Restaurant Cleaning Services: Most commercial kitchens resemble a shimmering chrome wonderland on opening day. All that equipment like your vent hoods gleaming in the fluorescent lighting invoke mouth-watering images of all the delicious meals set to be prepared for years to come.
However, it only takes a single busy shift for all your commercial kitchen equipment to become covered in grease, grime, soot, and debris. In some cases, scrubbing your kitchen equipment, and especially your ventilation hoods might seem like a useless act. The chrome will only get tarnished with every new lunch or dinner rush.
You might want to make the appearance of your commercial kitchen a priority, however, and particularly with regard to keeping a pristine exhaust hood finish. The finish of your vent hood matters, and not only for cleanliness.
Here are ten reasons why the finish of your vent hoods is of the utmost importance, and how to keep your commercial kitchen spotless and constantly performing for your loyal customers.
Call APS-Hoods for a free estimate on your Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning & Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning needs.
As a rule, you should strive to keep your exhaust hood finish and all associated equipment looking as clean as the day it was initially installed. The alternative is to allow your equipment to become caked with grease and other flammable materials, which could cause dangerous and expensive problems later.
There are two rules: First, after each shift, train your employees to protect their hoods, stoves, and other appliances from any contamination. This may require some elbow fat, but your equipment will be more durable and therefore perform better. The second rule is to use restaurant cleaning services periodically, which can improve the performance of your equipment, such as the opening day.
2. The Proper Chemicals & Cleaning Equipment
Ensure your staff is using the proper grease-cutting equipment that is safe to use on your equipment. Harsh chemicals and even abrasive equipment could cause scratches in your exhaust hood finish. While that sounds like more of an aesthetic issue, marring the finish can strip your hoods of any protective layers they were issued during the fabrication process. Speak to your vent hood manufacturers to determine which cleaners and equipment you should be using to keep your commercial kitchen clean.
3. Keep Your Exhaust Hoods Grease-Free
The finish on your commercial exhaust hood may look great, but looks can be deceiving. Ensure your staff consistently checks the grease filters and trap to keep your restaurant protected from back-ups and deadly fire. While keeping your exhaust hood finish gleaming is a priority, always check “under the hood” and keep the grease to a minimum.
4. Check the Drip Tray
While you are checking filters and your grease trap, make sure the drip tray isn’t overflowing. That drip, drip, drip could end up on the floor and in the unlikeliest of nooks and crannies. Errant grease can cause slips, falls, and fires. This is another vent hood cleaning component you must be mindful of when keeping your chrome equipment always looking its best.
5. Check the Exhaust Fans
Commercial kitchens need clean air in addition to grease and soot removal. Exhaust fans carry out both and need to work optimally in order to keep your staff safe and all prepared meals tasting delicious. While you are keeping the exhaust hood finish so clean you can see yourself in it, ensure your fans are working properly. Test the fans and call in a kitchen fan maintenance crew at the first sign of slow down, strange noises, or other issues. These are all indicators that your fans are not working properly, much to the detriment of your air quality.
6. Pressure Wash Vent Hood Exteriors
Your employees do not have to clean the air conditioning hoods to reduce grease. High-pressure hoses can be used to wash all food, oils, and fats (FOG) so that your system is thoroughly clean and suitable for inspectors. Many Restaurant Cleaning Services offer vent hood pressure washing services because nothing is more effective in contaminating your equipment.
7. Your Exhaust Hood Finish Matters to Inspectors
Speaking of inspectors, both the fire and health department professionals will be very interested in just how clean your exhaust hood finish happens to be. Of course, inspectors will also check the grease traps, ducts, and the cleanliness of your grease filters. This should serve as another reminder to keep your hood finish clean along with all components attached and underneath.
8. Test the Lighting & Wiring
Commercial vent hood cleaning should always involve a check of the associated electrical components. We mentioned checking your exhaust fans, but what about the wiring that keeps those fans operational? What about the lighting? Lighting that is out or bad lighting can also contribute to staff members missing grease or debris in out-of-reach places. Inspect the lights and wires while keeping your exhaust hood finish spotless to ensure optimal function, even during the busiest of times.
