Posts Tagged ‘pressure washing’

ventilation systems | Exhaust System Cleaning | APS-HOODS | Denver Colorado

Exhaust System Cleaning for Restaurants (A Quick Guide)

Restaurants use kitchen exhaust systems for the safety of their staff and guests. The kitchen ventilation system keeps the cooking space free from heat, stuffy air, smoke, stale smells, etc. Today, we have highly effective exhaust systems that perform their responsibilities quite well.  However, it is crucial to pay serious attention to the cleaning of the hood exhaust system – right from the hood, ductwork, and the exhaust fan to the roof of the hood. By performing thorough and proper hood cleaning, you can keep the kitchen protected against fire hazards and make the entire restaurant environment pleasing and comfortable for visitors. Key benefits of kitchen exhaust cleaning include: Prevention from fire hazards Uninterrupted airflow Improved air quality Increased lifespan of kitchen equipment Save money in the long term

If you get kitchen hood cleaning done on a regular basis, you don’t just reduce the risks of hazards but you also save money.

Call APS-Hoods for a free estimate on your Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning & Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning needs.

NFPA Standards for Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has multiple codes and standards to minimize the risks of fire hazards. As a restaurant owner, you are required to abide by their guidelines and make sure you give your kitchen exhaust system a routine professional cleaning. As per the NFPA standards, you should get the kitchen exhaust cleaning done by trained and qualified professionals. Today’s kitchen hood systems use such advanced technologies that restaurant owners don’t understand how the system actually functions and how exactly it needs to be cleaned. Commercial kitchen cleaning is an expert’s job. It’s the job of someone who is quite well-versed with the inner workings of modern hood systems. If you get the cleaning done by someone who isn’t trained and certified, you’ll be only putting the life of the kitchen staff at risk. In the occurrence of a fire, you may have to face potential litigation. Therefore, always ensure that you hire a professional hood cleaning company. Qualified and experienced professionals understand the exhaust system of a kitchen like the back of their hand. They use a variety of techniques to clean the different components of the hood system in an effective manner. 

Methods for Cleaning Kitchen Exhaust

Broadly speaking, there are two fundamental methods that hood cleaning companies use – scraping and pressure washing. Pressure washing is also termed as steam cleaning. Both the cleaning methods are known for their effectiveness in different cleaning situations. Depending on the specific needs of a commercial restaurant, the cleaning company can either use scraping or pressure washing or both. Provided it is done well, scraping will give remarkable results. At the same time, scraping of duct systems is a low-cost cleaning method. On the other hand, pressure washing or steam cleaning takes a lot of time and it is an expensive method. Since this is an elaborate cleaning method, cleaning companies need to do some advance planning and preparation for the same. Moreover, this cleaning method involves the use of some expensive equipment and tools. The biggest plus point or benefit of this method is that it can clean the hood exhaust system of the kitchen to bare metal. In most cases, cleaners use a combination of both scraping and steam cleaning to do an excellent job of exhaust cleaning. In this way, the kitchen hood system is cleaned thoroughly and the overall environment gets enhanced protection from different kinds of fire and safety hazards.

Step-by-Step Cleaning of the Hood System

The kitchen exhaust system consists of multiple parts, which work together to pull out grease, smoke, heat, and fumes from the kitchen. The hood cleaning process involves paying adequate attention to each comprising part of the kitchen exhaust so that proper and thorough cleaning can be done.

Disconnect Movable Elements:

A kitchen exhaust system has some parts which are portable. This means you can detach them from the main unit while leaving only the static components. Next, hood cleaners remove the grease filters and use the plastic sheeting to create the shape of the chute along the outer edge of the exhaust system for the cleaning process to begin. Exhaust Rooftop Cleaning: Usually, most professionals begin cleaning from the roof of the hood system. The exhaust fan housing is a potential area that collects a lot of grease over time. Hood cleaners will either remove the grease from this element or replace the grease pads with new ones. This component needs more attention from hood cleaners. Wherever there is grease buildup, the cleaning company will clean all the pads and filters.

Exhaust Fan Cleaning:

The cleaning of exhaust fans is a task in itself. Kitchen exhaust cleaning professionals inspect this area and start cleaning as per what is required. They will clean the fan blades. They’ll review the motor and find out if it is in good condition and working properly. They will inspect the bearings. If the fan belt is loose, the cleaner will fix it as well.

