On May 5- 8, restaurant operators and suppliers meet in Chicago for a restaurant extravaganza. The 2012 National Restaurant Association Show features a block party, tons of educational seminars, a keynote address by President Bill Clinton and celebrity book signings.

Installing a kitchen exhaust hood will allow your kitchen to work efficiently while getting rid of harmful pollutants in the air. But after installation and hood cleaning, there are more steps for restaurant owners to take to run a prosperous business. Staying current on industry trends will give your restaurant a leg-up on the competition.

Here at APS-Hoods, we like to see the restaurants that use our commercial hoods succeed, and visiting the National Restaurant Association Show this year may give your business valuable information as well as indispensible industry contacts. Registration is $90, and joint registration for the National Restaurant Association Show and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event is $145.

The National Restaurant Association Show education series includes lectures on food and healthy living, profitability and entrepreneurship, sustainability and social responsibility, jobs and careers, franchises and technology. The conference schedule lets attendees know when they can catch their desired lecture, and their website even allows attendees to make a personalized itinerary for the show. Most lectures end in the afternoon, leaving you the nighttime to explore Chicago with other suppliers and restaurateurs.

At 1 p.m. on May 6, keynote speaker President Bill Clinton will address the attendees. “Clinton will share insights into his presidency and his current work with the William J. Clinton Foundation,” according to the National Restaurant Association. If you’ve purchased a ticket to the National Restaurant Association Show, you’re welcomed to attend. News media professionals and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event attendees are also invited.

That night, head over to the Restaurants Rock party where you can rub elbows with industry professionals while eating, drinking and listening to live music. The party starts at 9 p.m. and lasts until midnight, and its hosts include Top Chef personalities Spike Mendelsohn, Richard Blais and Fabio Viviani. You’ll also be able to watch the final round of Star of the Bar – a mixology competition. Tickets for the Restaurants Rock party are $50.

To receive professional advice about your business, you can schedule a complimentary half-hour session at the Ask the Design Experts booth. Restaurant owners will receive information on front-of-house experience and back-of-house design to maximize the efficiency and impact of their restaurants.

For more back-of-house help, including hood cleanings, fire suppression systems, restaurant construction and fire reconstruction, contact APS-Hoods for a service quote.

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In the spirit of Earth Day, we here at APS-Hoods, a Denver, hood installation company, remind restaurant owners/managers of the pollutants that result from the use of gas stoves.

When lit, gas stoves can give off harmful chemicals. One byproduct of combustion is nitrogen dioxide, a gas associated with a distinct smell and a red-brown color. Another silent killer is carbon monoxide, which is invisible and unscented. When exposed to carbon monoxide, many people have symptoms that mimic food poisoning or influenza.

Restaurant owners have a responsibility to not only serve good food, but to keep their employees and patrons safe. To diminish your contact with pollutants released through combustion, the EPA suggests installation of an exhaust fan, regular inspection of air systems and exhaust hoods, and routine cleanings. Kitchen range hoods cycle out air pollutants and keep your kitchen clean.

With our help, restaurant owners can improve their indoor air quality and help their kitchen hoods run more efficiently. APS-Hoods installs and cleans commercial hoods for optimum safety and functionality. Routine cleanings remove buildup from grease, pollutants and food particles, ensuring that your hood exhaust fan works cleanly and efficiently.

About Earth Day
As U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson watched the frightening results of the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, he realized the need for a day dedicated to improving our planet. The first Earth Day demonstrations took place on April 22, 1970, and 20 million Americans were involved. Earth Day has spread widely since its beginnings, reaching a billion people who care for the future of our beautiful earth.

During the month of April, many organizations examine their practices to see how they can better the earth and reduce their environmental impact. While improving our global atmosphere is in the spotlight, let’s focus on ways to improve our immediate, personal atmosphere. If everyone improves his own space, then global change will be a breeze. We’ve all heard the mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” but there are more proactive steps we can take to improve our environment.