9. When the Finish Goes, Consider Replacement
In some cases, no matter how hard you scrub your ventilation hoods, nothing will get them clean. When that happens, it might be a good sign that you are due to a complete commercial ventilation hood replacement. Venting out the bad air is critical, as is keeping your kitchen free of grease and other flammable materials. A vent hood installation service can give your kitchen equipment the immense gleam you remember from opening day.
10. Maintaining Your Fire Protection System
Fire will tarnish your exhaust hood finish more than anything else. That is why you should always test your fire suppression equipment while you are engaged in kitchen exhaust cleaning. Whether you have an Ansul fire protection system, wet or chemical fire suppression equipment, you want to ensure that the slightest spark will be extinguished. With your fire suppression in good working order, you will keep your staff and customers safe and your business under constant protection.
How is the work done on your exhaust hood? You can trust Aps-Hoods for restaurant cleaning services, where you will always receive exhaust hood cleaning, installation, and fan hood services that you can trust throughout Denver, Colorado. Call to get a free offer.
Running a restaurant or other type of commercial kitchen business requires you to maintain your business at every angle. One area where many business owners tend to lack is in the cleaning of all air ducts and ventilation systems throughout the establishment. Over time, the air ducts in a restaurant can become caked with grease and other particulates, leading to restrictions in airflow, and even risk of fire.
As time goes on, your business may require expensive duct repair, because all that gunk can make your air ducts too restrictive for proper airflow to get through, leading to more expenses and danger. Yes, that’s right. The more buildup there is in your restaurant duct system, the more impure the air will be in your restaurant. This means that your staff and customers will be breathing air that has been contaminated with cooking and other wastes. Not only that, but your HVAC and air make-up systems will have to work overtime, putting those systems at risk for breakdown.
To make a long story short, if you don’t properly maintain your ducts with proper cleaning, you’re facing large expenses, the risk of fire, and potentially business disruption if systems need to be replaced or fire causes your business to close.
Here is how to maintain your restaurant’s ductwork and all accompanying systems to keep your restaurant code compliant, safe, and presentable for staff and customers alike.
Beware of the In-House Approach to Exhaust Hood and Duct Cleaning
Like most business owners, you’ll always look for ways to save. This might mean time or money savings but retaining more of those things is always top priority.
With this in mind, many restaurant owners strive to save time and money by having their staff clean their commercial exhaust hoods, exhaust fans, and all accompanying ductwork.
Here are five reasons why that is the wrong approach.
Your Staff is Not Fully Qualified
Depending on how busy your restaurant gets, your ductwork and associated commercial hood systems likely get exposed to a significant amount of heat and grease. Over time, this grease can build-up, requiring the use of powerful, industrial-size cleaners.
Unless you have restaurant-grade pressure washing machines, powerful and safe chemical degreasers, and all the necessary equipment to clean your restaurant’s kitchen exhaust system thoroughly, you’re putting your business, staff, and customers at risk.
You May End Up Spending More in the Long Run
Each bit of grease and debris that are left behind by inexperienced staff members can contribute to a future fire hazard. Your kitchen exhaust fan and make-up air systems may also become overloaded, resulting in an impure environment and expensive potential breakdowns.
Your Business Requires Constant Cleaning
Your staff would have to work overtime to maintain the type of restaurant hood and duct cleaning that would be required to keep your business safe from fire and other risks all year round. Your staff is too busy opening for business, serving customers, and closing down at night. In many cases, professional commercial duct and hood cleaning requires the cleaners to work long into the night, when your business is closed to the public. Unless your staff is willing to work overtime, costing you even more money, it’s best to hire professional vent hood cleaners for commercial kitchen establishments.
You Must Remain Fire Code Compliant
Only professionals who are experienced with commercial hood installation and cleaning will understand how to maintain a clean environment that will pass any local and Federal agency inspection.
Your staff simply don’t have the certification or expertise to handle a job of such magnitude. Commercial vent hood cleaning and kitchen duct cleaning are major jobs that require professional-grade tools and years of experience, which are qualities your staff is unlikely to possess.
