Commercial Exhaust Hood

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Commercial Exhaust Hood

Benefits of a Properly Maintained Kitchen Exhaust System by Mike Shannon

Owners of commercial kitchens have undoubtedly faced rough economic times over the past few years. Restaurant owners have seen declines in customers and average tickets, event venues have seen decreased attendance and food purchases, and grocery stores are always looking to trim costs to make up for rising employee costs. One area of the budget that often gets cut, or at a minimum, scrutinized, is commercial kitchen exhaust hood cleaning. Despite the obvious safety issues and fire code compliance, there are other benefits to properly maintaining the exhaust hood system. Here is some food for thought for anyone operating a commercial kitchen.

First of all, the exhaust hood system plays a major role in maintaining proper airflow in your kitchen. Whether your kitchen is closed to public view or open, odors and excess smoke caused by grease and oils drown out the enticing smells and are not what you want your patrons interacting with. The exhaust system helps maintain the air balance in the kitchen. When the exhaust fan becomes heavily grease laden, it will slow down, reducing the amount of air being exhausted thus affecting the air balance in the kitchen. When this happens, kitchen odors can easily leak into the dining area.

Second, like in any business, investments and costs must be scrutinized to ensure good return and necessity. In the case of the kitchen exhaust system, you risk being penny-wise and pound-foolish. A thoroughly cleaned exhaust fan runs at maximum efficiency. This reduces wear on the motor, bearings and fan belt. The more wear, the sooner you will need to invest in replacement parts that could end up costing you much more that the savings from neglecting the maintenance. Also, a thoroughly cleaned exhaust system (to bare metal) will reduce the redeposit of grease on to the metal surfaces. Smooth clean metal surfaces within an exhaust system are much more difficult for grease to adhere to then a rough grease laden surface. In other words, with proper maintenance, the maintenance itself becomes easier and less costly. I often take on new customers who are forced to pay double or even triple what a routine service call would cost, just to bring the system into a compliant, safe and optimal running state.

Third, a system that is safely working at peak performance will lead to a working environment that is cooler, cleaner and more productive for the staff. Since the exhaust system helps to circulate air by eliminating hot, smoky and greasy air and pulling cleaner air in, the result is an environment that staff will be much happier to work within. This can lead to decreased energy costs by reducing cooling, increased productivity from your staff, and an environment that promotes the creation of the best product possible.

The regular and thorough maintenance of the exhaust hood and complete kitchen exhaust system will help to ensure a safe, positive and productive environment for your business. You'll reduce the possibility of having a devastating fire, provide a safe and clean work environment for employees and customers, stay compliant with local fire codes and avoid Health Department citations. In some cases, you may even be able to reduce insurance costs (some companies). The benefits are plenty and the risks are far too great. Consider a regular, thorough maintenance program by a certified exhaust hood cleaning company - it makes good business sense!

About the Author

For over 20 years, Mike Shannon of Shannon Diversified, Inc., a certified exhaust hood cleaning company, has helped restaurants and commercial kitchens protect their investments through proper maintenance of their exhaust system. Adhering to fire code and protecting your investment are why he recommends regular hood cleaning. Visit http://www.shannonco.com for more.