The risks of repeatedly breathing polluted air can be short- and long-term. Immediate exposure to polluted air can cause exhaustion; throat, eye, and nose aggravation; headaches; and faintness. Long-term exposure to pollution can trigger more serious side effects, such as heart disease, respiratory problems, and even cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Contact us today to schedule an exhaust fan cleaning, inspection or installation, and strengthen the safety and efficiency of your restaurant.

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Fire broke out in a Carl’s Jr. on Jan. 24 while a contractor inspected the restaurant’s sprinkler system to make sure it was safe, according to a Mercury News article.

About a week earlier, fire at a Chinese restaurant resulted in the closure of a busy block in downtown San Jose and halted light rail service, according to another Mercury News article.

“We hate to hear about restaurant fires, but each time we do, we make every effort to use it as a reminder to restaurant owners and managers of how important it is to keep kitchen hoods clean and free of grease buildup,” says Massoud Farazandeh, CEO of the Placentia and San Jose hood cleaning company of American Professional Services (APS-Hoods), an affiliate of Nationwide Fire Protection Corp., which is licensed through the State of California. “Doing so helps eliminate what could become fuel in a fire.”

The fire originated from the stove, but witnesses of the fire at the Chinese restaurant- Ben’s Fast Food- reported seeing flames coming from the vent hood on top of the two-story building, the article stated.

The ability to effectively clean a hood system actually begins with the hood installation process. When we install commercial exhaust hoods, we do so with cleaning in mind. We make sure that every portion of the kitchen hood, exhaust fan and ductwork is accessible for cleaning.

Having a quality fire suppression system that is in place and inspected routinely, combined with routine cleanings that keep every area of the kitchen exhaust hood system free of grease buildup go a long way toward preventing costly fire damage.

For years, we have recommended cleaning schedules to clients based on the type of cooking processes used and the volume of food cooked. At a minimum, every restaurant hood system should be cleaned two times per year.

They could require cleanings as often as monthly if your restaurant uses smokehouses or wood fires.

When in doubt about how often to clean your hood system, call a professional and request an inspection.

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Unhealthy, potential dangerous actions APS-Hoods professionals saw recently make it apparent that the duct and commercial vent hoods cleaning company must expand this service area, said CEO Massoud Farazandeh. APS-Hoods is affiliated with Nationwide Fire Protection Corp., which is licensed through the states of California and Colorado. It operates a fabrication facility in Placentia.

The most notable safety hazard seen recently by Farazandeh was in a hospital.

“I saw maintenance people sanding and cutting metal in a room designated for air circulation for the HVAC,” said the HVAC and commercial kitchen hood installation and cleaning expert. “That means particles created as a result of this type of activity have the potential to spread throughout the ductwork and even into patients’ rooms.”

Hospitals are filled with sick people, and many have weakened immune systems, he said. When germs and other unhealthy particles travel throughout the HVAC system, sick people might become sicker.

“It’s entirely possible that many maintenance employees simply are unaware that these rooms serve air quality purposes,” Farazandeh said. “We hope to provide education in that area, in addition to offering cleaning services.”

Clean and Green

APS-Hoods handles HVAC cleaning in an environmentally friendly way, which is particularly beneficial in hospitals, hotels and other large buildings, he said.

A quality system cleaning involves blower assembly removal; pressure washing the blower wheel and housing; cleaning the cooling coil, drain pan and heat exchanger; vacuuming the unit’s interior.

The goal of HVAC system cleaning is to give customers energy-efficient, cost-effective solutions to potential indoor air quality issues. The benefits of it also include infection control, mold removal and dust containment.

When air pollution is considered, many think about just what goes on outside. But indoor air pollution can cause many illnesses. Most people in the U.S. spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors. Many spend a most of their working hours inside an office, which makes maintaining good air quality important because of its potential to impact comfort levels, health, productivity and general well-being.

Although nothing replaces the need for routine HVAC system cleaning, people can take measures to promote healthy air quality, said Farazandeh, the hood sales expert. Placing plants inside, emptying trashcans regularly and not allowing food to go bad are a few examples.
APS-Hoods’ renewed focus on HVAC system cleaning means added convenience for existing customers who wish to use one professional to address myriad needs.