You’ll Save More Time & Money with the Experts
When you hire ventilation hood installation and repair experts to clean your commercial kitchen duct systems, you know you’re getting a fast and efficient service that works with your schedule.
You won’t have to pay staff overtime to clean your ducts and other commercial kitchen equipment, nor will you face expensive mistakes by going the in-house cleaning route.
Expert vent hood and duct cleaners have the tools, chemicals, steam, and related machines and techniques to rid your restaurant of grease and buildup while keeping your business code compliant.
How ventilation systems Hoods & Ducts Are Cleaned in a Commercial Kitchen Environment
When it comes time to find a commercial kitchen cleaning service, you want to look for a few qualities.
Experience
You want to know that the service you hire to clean your commercial ducts, hoods, exhaust fans, and HVAC systems has worked on your type of business and equipment before. Having this level of experience allows the cleaning professional to troubleshoot any problem quickly, leading to less costly and more efficient repairs.
Expertise
Your commercial vent hood cleaning service should employ only those who understand commercial kitchens and the ways in which they operate. The service personnel performing the duct cleaning should be familiar with the top brands and know-how to simultaneously repair ductwork, vent hood systems, and replace equipment if necessary.
One-Stop-Shop
Only a commercial kitchen cleaning equipment that provides all its services in-house can fully help your business remain safe and compliant. This means that the service personnel can perform all duct cleaning, service, and repairs without having to turn to expensive and potentially inexperienced contractors.
Budget-Friendly
Professional ventilation hood installation, maintenance, and repair experts know that you require regular cleaning services in order to remain code compliant. The best companies work with you to give you a competitive quote on all commercial kitchen cleaning services without hidden fees or other charges.
Local
The company should operate close to where your business resides. This is because you never know when you might require emergency ventilation hood cleaning or grease trap cleaning, for instance. With grease and oil and high heat providing such a risk of fire and debris-filled air, you want to know that professional commercial kitchen cleaners are always just a phone call away.
How a Professional Vent and Duct Cleaning Company Will Clean Your Restaurant
The first step to cleaning your commercial ventilation hood systems and all associated ductwork is to come out and assess your restaurant. This step is usually completed when you get your free estimate, which most commercial kitchen cleaners do provide.
Look over your estimate carefully and ensure that it includes everything necessary in order to prevent dangerous grease buildup and prevent future problems.
This includes a thorough cleaning, maintenance, and potentially repair of all ventilation hoods, exhaust fans, ductwork, HVAC systems, make-up air systems, grease trap, and all other relevant components.
A professional will be able to walk you through this process to ensure you have peace of mind that your ventilation and duct hood cleaning are always in the best of hands.
Working Within Your Schedule
The act of providing your restaurant with a comprehensive duct and hood cleaning is not a quick affair. It will take hours, so generally, these services are performed during the times when your business is closed.
If your restaurant business is open 24/7, this won’t prevent the commercial kitchen cleaners from doing a thorough job. It just means that you’ll need to find an experienced service that will provide the least disruption to normal service as you have your systems scrubbed and made code compliant.
Shutting Down Necessary Systems
In order for your ducts and ventilation hood systems to be cleaned as you prefer, all necessary appliances, machines, and equipment will need to be switched off. This is to ensure that there is no harm to personnel, as well as to protect the safety of your equipment. These machines are easier to clean when they’re not in operation.
Covering Appliances & Machines
The cleaning of commercial kitchen equipment, ducts, hoods, and exhaust fans can get messy. For this reason, all cooking and other surfaces will be covered to keep them clean and safe.
Pair and Split Up
Most of the time, your commercial ventilation hood and duct cleaning will be performed by pairs of experienced personnel. Once all the necessary equipment has been shut off, the next step is for your commercial kitchen cleaners to split up. One will go up to the roof while the other will stay in the kitchen.
Commercial Ductwork and Ventilation Systems Pressure Washed
Once on the roof, the commercial kitchen cleaning expert will use powerful machines and chemicals, as well as steam, to pressure wash any lingering grease out of the ductwork. Once the cleaning begins, all the flushed away grease and debris will flood down into the kitchen area. This is why it was necessary to cover everything.
