When running a restaurant, cafe, or bistro, it’s relatively easy to get caught up in the hustle of day-to-day operations. Much of the focus is on the food that’s being served and the quality of customer service being offered.

Where maintenance is concerned, it’s the daily cleaning routine that’s minded and prioritized by the staff. Having said all that, it’s not surprising that something as important as the commercial ventilation system is overlooked.

Any food service operation would eventually be covered in oily residue without a well-functioning restaurant hood system. This system manages grease buildup as well as controls odors and cooking fumes.

The Benefits of a Well-Maintained Hood System

Scheduled maintenance for a restaurant hood system is essential. It ensures that both workers and diners are in a pleasant environment. It also prevents accidents from occurring, which apart from being a devastating experience, is a costly disaster for owners of food and dining establishments.

Other specific benefits include:

• Prolonging the life and usability of the equipment
• Ensuring optimal air flow throughout the premises
• Reducing the risk of accumulating Carbon Monoxide gas
• Removing mold and bacterial growth
• Avoiding fines that may result from running a facility that doesn’t meet food safety and sanitation standards

Having gone into the benefits of ensuring proper ventilation for hood systems, let’s get into how maintenance should be done.

Daily Check

Daily maintenance improves workplace safety and reduces the amount of work necessary to clean the restaurant hood system when cleaned less frequently. Here’s a quick checklist to serve as a guide for getting this done.

• Soak filters
• Clean air vents
• Empty grease traps
• Scrub off excessive grease buildup

Seasonal Maintenance

Have you ever tried going into a diner only to find that you couldn’t get those sliding doors to open? They’ve been stuck shut with some sort of vacuum-like pressure. Scenarios like this are often the result of the dust and debris brought up by the change in season.

Seasonal conditions also have a way of affecting the restaurant ventilation system. So depending on the season, be sure to brush away snow or remove fallen leaves that may have lodged themselves in the vents.

Make up air fan units are especially useful during the winter months. They bring in fresh air into the exhaust system. Consequently reducing the amount of excess (and likely stale-smelling air) that are pulled from different parts of the building. This type of equipment also provides a significantly dining experience for patrons.

Worn Out Restaurant Hood System

In the event that your hood and ventilation system does need replacing, look for a manufacturer that specializes in custom built hoods for your dining establishments specific needs.

These days most companies have websites where you can view photos, compare equipment specs, and chat with sales personnel before making an actual purchase and all done in the convenience of your own home or office. Don’t hesitate and look into all these different options available today.

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