“We have a good reputation for providing cost-saving services, so we anticipate that our current customer base will be pleased with this additional service because they can continue to use a professional they trust,” he said.

Learn More

To learn more about APS-Hoods’ HVAC cleaning services, call: (800) 750-7313, or visit the company’s Web site: http://www.aps-hoods.com/about-us.html

About APS-Hoods

American Professional Services (APS-Hoods) is a full-service restaurant fire protection business that installs, services, repairs and performs routine inspections and sales for hood and fire suppression systems. It is an affiliate of Nationwide Fire Protection Corp., which is licensed in the State of California. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Massoud Farazandeh in 1989, APS-Hoods has grown into a national leader in hood sales and fire protection for restaurants and facilities. APS provides superior service, a HYPERLINK quality guarantee and maintains a highly qualified and dependable staff. All crew members are professionally trained to comply with the HYPERLINK. National Fire Prevention Association Standards and state and local codes. APS-Hoods is fully insured and bonded. They are licensed in the mechanical and electrical fields, as well as fire protection contracting. APS-Hoods is affiliated with the National Fire Protection Agency and the Colorado Division of Fire Safety Fire Suppression Program.

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Greater demand for this type of service, combined with some poor practices we have witnessed in recent months, have made it evident that there is a need for us to expand this area of services that we have never advertised, says Massoud Farazandeh, chief executive officer of APS-Hoods. APS-Hoods is an Orange County hood cleaning and hood sale business that also operates a kitchen hoods fabrication plant in Placentia as an affiliate of Nationwide Fire Protection Corp., which is licensed through the State of California.

Cleaning HVAC systems in hospitals, health centers, hotels and other large buildings is one of the company’s specialties, Farazandeh says. It’s also a service that is monumentally important.

“Think about hospitals, for instance,” he says. “These buildings are filled with sick people, some of whom have weakened immune systems. If germs and other unhealthy materials travel through the HVAC system, it could make people who are already under the weather even sicker.”

A hospital HVAC system is a massive piece of equipment, Farazandeh says. Where a house may have a one-ton unit, a hospital could have a 40-ton system. That means the plenum- the space provided for the HVAC’s air circulation- in a hospital could be the size of a room in someone’s house. There are people who have no idea that these rooms serve air quality purposes.

“I’ve seen employees in hospitals using sanders and cutting metal in these rooms, which are part of the air handling system,” he says. “This is dangerous, and we want to educate maintenance personnel on this topic.”

APS-Hoods handle HVAC cleaningin an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to improve indoor air quality for businesses.

When many people think of air pollution, they think of it in terms of what goes on outside, not in their office. But indoor air pollution can be responsible for making people sick, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Since most Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time inside and many spend the bulk of their working hours in an office environment, maintaining good air quality is important because it has the potential to impact comfort, health, productivity and well-being.

“There are some simple things people can do on their own to promote good air quality,” says Farazandeh, an exhaust hood expert.

Those things include having houseplants inside, keeping trashcans emptied and not letting food go bad. But when it comes to cleaning the ductwork and other parts of an HVAC system, that is best left to the professionals.

A quality cleaning of the system includes removal of the blower assembly so the blower wheel and housing can be pressure washed. We also clean the cooling coil and drain pan, the heat exchanger, and vacuum the unit’s interior, Farazandeh says.

Our goal in cleaning the HVAC system is to provide our customers with an energy-efficient, cost-effective solution to their potential indoor air quality issues.

Benefits of HVAC system cleaning include infection control, mold remediation and dust containment.

“We view HVAC system cleaning as a sensible extension of our current services,” Farazandeh says. “One reason for cleaning kitchen hood systems is because of the air quality improvements it provides, so branching out to tackle other sources of air quality issues makes sense.”

This also will make it more convenient for existing customers to use one trusted professional to address a variety of their needs.

“We’ve built a good reputation of excellence and of providing cost-effective services over the years, so we expect our existing customers to embrace this new service because they can continue to use a trusted professional,” he says.

