One of the most important pieces of equipment in a restaurant’s cooking area is the kitchen hood. A kitchen hood that is not cleaned properly or carefully maintained can cause significant health and safety concerns, putting the restaurant and its workers at risk. Here are the reasons why it is crucial to clean a restaurant kitchen hood regularly and why you should choose a professional for the job. Check baremetalstandard.com for more details.
Improved Kitchen Ventilation
Proper ventilation in a kitchen area is needed to remove the many contaminates released into the air by different cooking techniques. If the contaminated air is not adequately replaced by clean, fresh air, it can cause breathing issues and a host of other ailments. The kitchen hood should be efficient enough to move large quantities of air through a commercial kitchen quickly enough to keep the air safe and breathable. A dirty kitchen hood operates much less efficiently than a clean one.
Compliance With Local Ordinance
Many local codes have ordinances governing the removal of smoke and grease-laden vapors from commercial buildings. Failure to comply with these ordinances can result in expensive fines or the closure of the business. In order to be in compliance with local codes, kitchen hoods must be able to prevent the accumulation of these vapors in the building by exhausting the contaminated air at a minimum acceptable rate, which can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Reducing Fire Risk
While cooking in the kitchen the flames of fire flare up too high and if accidentally these fiery flames come in contact with the hood it will result in a hazardous situation. As smoke, grease, and other contaminants are drawn up through the kitchen hood, they will collect on the filters and in the ductwork over time. If this buildup becomes thick enough, it will pose a fire risk to the building and its inhabitants. Consistent cleaning of the kitchen hood and changing the filters regularly will significantly reduce this risk.
Preventing The Growth Of Bacteria And Mold
Cooking in a commercial restaurant creates large amounts of steam that carries warmth and moisture. This moisture is the key to the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew. Harmful bacteria and molds can pose a serious health risk to anyone in the building. This situation can turn off a lot of customers and that can lead to dozens of other problems. A clean and well-maintained kitchen hood can prevent these particulates from circulating in occupied areas and can maintain a hygienic condition that prevents people from being dissatisfied.
Minimizing Insurance Liability
If you are getting regular cleaning done of the hood, its filters, vents, interiors, and exteriors. You are complying to the rules and keeping the whole environment of the kitchen clean and in a condition where it is not putting any one at any kind of risk. Then the insurance companies see that you have followed through all the necessary steps required and they negotiate with you which can further lead to you getting a break on your rates.
But if a fire occurs due to clogged filters or compromised ductwork, the insurance company covering the business may use that as a reason to place responsibility on your shoulders and deny the claim. Getting this denial reversed can be very difficult, if not impossible, and the business could end up being a total loss.. Routine, professional kitchen hood cleaning can prevent this tragedy.
How Often Should A Restaurant Kitchen Hood Be Cleaned?
There are set guidelines that you have to follow through when you want to clean the kitchen hood at your eatery. The guidelines are set according to the local health code. Or it might depend on the owner of the eatery that whenever they want to get the hood cleaned, they can get it cleaned.
Another factor on which the recommended frequency of restaurant kitchen hood cleaning depends on how frequently the kitchen is in operation.
Restaurants that operate 24 hours a day and are open all week should have their kitchen hood professionally cleaned at least once per month.
Fast food restaurants and restaurants that use wood-burning or charcoal-burning ovens should also have their kitchen hoods cleaned monthly.
Restaurants that see a high volume of customers on a regular basis should schedule to have their kitchen hood cleaned quarterly, along with restaurants that are open most of the day for most of the week.
Most other sit-down restaurants, including those that primarily serve pizza, will need to have their kitchen hoods cleaned every six months.
Kitchens that operate seasonally or that have a low volume of cooking can schedule an annual cleaning for their kitchen hoods.
Kitchen hoods that are specific to non-grease appliances can also be scheduled for an annual cleaning.
An additional cleaning can always be scheduled if the kitchen hood becomes noticeably dirty ahead of its next scheduled cleaning.
If ignored the timely cleaning of the hood then there are many risks involved for the kitchen staff and for the customers that dine at a particular restaurant, cafe or deli. The risk of a fire is too great and too serious to ignore. Any worker who is a prudent operator in the kitchen should be wise and clean the exhaust hood more often and even too often.
Choose Kitchen Hood Cleaning Experts
Cleaning and maintaining a professional grade restaurant kitchen hood is no easy task and is not something that should be left up to inexperienced staff. The risks if something is done incorrectly is just too great. Between the business losses and a potential rejection of an insurance claim, a single instance of ignition in a kitchen’s exhaust system can be enough to completely sink a business.
Choosing a professional to clean your restaurant’s kitchen hood will reduce the risk of fire and ensure that your business remains in compliance with all applicable local ordinances. It will also give you peace of mind knowing that the task has been completed correctly and you have done what you can to keep your business, your employees, and your customers safe.