood cleaning is one service many restaurant owners think they can DIY. Doing so can save you money on labor and professional service fees. There are several important reasons why you should always hire professional Albuquerque hood cleaning services instead of attempting to clean the system yourself.
From understanding how a hood system works and why it needs cleaned to local codes and requirements, we’ll share everything you need to know about commercial hood cleaning services.
Learn About Restaurant Hood Systems and Commercial Kitchen Cleaning
Restaurant kitchen hoods don’t clean themselves. In fact, they require regular professional maintenance to keep them functioning properly and ward off grease fires. Preventative cleaning and maintenance ensure proper ventilation, fire safety and helps your kitchen pass health inspections.
What Does a Hood System Do?
A typical commercial kitchen hood system is made up of several parts that vent grease, smoke, heat and other particles out of the kitchen. Here is a breakdown of the different parts of a commercial kitchen hood system.
- Exhaust hood system mounted above cooking equipment
- Removable grease filter or grease baffles
- Duct work or vent pipe extending to outside of building
- Wall or roof mounted exhaust fan
When the hood system is turned on, negative air pressure is created inside the kitchen. As a result, grease laden smoke and other particles are pulled up and out of the kitchen. If the grease and smoke were not contained by the hood system, they would quickly spread throughout your restaurant.
Functions of a Hood System
A working hood system serves several important functions in any commercial kitchen including:
- Capturing grease and cooking related particles that are suspended in the air
- Venting out smoke and other unwanted cooking byproducts
- Regulating the air temperature within the kitchen
- Eliminating grease that can build up in duct work over time
Keep in mind that if you allow grease and other particles to build up in your ventilation system, it can cause poor ventilation, possible fires and even shutdowns if you fail to pass inspection. To prevent this from happening, it’s critical that you hire professional hood cleaning services to clean your system regularly.
Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning Laws, Regulations & Safety
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), commercial kitchens must have their hood systems cleaned as follows:
- Monthly: If your restaurant or food service operates 24/7
- Quarterly: If you cook less than 24/7
- Every 6 months: If your cooking volume is low
Your local Albuquerque health department also regulates when your hood system needs to be professionally cleaned. Fire Marshals will also periodically inspect your ventilation system to ensure it’s up to code.
Additionally, your insurance company may require that you have a professional come in and clean your hood system. They will also need documentation that the cleaning was c completed by a licensed professional. Failing to have your system cleaned on a regular basis can result in fines and even the loss of your insurance policy. Your restaurant could be shut down if you fail to pass inspection.
Do I Need to Hire a Professional Hood Cleaning Service?
Pros and Cons of DIY Cleaning
As a restaurant owner or operator, you likely take pride in keeping every part of your kitchen clean. However, when it comes to cleaning your kitchen hood system, there are several factors to consider. Here are some of the pros and cons to cleaning the hood system yourself.
Benefits of DIY Hood Cleaning Services
Saving money is always nice. When you hire a professional hood cleaning service, you eliminate the cost of labor and service fees. If you clean your hood system yourself, you’ll free up your schedule since you won’t have to work around when a technician is available to come out.
While you’ll still need to allow several hours for the cleaning process, there are some spots you can clean on your own. During downtime, your staff can wipe down the grease filters and other easily accessible areas of your kitchen hood.
Lastly, spot cleaning your kitchen hood system allows you to clean your hood frequently. You can wipe down the majority of the equipment in between professional cleaning services.
Drawbacks of Cleaning Your Own Hood System
Even if you spend the time to thoroughly clean your kitchen vent system, you could still be leaving behind dangerous grease deposits. Most DIY cleaning is done on the surface level. You could potentially miss areas within the duct work or along the roof mounted exhaust fan.
Cleaning the full duct system and other parts of your ventilation system typically requires specialty equipment. In most cases, your staff will not have access to this equipment. Because of this, you run the risk of not cleaning your system properly.
Not only that but cleaning the system yourself could invalidate your warranty or even your insurance. If your ventilation system catches on fire because you didn’t have it cleaned professionally, your insurance may not cover the damage.
Finally, if you don’t use the proper chemicals to clean your hood system, you could damage some of the parts. Most professionals have years of training and know how to clean your system without damaging sensitive components.
Professional Services vs. DIY
Pros
- Trained professionals
- Industrial-Strength cleaning equipment
- They’ll clean everything from your hood to duct work and roof mounted fans
- Receive proof of cleaning for insurance purposes and inspection
- Protected by their warranty
Cons
- No cost to your business upfront
- Work around your schedule
- Surface level cleaning
- Clean whatever you can reach
- No proof of cleaning
- Potential fire code violations
Why You Should Hire Brazas Fire for Your Albuquerque Hood Cleaning Needs
As mentioned previously, there are many benefits to hiring professional hood cleaning services. At Brazas Fire, we offer several services that can help you maintain your ventilation system.
Keep in mind that we don’t just clean your system. We will ensure that it passes every fire code so you can feel safe operating your business. Our trained professionals have access to the proper equipment to clean your entire hood system.
Brazas Fire will keep detailed records of every time your system is cleaned. Not only will this come in handy if you’re inspected, but if something happens to your system, your equipment is protected by our warranty. We also offer emergency service if you ever find yourself in need of hood cleaning between regularly scheduled services.
Preventative maintenance is the best way to avoid large grease buildups. Not only will this help your ventilation system last longer, but it can help you avoid any nasty surprises down the road.