The kitchen vent hood cleaning expert inside the kitchen area will use equipment to catch all the flushed grease and debris, allowing it to be responsibly disposed of.
With all of the restaurant’s HVAC, make-up air systems, and other roof-based ventilation equipment clean and disinfected, both commercial kitchen cleaners will meet back up in the kitchen, where the true cleaning begins.
ventilation systems Hood Cleaning
The areas over the stoves and other commercial kitchen equipment are most prone to grease and debris buildup. These areas, if not cleaned properly, can become literal hotbeds for the breakout of fire. These systems will be disassembled and cleaned inside and out. This includes ventilation hoods, exhaust fans, and any associated ductwork.
Since you took the time to find a one-stop-shop for commercial kitchen cleaning services, you know that your personnel will be able to replace fans, wiring, ductwork, or any other systems that appear to be defective during the cleaning process.
Commercial Duct Cleaning
Next, the kitchen cleaning experts will ensure that all ducts are flushed of grease buildup and debris that can cause your HVAC system to malfunction and kick dangerous impurities into the air. A professional kitchen cleaning service will test all of your equipment to ensure that it’s always operating as it should. These tests are crucial for preventing future problems and saving you loads of time and money in the long run.
The Cleanup Process
The goal of a professional commercial kitchen cleaning service will be to provide you with fast, thorough, and efficient service. That means that you can expect your cleaning crew to work quickly as they flush grease from the roof to the kitchen, then clean the kitchen area with meticulous attention to detail.
During this cleanup process, all the ventilation hoods, exhaust fans, and ducts will be checked for quality assurance, and all appliances and machines uncovered for the next business day.
When the service is complete, you’ll be able to walk into your kitchen smelling cleaner, more breathable air, and witnessing your ventilation hoods, ducts, exhaust fans, and all associated systems gleaming from a cleaning job well done.
We are known for our high attention to detail and the ability to clean even the most elaborate of the duct and vent hood systems for all types of restaurants and commercial kitchen establishments.
Call APS-Hoods for a Free Quote
Your kitchen business may be serving customers on the daily, but you’re doing yourself a disservice if you fail to clean your ventilation hoods and ducts properly and on a regular basis.
If you live in and around Denver, Colorado, call APS-Hoods and we can provide you with professional commercial kitchen cleaning services. Our experts have years of experience and are trained on all top brands of commercial kitchen equipment.
From ventilation hoods and exhaust fans to ductwork and every other system in between, APS-Hoods can provide you with a free quote on thorough cleaning that gives you peace of mind and keeps your business code compliant.
Call APS-Hoods for a free estimate on your Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning & Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning needs.
How Often Do Each of Your ventilation systems Need to be Replaced?
The ventilation system in your commercial kitchen or food prep facility can prevent the air from becoming polluted and can also prevent fires. If you have recently installed your vent hoods or it’s been a couple of years, replacement isn’t likely. Even in the busiest of kitchens, these components are designed to last years into the future, and many come with warranties that protect against the risk of fan breakdowns and other anomalies.
Yet if you have had your vent hood system for fifteen years or more, you may want to consider a replacement. Here are the signs to look for when you’re wondering if a new vent system may be worthy of your investment.
Signs to Replace Your Vent Hoods
Tons of Grease Buildup
If anything will catch on fire quickly, it’s a grease-laden vent system. When grease gets caked into your fans and vents and throughout the various components that comprise your system, the slightest spark can create a dangerous situation you won’t want to encounter.
To save your employees, equipment, building, and customers, keep your ventilation system free of grease at every turn. While some buildup is normal during the average shift, too much is a hazard. Use a heavy-duty cleaner nightly and schedule regular vent hood cleaning and maintenance to keep your equipment grease-free.
If the grease builds up over a long period of time, it can turn into an uncleanable mess, and replacement might be your best and least-costly option in the long run.
