Hood Cleaning
Pro Serv Food Equipment provides comprehensive commercial hood cleaning services for restaurants and commercial kitchens throughout Eastern North Carolina. Our certified technicians specialize in restaurant hood cleaning that meets all fire safety codes and health department requirements, removing dangerous grease buildup from exhaust systems to keep your kitchen safe and compliant. Whether you need routine kitchen hood cleaning maintenance or emergency service, we deliver thorough, professional results for businesses in New Bern, Raleigh, Wilmington, and everywhere in between.
Contact us today for a free estimate on hood cleaning service tailored to your facility's needs.
What Is Commercial Hood Cleaning?
Commercial hood cleaning is a specialized service that thoroughly cleans and degreases your restaurant's entire exhaust ventilation system. This process goes far beyond simply wiping down visible surfaces or changing filters—it involves complete system disassembly and intensive cleaning of every component that comes into contact with grease-laden cooking vapors.
During a comprehensive hood cleaning service, our technicians clean the exhaust hood canopy, baffle or mesh filters, exhaust plenum, ductwork, exhaust fan, and roof assembly. We use high-pressure hot water systems and commercial-grade degreasers specifically formulated to break down stubborn grease deposits that accumulate throughout your ventilation system.
The difference between basic maintenance and professional commercial hood cleaning is significant. While your staff may clean filters and wipe down hood surfaces regularly, only professional hood cleaning reaches the hidden areas where dangerous grease accumulates—inside ductwork, fan housings, and other internal components where fire risks develop.
Why Professional Hood Cleaning Is Essential
Professional hood cleaning is a critical safety requirement and legal obligation for commercial kitchens. The National Fire Protection Association reports that nearly one-third of restaurant fires start in the cooking area, with grease buildup in exhaust systems being a leading cause. Regular restaurant hood cleaning dramatically reduces this fire risk by removing the fuel source that allows flames to spread through your ventilation system.
Fire safety codes and local health departments mandate specific cleaning frequencies based on your cooking volume and type. Failure to maintain proper hood cleaning documentation can result in failed inspections, fines, temporary closure orders, or permanent shutdown. Most commercial insurance policies also require proof of regular commercial hood cleaning, and claims related to grease fires may be denied without current cleaning certificates.
Beyond compliance, professional kitchen hood cleaning improves your kitchen environment and equipment performance. Clean exhaust systems improve air quality, reduce odors, lower energy costs, and extend the life of expensive ventilation equipment. Your commercial kitchen equipment operates more efficiently when exhaust systems function properly, creating a safer and more comfortable workspace for your staff.
Our Hood Cleaning Process
At Pro Serv Food Equipment, we follow a systematic hood cleaning process that ensures complete coverage and compliance with NFPA 96 standards. Our CFESA-certified technicians bring the expertise and specialized equipment necessary to deliver professional results on every job.
Initial Inspection and Assessment: We begin with a thorough inspection of your exhaust system, identifying areas of heavy buildup, potential fire hazards, and any equipment issues. We document the current condition and discuss our cleaning plan before starting work.
Complete System Preparation: Our technicians protect your kitchen equipment, floors, and work surfaces before beginning. We disassemble hood filters, access panels, and any removable components to ensure complete access to all surfaces.
Pressure Washing and Degreasing: Using high-temperature pressure washing equipment and industrial degreasers, we systematically clean every accessible surface of your exhaust system. This includes the hood interior and exterior, all filters, ductwork, exhaust plenum, fan blades, and roof components. We hand-scrape areas where grease has formed thick deposits.
Ductwork and Fan Cleaning: We access and clean the interior of exhaust ductwork and the exhaust fan assembly—areas where dangerous grease accumulation often goes unnoticed. This critical step differentiates professional hood cleaning from basic maintenance and is essential for fire prevention.
Reassembly and System Testing: After cleaning, we reassemble all components, ensure proper fit and function, and test your exhaust system to verify correct operation. We check fan operation, airflow, and ensure all access panels are properly secured.