Ductwork Cleaning:

Cleaning the ducts is one of the most essential parts of the overall exhaust system cleaning. Professionals use the method of steam washing to clean the ductwork of the exhaust. For cleaning convenience, the NFPA recommends restaurant owners use large access panels. If your ductwork has large access panels, it will be easy for the staff to perform the cleaning task. If the access panels are not wide enough, the cleaning company will ask you to replace them and use wider access panels. Cleaning contractors can also use scrapping as part of ductwork cleaning for thorough and proper cleaning.

Hood Cleaning:

The plenum and the inside of the kitchen hood have grease buildup that isn’t always easy to clean. If the buildup is stubborn, the cleaning professional will use the scraping method for cleaning. Otherwise, they will clean these areas through the pressure washer system. Pressure washing is often needed for cleaning the hoods of the exhaust system.  After the cleaning of the hood system is complete, the contractor will dispose of all the grease and wastewater from the kitchen. They’ll efficiently reconnect all the detachable elements of the kitchen exhaust. Then, an inspection of the exhaust will follow to make sure all components are well-connected and the entire system is working properly. If there are leakage issues with the ductwork, they will fix it and finally submit a report of the completed cleaning assignment.

How Often Exhaust Cleaning Should be Done

The frequency of exhaust cleaning varies from one kitchen to another. It depends on the volume of cooking in the kitchen. Another important factor is whether the stove used is wood-burning or gas. If you use a wood stove or charcoal stove, exhaust hood cleaning will be required more frequently. In fact, you’ll need a hood cleaning service at the interval of every two weeks. There are different cleaning frequencies for 24 hours of restaurants, cafeteria, hamburger restaurants, snack bars, etc.  Regardless of what type of restaurant you operate, you should get in touch with a reputed, commercial kitchen cleaning company and have a consultation about your specific cleaning needs. Kitchen exhaust cleaning can never be ignored by any food establishment or restaurant. Routine exhaust cleaning helps you abide by the NFPA and local fire codes as well as enhance the safety of the cooking staff and the guests that come to your restaurant. Regular cleaning also increases the lifespan of kitchen equipment. If you are looking for a kitchen hood cleaning service, feel free to give APS-Hoods a quick call or shoot them an email. They operate in areas like Colorado, Lakewood, Aurora, etc.

Call APS-Hoods for a free estimate on your pressure washing, ventilation, sanitizing, or vent/duct/hood needs.

How to Choose a Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Service

Kitchen exhaust cleaning is a job that comes with a lot of responsibility. If you end up working with a fly-by-night cleaning company, you can get yourself in serious trouble. Worse still, you may have to completely shut down your restaurant business. Therefore, always make sure the cleaning company you work with is well-known, reputed, qualified, and trained for doing the job. Before you hire a company that provides hood cleaning, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask them a couple of questions in regard to:
  • Certification, affiliation
  • Overall experience
  • Areas of expertise
  • References
  • Training program for employees
These are some of the key criteria on the basis of which you can vet the commercial kitchen cleaning contractor. When you are entrusting a crucial task such as kitchen hood cleaning, you should work only with the best. A good cleaning company offers you quality and value for money. APS-Hoods, operating throughout Colorado, is a kitchen hood cleaning company that carries 20 years of experience. They have worked with a wide range of small and big restaurant businesses and have successfully conducted the cleaning tasks. APS-Hoods has affiliations with the National Fire Protection Agency. The company is also fully insured and bonded. When working with APS-Hoods, you can feel confident that your kitchen exhaust system will get a proper and thorough cleaning, which is in full compliance with the state and local codes.

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Hood Exhaust Cleaning & Kitchen Maintenance Best Practices for Busy Restaurants

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    Pressure Washing - commercial restaurant kitchen cleaning in Denver, CO | APS-HOODS | Denver Colorado

    Why is Pressure Washing Important for Restaurants

    Getting your restaurant professionally cleaned is important to uphold the level of professionalism you hope to convey to your loyal customers. A clean restaurant tells new customers that the owners take pride in exceptional presentation. When a restaurant is clean, customers tend to trust that the food is of the highest quality and that every effort has been made to appease customers with a sanitized environment.

    Without pressure washing, you may inadvertently send a negative message to your customer base about your food quality and services, forcing them to choose elsewhere for their dining needs.
    Pressure washing gives the right message that your restaurant is always open and available for a fine dining experience.

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    What Can Pressure Wash for Restaurants Clean?

    Pressure washing offers a range of benefits for restaurant owners. A pressure washing team can begin with the exterior of the building, helping to clean gum and stains from the sidewalks and patio. If there are grease and oil spills, those defects will quickly become a thing of the past, no matter how old they happen to be.

