Keeping equipment in good shape should be a priority for all small business owners. As the saying goes an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Taking a short cut on the maintenance can make you pay even more in the long run. For example, if you want your extractor fan to go the distance, you need to make sure it is properly maintained and serviced. In fact, some 70 percent of commercial kitchen fires start because of faulty ducting and ventilation. That’s because grease and fat tend to build up, making kitchen duct cleaning a necessity.
Often, kitchen managers and chefs believe that if the filters and canopy look clean, the job is done. But the problem occurs when the ductwork behind the kitchen extract system becomes dirty and neglected. And that’s when the lifespan of your commercial extractor fan starts to dwindle.
Why Kitchen Duct Cleaning Should Be a Regular Occurrence
- It Creates a Healthy Working Environment
Air duct cleaning is essential for a healthy working environment. Extractor fans require regular duct cleaning services to maintain optimal air flow in the kitchen. If they become blocked with grease and dirt, they won’t be able to remove heat, cooking smells and hazardous carbon monoxide.
- Eliminate Fire Hazards
Many canopy kitchen extractor systems have filters that are the first line of defense against grease. However, smaller particles inevitably do pass through the filters and into the ductwork. While the kitchen extractor system is easy enough to access, the ductwork behind it can be a little trickier and will require professional and experienced duct cleaning services to eliminate fire hazard.
If you try to turn a blind eye and fail to carry out regular kitchen duct cleaning operations, the dirt and grease will build up and could potentially cause a fire. If a fire inspector discovers that you have not been keeping the ductwork clean, you could face prosecution for negligence in your kitchen.
Extraction System Maintenance
Maintaining your extraction system will help to prolong its life. Installing hatches and panel doors is a clean and quick process that will not affect your busy commercial kitchen. Once the filters are installed, you can enjoy great peace of mind that the system will not become a fire hazard and will be shiny and clean, working the way it is meant to.
Other benefits to maintaining the extractor system include:
- Improved smoke and odour removal
- Improved hygiene standards
- Easy to conduct regular maintenance and cleaning
- Compliance with the necessary health and safety regulations
- Unobtrusive access panels all the way throughout the duct system
Importance of Filter and Canopy Cleaning
The very first line of defense in an extractor system is your grease filter. Commercial extractor hoods are usually designed to extract fumes and heat from your kitchen. Therefore, they need grease filters in order to function properly. The filter’s main function is to reduce grease that rises up from the cooking area and into the duct. By regularly replacing and maintaining the grease filters, you can prevent your equipment from breaking down and avoid fires breaking out. Grease filters tend to require a thorough deep clean in order to ensure the equipment works optimally.
If you want to ensure regular air duct cleaning and a healthy working environment, lower fire risks and avoid facing the law for carelessness, the answer is to hire a professional extractor fan cleaning company. This will ensure your equipment’s lifespan lasts as long as it is meant to and continues to work the way the manufacturer intended.
