How Often Should Your Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hoods Be Cleaned?
How Often Should Your Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Hoods Be Cleaned? Commercial kitchen exhaust hoods should be cleaned based on cooking volume and grease load, not on a one-size-fits-all schedule. In general, monthly cleaning is recommended for solid-fuel or open-flame cooking, quarterly cleaning for high-volume kitchens, semi-annual cleaning for moderate-volume operations, and annual cleaning for low-volume or seasonal kitchens. Why Hood Cleaning Frequency Matters Kitchen exhaust systems collect grease wherever cooking smoke and vapor pass through the hood, filters, ductwork, and fan. If grease is allowed to build up, it increases fire risk, reduces airflow, and can create compliance problems with fire code and inspection requirements. The right schedule also protects equipment performance. A dirty hood system works harder, moves air less efficiently, and can contribute to odors, heat buildup, and poor kitchen comfort. Standard Cleaning Intervals A practical commercial hood clea...