    Your building exterior can be cleaned of dirt and grime, breathing new life into your exceptional curb appeal, and the roof and windows can be sprayed until they look as good as new. Exterior cleaning can also include a deep-water scrub of your parking lot, awnings, entryways, and patio furniture.

    One of the most important aspects of exterior cleaning is to ensure that your signage is always viewable and presentable. Pressure washers use a telescoping wand to reach ultra-high signs for enhanced customer attraction.

    Only when the outside of your restaurant is completely cleaned will the team move to the interior of your building.
    Inside, the pressure washers can clean your kitchen appliances, ovens, and other equipment. All that built-up grease that occurs after numerous busy kitchen shifts can be easily scrubbed clean, making your kitchen much cleaner and less susceptible to dangerous fires. Finally, pressure washing can help to clean the walls and floors of food particles, grease, and caked-on dirt for a spotless kitchen the health inspector will love.

    If your restaurant has experienced vandalism such as graffiti, pressure washing can take care of those pesky marks as if they were nothing but chalk on cement. The pressure washing team can even sanitize your dumpster areas and corrals for a thorough job well done.

    Learn more about: Pressure Washing for Restaurants

    Pressure Washing for a Healthier Restaurant

    Not only can pressure washing give your restaurant a sanitized appearance, but the environment will be healthier for your staff and customers.
    Pressure washing services can be used to clean your kitchen exhaust systems and other ductwork. Your kitchen exhaust collects all the hot air and grease that builds up during a typical kitchen shift. Over time, your exhaust system and connecting duct systems can become covered with old grease deposits. Not only can all that grease lead to the outbreak of fire, but it can also contaminate your food and the air your staff and customers breathe.

    Another reason you will want to have your duct system cleaned is to rid your ventilation system of all signs of mold and mildew. Over time, mold and mildew can make your staff and customers sick, leading to horrible reviews, fines from the health inspector, and a potential shutdown.

    Pressure washing your exhaust and duct systems improves your air quality and food purity while keeping your staff and customers safe. When it comes to cleaning your exhaust and duct systems, the pressure washers will focus on all your kitchen hoods, ducts, filters, and fans, ensuring they are free of grease and other particles for long-term safety and cleanliness.

    Pressure Washing for a Safer Restaurant

    An employee heading to the dumpster with a container of grease and oil can easily cause a spill on the sidewalk, setting the stage for a potential disaster. A customer slipping and falling could open your business to expensive lawsuits, making pressure washing an excellent investment.

    Pressure washing can rid your restaurant of all sorts of risks, like fire caused by grease buildup, and accidents caused by slick food waste. With high-pressure water scrubs and superior cleaning agents that are designed for restaurant use, you can feel assured that your customers are safe, and your business protected, every time you order a pressure washing job.

    Types of Pressure Washers Available

    There are a variety of pressure washers on the market that can be used to sanitize your establishment.
    Gas-powered pressure washers are heavy-duty and used to clean a restaurant’s outdoor areas, including the awnings, patios, and the exterior of the building. You only want to use these washers outside as they produce carbon monoxide gas that can pose a danger to staff and customers.
    Electric power washers don’t produce carbon monoxide and thus can be used for indoor use, such as in the kitchen area. While not as powerful as gas washers, electric power washers generally have enough oomph to handle most grease-covered restaurant messes.

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      DIY Pressure Washing vs. a Professional Pressure Washing Service

      You may be tempted to pressure wash your restaurant all on your own. You should know that the cost of renting a pressure washer may be lower than hiring a professional, but cleaning a restaurant isn’t so easy. You may find that there is a learning curve that goes along with using the pressure washer correctly. This may make the cleaning of the interior and exterior of your business more trouble than it’s worth.

      Furthermore, you are required to clean the pressure washer all on your own before returning it. By the time you are finished, the time expenditure and frustration may make you wish you hired a professional pressure washing service, to begin with. We recommend focusing on what you do best, which is to run your restaurant while producing exceptional food. Leave the pressure washing to the professionals instead.

      Professional pressure washers have years of experience and know how to use the equipment efficiently so that there is less of a mess and more cleanliness all around. Professionals are also well-versed in safety, which means there is a lowered likelihood of accidents and damage to your valuable equipment.

      Finally, commercial equipment tends to be stronger than rented equipment, which means you may not get as much cleanliness out of a rental as you will when hiring professional cleaners.
      When you let professional power washers handle the job, you can ensure a clean restaurant without any of the hassles that can come with trying to pressure wash your restaurant all on your own.

