Don’t Let Grease Buildup Cause a Fire in Your Kitchen: How Often Should Your Exhaust System Be Cleaned?
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 96 Standard requires professional cleaning of your kitchen exhaust system between once a month and once a year, depending on the volume of food cooked, the type of food served, and the type of fuel used. Your exhaust system may need to be cleaned more or less frequently depending on how frequently you use your kitchen and what you cook. If you frequently cook with greasy foods, for example, your system will require more cleaning than if you mostly bake or roast.
Cleaning your kitchen exhaust system is essential for fire safety as well as air quality. Grease and other buildups can start fires and make your kitchen smell bad. A professional cleaning company can quickly and safely clean your system, ensuring that it is up to code and running smoothly.
Kitchen Fire Risks and Grease Buildup
When it comes to kitchen fire hazards, grease is one of the most common causes. Grease buildup in your exhaust system is a major fire hazard, and it’s critical to clean it on a regular basis to keep a fire from starting. But how frequently should your exhaust system be cleaned?
When determining how frequently to clean your exhaust system, there are a few factors to consider. The first consideration is the type of cooking you do. If you frequently fry or cook in other ways that produce a lot of smoke, you’ll need to clean your system more frequently.
Another thing to think about is the size of your exhaust system. A larger system will require more cleaning than a smaller one. Finally, the frequency of cleaning will be determined by the amount of grease buildup in your system. If your system has a lot of grease buildup, you’ll need to clean it more frequently.
In general, you should clean your exhaust system at least once a year. However, if you frequently fry or cook with high-smoke ingredients, you may need to clean it more frequently. If your exhaust system is large or heavily used, you may need to clean it several times a year. If there is a lot of grease buildup, you may need to clean it monthly, if not more frequently.
Advantages of Professional Cleaning
Grease and oil are unavoidable byproducts of cooking, but if not removed properly, they can accumulate and pose a serious fire hazard. That is why it is critical to have a professional cleaning service clean your commercial kitchen exhaust system on a regular basis.
Here are some of the advantages of hiring a professional cleaner:
1. Remove potentially hazardous grease and oil buildup: Grease and oil can accumulate on exhaust fans, hoods, ductwork, and other surfaces over time. This buildup is extremely hazardous because it can easily catch fire. A professional cleaning will get rid of all of the grease and oil, preventing a fire.
2. Improve air quality: Grease and oil fumes are hazardous to your health, causing respiratory problems as well as eye irritation. You can improve the air quality in your kitchen and make it a safer place to work by having your exhaust system cleaned on a regular basis.
3. Avoid costly repairs: Allowing grease and oil to accumulate on your exhaust system will eventually cause damage that will be costly to repair. You can avoid these costly repairs by having your system cleaned on a regular basis.
4. Extend the life of your equipment: Keeping your commercial kitchen equipment clean and free of grease and grime will help it last longer.