The kitchen is the heart of any restaurant. It is where food is made and where most of the action takes place. With this in mind, it’s only fitting to invest in a fully functional, safe and well-designed kitchen that includes the best commercial hood system.

Here are two types of hoods that you need for your commercial kitchen and what you should know about them:

Type 1 Hoods

Also known as grease hoods, Type 1 hoods are required as a part of a good commercial hood system and are installed directly at or above kitchen appliances including broilers, hot top ranges, ovens, rotisseries, deep fryers and other equipment that produce grease or smoke.

They are designed to remove smoke, heat, condensation, grease by-products and other contaminants before the air is exhausted through a system of ducts. Type 1 hoods are typically installed with a make-up air device to replace the contaminated air that is being exhausted out of the kitchen and ensures that there is enough airflow inside.

The most common type 1 hoods include:

• Island Exhaust Hoods

This is typically installed for open-floor plan cooking, especially those with tableside cooking applications. Island exhaust hoods tend to get more drafts and spillage because of more airflow around it.

• Wall Canopy Hoods

These types of hoods are utilized for kitchens where cooking equipment is located against a wall and offers maximum efficiency through lower exhaust rates.

Type 2 Hoods

Type 2 hoods, which are commonly referred to as condensate hoods, are those used as part of a commercial hood system for removing vapor, heat, steam, odor and moisture from kitchen equipment that don’t produce grease.

Type 2 hoods are used solely for removing excess heat from the air to create a more comfortable working environment for kitchen staff. It doesn’t have any grease filter and can be installed from a standard galvanized duct. The most common type 2 hoods include:

• Pizza Hoods

Pizza ovens are required to have a specialized exhaust hood to adhere to building standards. Since heat in pizza ovens can get as high as 500 degrees Fahrenheit, pizza hoods help maintain good airflow within a restaurant by removing this excess heat from the premises and exhausting them through a duct.

• Dishwasher Hoods

Commercial dishwashers can produce high heats, especially when used continuously during peak hours. To keep this heat from affecting the airflow in a kitchen’s dishwashing area, dishwasher hoods are usually installed as part of a commercial hood system.

Finally, commercial hoods are not only applicable to restaurants. They are also very important investments for concession trailers and food carts. Concession hoods are specially designed for mobile kitchens and their specifications may vary from one state to the other.

Choosing Your Commercial Hood System

When choosing a commercial hood system for your kitchen, it’s always smarter to work with people who know what’s best for your needs. Whether you require a type 1 or type 2 hood, you can always benefit from having experts to assist you with your decisions to ensure that your hoods will perform efficiently for as long as possible to give you the best return on your investment.

Exhaust Hood Depot is proud to offer its services Nationwide and to the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland and their major cities and surrounding areas: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Erie, Baltimore, Frederick, Annapolis, and Rockville