© 2011 Master Google and APS-Hoods. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google, which posts press releases on paid press release distribution sites, is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Two Oct. 13 fires in North Hollywood and San Luis Obispo serve as such reminders.

The attic of a Denny’s restaurant in San Luis Obispo caught fire Oct. 13, causing roof and electrical wiring damage, according to KVEC news. Earlier that day, a former sandwich shop in a strip mall caught fire, according to the Daily News in Los Angeles.

Although the causes of these fires were under investigation, they still offer a cautionary tale about keeping grease buildup out of a restaurant’s kitchen hood exhaust fan and other portions of a hood system, says Massoud Farazandeh, CEO of American Professional Services (APS-Hoods), a Placentia and Stockton hood sales and cleaning company. Doing so helps eliminate fuel in the event of a fire.

“Keeping your restaurant on a regular cleaning schedule goes a long way toward keeping a fire from spreading, should it break out,” says Farazandeh, a hood installation expert.

For example, if something cooking on a stove catches on fire and the flames reach the hood systemabove, they could cause built up grease in the hood to catch. If grease has been left to accumulate throughout the hood and duct system, the fire could travel to wherever the grease is and potentially cause extensive damage.

The frequency of hood cleaning depends upon the type and volume of food cooked, as well as the cooking processes used, he says. Every restaurant hood system should be cleaned twice annually.

If you’re eating establishment has deep fat fryers and/or charbroilers in use, you ought to have your system cleaned every three months at a minimum. Monthly cleanings are recommended if your restaurant uses smokehouses or wood fires. If you have a restaurant that uses high volumes of vegetable oils in the cooking process, plan to have your system cleaned every three months.

“cleaning is particularly important for facilities that cook with vegetable oils because the grease buildup that results from those cooking processes becomes like glue if not removed regularly,” Farazandeh says. “When that substance becomes glue-like, removing it is a difficult task, which could result in a heftier cleaning bill.”

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The site- launched in September- makes it possible for you to shop online and take care of your own purchases, said Massoud Farazandeh, CEO of APS-Hoods, a cleaner, fabricator and installer of commercial hoods.

“Prior to the launch of our site, you could use our online price quoting system, but you couldn’t view pictures of the commercial kitchen range hoods you were interested in purchasing,” Farazandeh said. “Now you can see the actual product.”
Why launch an online sales option? To make the process easier for customers.

“Just like any online shop, it speeds up the process,” he said. “You don’t have to talk to customer service unless you really want to.”
Our site will be helpful for anyone- contractors, builders and regular customers. As long as you know what you want, you can simply go online and place your order.

The online sales site makes it possible to purchase complete hood systems or individual components, including ventilation products, exhaust hoods, fans, makeup air units and ductwork.
Adding the online sales component makes it possible for us to offer sales the way every customer wants it.

“You can always use the traditional method of placing a call, speaking to a professional and getting a free price quote if you feel like you need to speak to a subject matter expert,” Farazandeh said. “This website isn’t meant to replace our old system, but to add convenience for people who’ve done this before, know what they’re doing and want to handle their own ordering.”

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“In every commercial kitchen, the threat of fire is impending due to the high level of cooking, resulting in grease that is more combustible in kitchen exhaust hood and duct systems,” said Massoud Farazandeh, CEO of American Professional Services (APS-Hoods), which specializes in hood sales,  installations and fire system installation for restaurants and commercial kitchens.
For kitchens to decrease their risk, they must remove built-up grease and other cooking by-products from their vent hood, which can be a potential fuel source for fires, Farazandeh said. Establishing an action plan in your kitchen is affordable and effective when it comes to fire prevention.

Preventing a fire is not impossible-it just takes a little common sense and preparation.  Keep your kitchen clutter-free and in order. This is the easiest thing you can do in an effort to prevent fires. Commercial kitchens are already the hub for fires – items such as pallets or trash on the floor can increase your risk of fire substantially.

