Restaurant Hood Cleaning Experts

Why Restaurant Hood Cleaning is essential for restaurants?

For restaurants, maintaining a pristine kitchen environment is not just a matter of providing delicious meals, but it's also about ensuring operations' safety, health, and efficiency. Here are the primary reasons why hood cleaning is indispensable for restaurants:

• Safety First: Accumulated grease and debris in exhaust hoods are among the leading causes of kitchen fires in restaurants. Regular cleaning drastically reduces this fire hazard, ensuring the safety of both employees and patrons.
• Health & Hygiene: An uncleaned hood can become a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and pests. By regularly cleaning the exhaust system, restaurants can prevent potential health risks, ensuring that the air in the kitchen remains clean and free of contaminants. This protects the staff and guarantees that the meals prepared are hygienic.
• Operational Efficiency: Grease and debris buildup can obstruct the airflow in an exhaust system, making it less efficient. A well-maintained system ensures proper ventilation, leading to a cooler and more comfortable kitchen environment. This can boost the morale and productivity of the kitchen staff.
• Prolonged Equipment Lifespan: Regular hood cleaning can extend the life of the exhaust system components. When grease and debris are regularly removed, the risk of parts corroding or wearing out prematurely is minimized, saving restaurants potential repair or replacement costs in the long run.
• Regulatory Compliance: Health and fire safety regulations mandate regular kitchen exhaust cleanings in many regions, including North Carolina. Adherence to these standards ensures a safe operating environment and prevents potential legal repercussions or fines.
• Maintaining Reputation: A clean kitchen reflects a restaurant's commitment to quality and safety. Regular hood cleanings can help restaurants uphold their reputation in the eyes of inspectors and patrons.

How often should a restaurant get its hood cleaned?

The frequency of restaurant hood cleaning varies based on the volume and type of cooking and local regulations. It's vital to adhere to recommended schedules to ensure safety, efficiency, and compliance. Here's a general guideline for restaurants:

• High-volume restaurants and 24-hour kitchens: Fast food restaurants, diners, and establishments that use wok cooking or charbroiling should consider cleaning their hoods every 1 to 3 months. The constant cooking and heavy grease output necessitate more frequent cleanings.
• Moderate-volume restaurants: Establishments like casual dining places, which might not operate round the clock or have heavy grease output, typically require hood cleaning every 3 to 6 months.
• Low-volume cooking locations, Such as churches, senior centers, or seasonal businesses, might need their hoods cleaned every 6 to 12 months. Their infrequent cooking operations lead to less accumulation of grease and debris.

Special considerations: Some specialty venues, like pizza parlors with wood-burning ovens or establishments that primarily bake, might fall into a unique schedule based on their specific needs and local regulations. This can be every 2 weeks or monthly because it is categorized as solid fuel.

It's also essential to:

Monitor the system: Regularly inspect the hood system for signs of excessive grease buildup. If the grease accumulation reaches 2000 microns (about the thickness of 2 credit cards), it's time for a cleaning, irrespective of the scheduled frequency.

Stay updated with local regulations: Local health or fire departments may have specific mandates about how frequently restaurant hoods should be cleaned. Ensure compliance with these standards to avoid potential fines and ensure your establishment's safety.

How is the cleaning process carried out?

Restaurant hood cleaning is a meticulous process that requires expertise, precision, and attention to detail. At Elite Hood Service LLC, we pride ourselves on a comprehensive cleaning regimen that ensures safety and efficiency. Here's a step-by-step overview of our procedure:

• Assessment: Before we begin, our team conducts a thorough assessment of the exhaust system to identify specific areas of concern, such as significant grease buildup, potential blockages, or deficiencies. This allows us to tailor our approach for maximum effectiveness.
• Preparation: To protect the kitchen equipment and workspace, we cover the cooking appliances and surrounding areas with plastic sheeting. This ensures no cleaning chemicals or debris affect these areas.
• Degreasing: We apply a specialized, eco-friendly degreasing solution to the hood, filters, ducts, and fans. This helps soften and break down the grease buildup, making it easier to remove.
• Scraping: Our trained technicians manually scrape off the thick layers of grease and grime from accessible parts of the exhaust system. This step ensures that the majority of the grease buildup is removed before the pressure washing phase.
• Pressure Washing: We thoroughly wash the entire exhaust system using high-pressure hot water. This removes residual grease and chemicals and ensures that hard-to-reach areas are adequately cleaned.
• Inspection and Testing: After cleaning, we conduct a detailed inspection of the entire exhaust system to ensure no grease or chemical residue remains. We also test the exhaust fan and other system components to ensure they are functioning correctly.
• Polishing: To restore a gleaming finish, the exterior surfaces of the hood and other visible parts are polished, giving the kitchen a clean and professional appearance.
• Report and Recommendations: After the cleaning process is completed, we provide the restaurant owner or manager with a detailed report of our findings and any recommendations for maintenance or repairs.
• Clean-up: Our commitment to professionalism extends to cleaning up after work. We ensure the kitchen is left in pristine condition ready for the next service.
• Follow-up: We value long-term relationships with our clients. After our service, we conduct follow-ups to ensure satisfaction and to remind restaurant owners of their next scheduled cleaning.