Our last post talked about bathroom exhaust maintenance. But being that we’re all about keeping your home as safe and clean as possible, we want to talk about kitchen hood cleaning too. Please note, that at this time our team does not remove grease and does not clean the exhaust above the stove. We do however clean the regular air vents found in the kitchen. With that being said, we still wanted to touch on the importance of cleaning the kitchen exhaust, as it correlates to the safety of your home and quality of your air as a whole.
Top Reasons to Keep Your Kitchen Exhaust Clean in New York & New Jersey
The purpose of the kitchen exhaust is to remove the byproducts in the air. Typically, folks turn it on when cooking something greasy or smelly in order to help draw out the unwanted scents from the home. With that, grease can quickly build up, and be a potential cause of a fire, as high temperatures can lead to ignition. We definitely don’t want a fire in your kitchen’s ventilation system, so let’s take a closer look at the benefits of keeping the system clean and grease free.
Fire Prevention
As mentioned above, the combination of grease and temperature (especially if your extractor fails) can be just the right environment for a fire to start. As a whole, grease is quite flammable, and one wrong spark from cooking can lead to fire that spreads throughout your ductwork. Most fires that originate in the kitchen are due to poorly maintained exhaust ducts and hoods.
Improved Air Quality
If the exhaust is dirty, it can recirculate the grease, bacteria, and other particles throughout the system. It’s also often the cause of bad smells, as kitchen odors tend to linger, and a dirty exhaust isn’t able to properly remove them. Aka not cleaning can lead to poor extraction of the existing smoke and odors. This can also worsen respiratory issues like asthma and allergies, should you suffer from them. Hence, if the vent is clean, it works better, the air quality in your home improves, and you’re able to live a bit healthier, at least from the air perspective.
Increased Savings, Airflow, and Lifespan
If poorly maintained, equipment has to work harder to perform its job, which typically ends up using more energy, and ultimately coming out of your pocket. When the system is clean, air is able to flow better, which leads to a more efficient operation and typically a lower power bill.
Ultimately, keeping a clean kitchen exhaust can extend the life of your system, as systems tend to work optimally when all parts are well maintained. Remember, replacing tends to be a lot more costly than maintaining.
Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Frequency and Best Practices for NY & NJ Residents
Frequency of cleaning really depends on use. If you cook frequently, and more greasy foods, then more frequent hood cleaning will be required. For example, a busy restaurant kitchen that’s working 24/7 may need to clean the exhaust system every week, while a typical residential kitchen on average needs to be cleaned every three months or so. Again, numbers are relevant to the frequency of use.
As a whole, professional cleaning is always better, but there are always things you can do to help your system function optimally. For example:
Clean the filters
Simply use a degreasing agent with hot soapy water should you have metal filters. And if they’re disposable, follow manufacturer instructions.
Degrease
Things like the hood can be cleaned with a non-abrasive cleaner to keep the grease from building up.
Inspect
Being that you see your kitchen on a nearly daily basis, you’ll typically notice changes first. So have a look for any loose parts or rust, as they should be promptly addressed. For most repairs, it’s best to call the professionals.
In Summary: Why NY & NJ Residents Should Prioritize Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning
Your home is kind of like the human body, all parts are connected. If one part starts malfunctioning, you’ll typically see it reflected elsewhere as well. Regular kitchen hood cleaning helps prevent fires, improves the air quality, and extends the life of your system, which in turn increases savings. Remember, a kitchen exhaust helps keep your kitchen (and home) clean and should be maintained every three to six months to keep optimal performance. And despite the fact that we don’t do grease removal or cleaning, we’re always happy to advise you, so feel free to reach out should you need a consultation, 888-334-1612 , and feel free to check out some of the other services we offer on our site, https://greenductors.com/