      Professional Restaurant Waste Removal

      Attempting to power wash your restaurant on your own means you are responsible for grease disposal. Collecting grease is a messy job, and so is disposing of it. Furthermore, you need to ensure that you dispose of grease properly. The EPA has strict rules for disposing of restaurant grease. If these protocols aren’t followed, you leave yourself open to hefty fines by the health inspector if you are ever discovered.
      A professional service can not only get your kitchen free of grease but any grease that is removed will be properly thrown away. Professional power washers use commercial grease disposal equipment and law-mandated processes that keep your restaurant clean and keep your business health code compliant.

      How to Prepare for Power Washing

      When you hire a crew to pressure wash your restaurant, the technicians will prepare the interior of your building and your equipment before the cleaning begins.

      Each appliance will be covered with quarter-inch heat boards to protect the cooking equipment from the high-pressure water. The appliances will also be covered with plastic to provide extra protection.
      The crew will shut off the power to your vent hoods, hood lights, and exhaust fans before removing all the grease filters, trays, and cups.
      If there are any electrical wires, outlets, or boxes nearby, these areas will be covered with tape. The exhaust system will be enclosed in a watertight film and draped in plastic to channel the water into a wastewater container.

      The roof exhaust fan will be disassembled, with the crew being very careful with the electrical wiring. To aid in the cleaning of the exhaust fan, duct, and vent hoods, many teams will apply a degreasing chemical to each component before pressure washing begins.

      Regular Pressure Washing Ensures Health Code Compliance

      A professional pressure washing team can accommodate your schedule so that the cleanup-job offers minimal disruption to your business. With recurring pressure washing, your restaurant can remain sanitized while getting the professional maintenance your business needs.

      A professional pressure washing service also knows what your restaurant needs to comply with all health and safety regulations. With commercial-grade equipment and powerful solutions that are safe to use around food, a pressure washing service can help you maintain a sanitary and health compliant business.

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      Qualities to Look for in a Commercial Power Washing Service

      When it comes to cleaning your restaurant, you only want the best in your area. This means the service must demonstrate the following qualities.

      • Commercial-Grade Equipment:

        When interviewing restaurant power washing services near you, find out what kind of equipment they use. Are the components gas or electric-powered, and how well do they cut through grease and grime? A professional service near you will have the very best equipment money can buy.

      • Quality Service:

        The cleaning crew you hire should have excellent reviews from other business owners. Read through the reviews and look for phrases describing the quality of the cleaning job and the cleanliness of the restaurant after the power washing is done. An inexperienced crew might be able to cut through grease, but they might also leave water everywhere for you to clean up. A professional service will get everything clean and leave you with a spotless and dry interior and exterior.

      • Professionalism:

        Start grading the power washers near you from the very first encounter, even if that meeting occurs over the phone. Are you treated with respect? Are all of your questions answered promptly and thoroughly? Professional power washers prioritize customer service. From the very first phone call to the time when the technicians show up to perform a quality job, you should feel confident at all times that you have found the right power washing service for your budget and needs.

      • Honest Quotes:

        When it comes to giving you an estimate for professional power washing, ensure that your quote includes all the fees you can expect. You don’t want hidden fees or other surprises when it comes time to pay the bill. Make sure there is transparency at all times, whether you are discussing the work to be done or the amount you have to pay. A professional power washing service holds honesty as a primary tenet, giving you the ultimate peace of mind.

      • Power Washing on Your Schedule:

        The act of power washing your restaurant doesn’t have to disrupt your normal operations. The power washing company you select should be able to work during times when customers are scarce, allowing for the proper cleaning before you open or after you close. A professional service should also be able to schedule consistent cleaning, such as monthly or bi-yearly, to keep your restaurant looking attractive for customers all the year through.

      professional pressure washing service

      Schedule Power Washing for Your Restaurant Today

      How clean is your restaurant, really? If your exterior shows caked-on dirt and your kitchen equipment is getting a little greasy, a power washing is just what your business needs. With a full-power washing of your parking lot, patio, entranceway, kitchen, vent hoods, and ventilation ducts, you’ll have no trouble maintaining a positive reputation your customers are sure to love.
      Schedule a free estimate by calling APS-Hoods, now serving restaurant owners like you in Denver, Colorado. For power washing that’s always done right, APS-Hoods has you covered.

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      Drop Tile Ceilings: APS Hoods Talks Best Materials For Restaurant Kitchens

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