How often should a restaurant hood be cleaned?
Grease carried by cooking vapours settles in the hood every day. It is flammable, it reduces suction and it eventually drips onto the appliances. The right cleaning frequency depends on what you cook and how many hours you are open.
Updated
Quick answer
Restaurant hood filters should be washed every week, or more often in a very busy kitchen. The hood, plenum and ducts need a deep cleaning whose frequency depends on the cooking: every 3 months for high volume (charbroiling, wok, frying), every 6 months for moderate volume, once a year for low volume.
What to clean, and how often
- Grease filters: every week, in the dishwasher or soaked in hot degreasing water; every day in a kitchen that fries or grills a lot.
- Grease cups and troughs: empty them as soon as they are half full, and at least every week.
- Visible hood surfaces: wipe down with a degreaser every week.
- Hood, plenum (behind the filters) and ducts: deep cleaning based on cooking volume, see below.
The reference frequency by type of kitchen
NFPA 96, used across North America by insurers and fire departments, sets the inspection frequency of the exhaust system based on how the kitchen is used:
- Monthly: wood or charcoal cooking.
- Every 3 months: high-volume kitchens, 24-hour operations, charbroiling, wok cooking, heavy frying.
- Every 6 months: moderate volume, like most restaurants.
- Once a year: low volume, such as seasonal or occasional kitchens.
Signs it needs cleaning sooner
- Grease is visible on the filters right after washing, or it drips around the hood.
- Smoke and odours linger in the kitchen during service.
- Grease cups fill up within a few days.
- A health inspection or an insurer's visit is coming up.
What your staff does, what a professional does
Your staff can wash the filters and wipe the hood day to day. The plenum, the inside of the hood and the ducts require removing the filters, protecting the appliances and degreasing with hot water, which is done with the kitchen closed, by an equipped team.
HygiePro degreases the hood, filters, plenum and troughs of restaurants, cafeterias and hotels after closing, and provides before and after photos. HygiePro does not yet provide an NFPA 96 compliance sticker: if your insurer requires that certificate, check before scheduling the cleaning.
Frequently asked questions
Can hood filters go in the dishwasher?
Yes for most stainless steel filters, if the manufacturer allows it. Heavily soiled filters benefit from soaking in hot water with a degreaser first, then rinsing.
Who sets the cleaning frequency of a commercial hood?
NFPA 96 is the reference, and your insurer or the fire department may require a specific frequency or a certificate. Check the conditions of your insurance policy.