The vent hood in a commercial kitchen sees a lot of use over the course of a normal business day. This means that grease and food residue can build up within the vent hood quickly. Grease buildup poses a serious fire hazard, so it must be addressed often to ensure that a commercial kitchen remains in compliance with fire standards.
Professional cleaning on a regular basis is advised, but you can complete some vital steps between professional cleanings to help keep your vent hood running properly.
1. Clean the Baffle Filters
The baffle filters that are found on commercial vent hoods are designed to force the air carrying grease particles to change directions multiple times as it is sucked into the vent. Grease particles condense on the baffles because they aren't able to change direction as quickly as the air molecules carrying them.
The important filtration performed by your baffle filters usually means that these filters can become clogged up quickly. You should be regularly removing all the baffle filters from your vent hood and placing them in a soaking solution to remove grease buildup.
2. Clean the Vent Fan
Commercial vent hoods are fitted with a powerful fan that helps to direct the air carrying grease particles over a cooktop upward and into the filtration system. A lot of grease is removed as the air passes through the baffle filters, but not all of the grease is eliminated during this initial filtration.
The vent fan blades can become coated with a thin layer of grease over time. You should use a pressure washer to carefully cleanse the vent fan using an industrial degreasing chemical. Cleaning the vent fan between professional clean-outs will help eliminate any performance issues with the fan in the future.
3. Scrape the Vent Hood
The hood itself shouldn't be overlooked when it comes to routine cleaning. The hood houses all of the filters, fans, and ducts needed for the vent system to successfully eliminate grease. Grease particles in the rising air column and grease splatters from the cooking surface below can coat the interior surfaces of the vent hood.
You will want to use a scraper to carefully remove all visible grease. Leaving grease buildup on the vent hood could create the potential for a fire to spark as your kitchen staff prepares meals for patrons.
The best way to ensure the safety of your commercial kitchen is to regularly clean all kitchen vent hoods. Basic cleaning performed between professional cleanings can extend the service life of your vent hoods and keep your kitchen staff safe. For more information, reach out to a company that offers kitchen vent hood cleaning services.