Include emptying your grease traps a few times a day to your routine and ensure employees clean the walls around grills when they start to accumulate large amount of grease – grease on walls. Hire a professional to clean your hood, duct and fan systems periodically, as grease in these areas makes them vulnerable to igniting near flames or extremely high temperatures.

Always keep exits clear.  The safest and quickest way out of your kitchen if a fire occurs is through the exit doors. Storage racks and other kitchen fixtures should be moved to a new location if they are blocking these doors.

Invest in a kitchen fire suppression system and company. Kitchen fires are most often started by grease. Adding water to a grease fire is not an effective means of extinguishing flames. There is a large variety of kitchen fire suppression systems available that use a specially designed chemical process to extinguish fires at their core and repress them from spreading.

Hiring an experienced fire suppression system company to installing a suppression system is important. They can provide additional information about the frequency of cleaning that should be maintained to keep fire hazards at bay.

Intentional open flames require extra care. Cooking techniques that require an open flame or candles on your tables increases your risk of flames catching onto clothing, tablecloths or napkins. Ensure your staff has adequate training and the equipment necessary to put out a fire before it spreads.

Fire safety plans are the keys to success. Fire safety plans in restaurants and commercial kitchens may require professional consulting for implementation. A continual influx in patrons can make a fire plan more difficult to execute as people may not be familiar with your routine. Proper and continual training of your staff in their roles during a fire will put you at ease knowing that your restaurant, and patrons, will be safe.

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This also is the time of year for campus dining facilities to have their commercial hoods inspected, cleaned and repaired if necessary, says Massoud Farazandeh, chief executive officer of American Professional Services (APS-Hoods) and a hood sale and hood installation expert.“We recommend that restaurants and campus dining facilities call a professional to clean their kitchen hood systems prior to the onslaught of business,” says Farazandeh, whose company operates a fabrication plant in Placentia, California. “More students in the area means increased cooking volume, which has the potential to cause problems if grease buildup already exists in the system.”

Built up grease could act as fuel if a fire broke out, he says. Following these tips can help you find a quality hood cleaning company to clean your hood system or inspect it to determine if it needs cleaning:

• Ask what inspection and cleaning standards the company follows, such as NFPA- 96, the International Fire Code and the International Mechanical Code.
• Ask for details regarding what the cleaning services entail.
• Ask for proof of licenses, insurance and certifications.
• Ask what type of report is provided to you after the cleaning or inspection that shows what was done and identifies any deficiencies or repairs that you should make.
• Ask for references, and call those references.

Once you’ve selected a qualified company to provide your hood cleaning service, the company should place the restaurant on a routine cleaning schedule, Farazandeh said.

Our cleaning schedule recommendations vary by the type and volume of food cooked in restaurants, but there are some guidelines. Restaurants that cook with smokehouses or wood fires should have their systems cleaned monthly. If you use charbroilers, fryers, or cook with large volumes of vegetable oils, clean your systems quarterly at a minimum. No restaurant should go longer than six months between cleanings.

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Headquartered in Denver, APS-Hoods- a Placentia and San Jose hood cleaning company- opened our satellite location in 2009, says Massoud Farazandeh chief executive officer of APS-Hoods.Prior to that, we had provided hood installation services to businesses throughout California for the past 20 years, but maintained no physical address there.

“We provided California hood installation services for several years prior to opening our fabrication plant in Placentia by partnering with commercial hood contractors in the area,” says Farazandeh, a hood sales and installation expert. “They were gracious enough to allow us access to their workshop and equipment when necessary.”

Farazandeh said he didn’t feel APS-Hoods needed a shop of its own. In 2009, however, the volume of business increased so rapidly that it became clear a satellite location was needed. That August, he opened his facility at 610 S. Jefferson St., Unit G in Placentia.

In addition to hood sales and kitchen hood exhaust fan cleaning services, fire system installation and services are available through Nationwide.

“Looking back, we are happy that we expanded,” Farazandeh says. “It’s been a good move for us, and our California customers are pleased with the level of service and the speed with which we can get to them.”

© 2011 Master Google and APS-Hoods. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this press release is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

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