Have you ever been in a restaurant kitchen during a dinner rush? It's a beautiful thing, but it can be absolute chaos.
With so much going on, the last thing you need to worry about is your restaurant's ventilation system. It's easy to overlook, but it can't be ignored.
If the exhaust hood in your restaurant is not clean, it can become a major safety issue.
So, how do we keep the restaurant's ventilation system clean and the restaurant's kitchen safe? We'll be going over tips to do just that in the article below.
Don't Forget The Filters
One of the most important steps of keeping your restaurant's ventilation system clean is your filters. A lot of restaurant owners can be "penny wise, dollar foolish" when it comes to filters.
It's important to purchase the right filters for your system. Even if it means spending a little bit more on them. Make sure to use the right number of filters also.
If you are unsure what type of filters you need, you can consult a hood filter sizing chart.
If your hood filter doesn't fit the opening of your exhaust hood perfectly, that's ok. You can use a product called a hood filter spacer to fill any gaps. You don't need to purchase a new exhaust hood just because the filters don't fit perfectly.
Easy Duct Access
When cleaning your exhaust hood of grease and residue, you'll want to make sure you can easily access the ducts. These areas can be hard to reach, so make sure your ventilation system has duct access doors.
These are typically cut into the ducts at regular increments throughout the length of your ductwork. This ensures that your ducts are accessible from multiple points throughout the system, which makes cleaning the system a breeze.
Timing Is Key
How often should ventilation system cleaning take place? Most restaurants clean the vent hood every day, but some can wait 1-2 weeks.
Whether you decide to clean the exhaust hood daily or weekly is up to you. How often you clean is going to depend on the volume of cooking in your restaurant.
Fast food restaurants are open for some of the longest shifts in the food industry. Those long hours of constant cooking can take a toll on any restaurant's ventilation system. This is why fast-food restaurants need to clean their hood vents daily.
Ventilation System Cleaning Methods
Most restaurant vent hoods are easy enough to clean. A good, thorough wash with hot, soapy water is enough to do the trick.
Occasionally, dirty vent hoods may sit overnight in a soak tank. The soak tank has water with soap and other industrial cleaning chemicals such as degreaser.
This helps to knock out any tough grease and residue that a normal hand wash can't get.
Vent hoods can also be put in a high-temperature commercial dishwasher. It's important to check the manufacturer's warnings on your vent hood, though.
Some dishwashers use chemicals that can damage the metal your vent hood is made of.
It's All Good In The Hood
Now you have all the tips and tricks necessary to keep your ventilation system squeaky clean. Your restaurant's equipment will be running at its best, and your kitchen will be at its safest.
If you have any questions about your restaurant exhaust hood or need us to work on another project for you, contact us today. We are here to help, and we're always happy to hear from our customers.