Working Too Hard
If your ventilation systems is huffing and puffing and yet seems to be pushing even less air through than before, that’s a good sign that your vent system needs to be overhauled or replaced. In some cases, a simple fan replacement can do wonders, but only a professional ventilation hood expert should make that call.
Scheduling regular maintenance can keep the problem of not enough airflow in check, but outdated systems may be helpless and replacement may be your only recourse.
Changes in Production
If you have recently changed your menu or if you are suddenly producing more volume in your kitchen, your old vent hood system may not be able to keep up. This isn’t something you want to find out weeks into the new way of doing business.
It’s far better to schedule a maintenance and cleaning call if you do suspect that your equipment isn’t in the best working order before things get out of hand. New and energy-efficient vent hoods by top manufacturers will keep production ramping up without sacrificing quality, and you’ll even save on energy costs.
Changing Your Vent Hood Filter
Of course, some ventilation systems can seem to be malfunctional when changing your filter is all the situation calls for. Make sure you are changing or at least cleaning your hood filters regularly to prevent grease buildup and other problems. And, of course, to keep your ventilation system operating like new.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that you should never make the decision to replace your vent hoods all on your own. Get an expert’s opinion by scheduling regular vent hood cleaning and maintenance or by calling for a free estimate on a complete replacement. Only a professional will be able to give you an honest assessment of whether your equipment needs to be maintained, fixed, or replaced altogether. For more information on vent hood maintenance, cleaning, and replacement, visit Aps-Hoods, your choice for commercial kitchen ventilation systems, food truck construction, and more. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Farazandeh are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
SourceDenver, CO – Vent Hood Cleaning Services Most restaurant owners understand the importance of engaging in a regular commercial kitchen cleaning schedule. Keeping cooktops and food preparation areas spotless is crucial for hygiene reasons, but it’s equally as important to ensure that kitchen hood fans and filters remain just as clean. Here’s why. Grease and dust can build up in range hood fans and filters quickly, posing a potential fire hazard. Grease is highly combustible, so the risk of it catching alight and sparking a kitchen fire are increased if the residue build-up isn’t removed regularly. The kitchen’s hood and ventilation system provide a layer of protection in eliminating air contaminants and odors caused by cooking. So it’s essential the filters and fans are not just cleaned and maintained regularly so they operate effectively; they also need to be cleaned properly, ideally by a professional hood services company, to minimize health and safety risks. However, even with regular maintenance, there are times when a hood fan or filter will need to be replaced completely. Some signs to look for that could indicate a hood fan or filter may need to be replaced include:
You notice damage on the filter during a routine cleaning
The vent fan no longer draws smoke or cooking smells out of the kitchen as effectively
The exhaust fan makes unusual sounds or stops turning completely
The risk of an exhaust fan failing during operating hours could be devastating to any commercial kitchen operation. The risk of fire is dramatically increased, but there is also the problem of filling the kitchen and dining area with smoke. The specialists at APS-Hoods recommend creating a scheduled routine for cleaning, maintaining and replacing hood filters in every commercial kitchen. The actual length of time between each deep clean, service and replacement will vary, depending on the condition of the individual range hood. A ventilation hood over a busy restaurant kitchen may have filters that need to be replaced every six to eight months. However, that timeframe may shorten if the range hood, duct work and fan are not cleaned and maintained regularly. The majority of commercial kitchen owners simply don’t have the available staff or resources to undertake such a detailed task. In fact, most eateries need their staff to focus on what they do best – cooking great meals and serving satisfied customers. The easiest and most effective way to ensure that any kitchen’s hood, exhaust and ventilation system is operating at its best is to book a complete hood service and duct cleaning. Appointing a professional company to take care of the cleaning allows you to keep your staff focused on their jobs. You also have the peace of mind that the job is done properly and any faulty or damaged parts can be repaired or replaced quickly. To learn more about cleaning the filters in a commercial kitchen, contact Aps-Hoods for a free estimate by calling (800) 750-7313. About Aps-Hoods: Aps-Hoods specializes in services such as complete kitchen cleaning, Vent Hood Cleaning, hood installation, and fire protection services in Denver, Cheyenne, as well as across Colorado, and Wyoming. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Farazandeh are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
