When you’re running a commercial kitchen, safety, efficiency, and compliance with standards are of the utmost importance.
There is one easily forgotten thing you need to do, that has a great effect on meeting these goals and this is the regular cleaning of your exhaust hood.
This post will address the advantages of performing regular exhaust hood cleaning and maintenance, why it is crucial for your business, and how you can not only save time but also money down the line.
What the Exhaust Hood Does in a Commercial Kitchen
Commercial vent hoods (or extractor hoods) are the first line of defense in any restaurant’s fire protection system. They keep your kitchen safe and comfortable, prevent the risk of fire, and satisfy health departments. But like most things they work better when well kept.
Kitchen Fire Prevention and Safety
One of the most important reasons to keep a clean exhaust hood is fire prevention. The grease and debris build up in the hood and ducts can be a great fire hazard. During a fire, and when properly maintained, an exhaust hood is something that can prevent the spread of flames.
Kitchen Efficiency and Air Quality
Efficiency of Your Kitchen Another benefit of regular exhaust hood cleaning and maintenance is an efficient kitchen.
A plugged or dirty hood can slow down airflow, decreasing the hoods efficiency of capturing smoke and dissuading air borne contaminants like heat and odors. This impacts on the comfort of your kitchen staff, & reduces the air quality inside, which can result in health related problems.
Compliance with Regulations
Health and safety regulations require commercial kitchens to maintain their exhaust hoods in proper working condition. If they fail to comply, they can face fines, a shutdown or legal action. And because you’re in the business, you make it a priority to keep your equipment well maintained and clean so that you can remain compliant — avoiding those expensive results.
Cost Savings in the Long Run
Although some people might consider maintenance a cost, one has to see it as an investment. Failure to tend to your exhaust hood have consequences that include back-of-the-house damage, downtime and higher energy costs.
On the other hand, regular cleaning and maintenance will help to prolong the life of your hood, decrease repair costs and save on your energy bills.
What You Can Expect During the Exhaust Hood Cleaning Process
Having understood the necessity of cleaning and maintaining regularly, now on to giving you a brief overview of how it is done. It usually consists of cleaning the ductwork, degreasing and cleaning the filters and an overall checkup of your unit.
There are definitely some businesses that prefer their own in house cleaning, but the majority of business will have anyone specially trained to properly and safely address any cleaning issues.
In short, having a professional clean and maintain your exhaust hood is critical for the safety, efficiency, and compliance of your commercial kitchen. By paying more attention to this facet of your business, you will ensure the safety of your employees while making sure nothing goes wrong and providing overall well-being.
Ready to upgrade your current space? Just starting out on your commercial kitchen venture?
Either way, Brazas Fire’s kitchen exhaust cleaning specialists are here to help – get in touch today!