Documentation and Certification: We provide detailed documentation including before and after photos, areas cleaned, and a dated certificate of cleaning. This documentation satisfies health department requirements and insurance obligations, protecting your business during inspections or claims.
If our technicians identify any equipment issues or repair needs during the hood cleaning process, we'll alert you immediately and can often address minor repairs on the spot.
Industries We Serve
Pro Serv Food Equipment provides specialized hood cleaning services to a wide range of commercial food service operations throughout Eastern North Carolina. Our technicians understand that different facilities have unique requirements based on their cooking methods, volume, and operating schedules.
Full-Service Restaurants: From fine dining to casual eateries, we work with restaurants of all types and sizes. We schedule hood cleaning during off-hours to minimize disruption to your operations.
Fast Food and Quick Service: High-volume operations with heavy frying and grilling require more frequent cleaning. We offer flexible scheduling and monthly service plans to keep your exhaust systems compliant and safe.
Hotels and Hospitality: Multi-outlet hotel kitchens, banquet facilities, and resort food service operations benefit from our comprehensive approach and ability to coordinate cleaning across multiple locations.
Schools and Universities: Educational institutions with cafeterias and food service programs require hood cleaning that meets both fire codes and health department standards. We work within school schedules to minimize impact on meal service.
Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities: Medical facilities have stringent requirements for kitchen cleanliness and infection control. Our teams follow all necessary protocols while delivering thorough hood cleaning services.
Food Processing Facilities: Commercial food production operations often have complex exhaust systems requiring specialized knowledge. Our experience with industrial kitchen equipment makes us well-suited for these challenging environments.
Convenience Stores: C-stores with food service programs need regular hood cleaning to maintain safe operations. We understand the unique needs of convenience store operations and can schedule service around peak business hours.
Recommended Cleaning Frequency
NFPA 96 establishes minimum hood cleaning frequencies based on your cooking volume and the types of food you prepare. Following these guidelines is essential for fire safety, code compliance, and insurance requirements.
Monthly Cleaning: Systems serving high-volume cooking operations require monthly cleaning. This includes restaurants with 24-hour operations, fast food establishments with continuous frying, or any commercial kitchen with heavy grease-producing activities like continuous charbroiling and solid fuel cooking equipment.
Quarterly Cleaning: Most full-service restaurants, hotels, and institutions with regular daily meal service fall into this category. If you operate a typical restaurant with breakfast, lunch, and dinner service using standard cooking equipment, quarterly hood cleaning is generally appropriate.
Semi-Annual Cleaning: Churches, social clubs, seasonal operations, and facilities where cooking is infrequent may only require cleaning twice per year. This applies to kitchens where cooking produces minimal grease or operates on a limited schedule.
These are minimum standards—your specific situation may require more frequent cleaning based on actual grease accumulation, local code requirements, or insurance mandates. Our technicians can assess your system during initial service and recommend an appropriate cleaning schedule.
Many clients combine hood cleaning with preventative maintenance programs that keep all their commercial kitchen equipment operating at peak performance. This comprehensive approach reduces downtime, extends equipment life, and ensures consistent compliance.
Why Choose Pro Serv Food Equipment
When you need professional restaurant hood cleaning in Eastern North Carolina, Pro Serv Food Equipment delivers the quality, reliability, and documentation you need to protect your business. As a CFESA-certified company, we represent the gold standard in commercial kitchen equipment service.
NFPA 96 Certified Technicians: Our technicians receive ongoing training in the latest hood cleaning techniques and fire safety standards. They understand NFPA 96 requirements and ensure every job meets or exceeds these critical standards.
Local Expertise and Fast Response: With locations in New Bern, Raleigh, and Wilmington, we serve all of Eastern North Carolina with fast, reliable service. We understand local health department requirements and have established relationships with inspectors throughout our service area.
Flexible Scheduling: We offer evening, overnight, and weekend hood cleaning appointments that work around your operating schedule. Many restaurant clients prefer overnight service that's completed before morning prep begins.
Comprehensive Documentation: We provide detailed certificates of cleaning with photographs and documentation that satisfy health inspectors and insurance companies. Our records system tracks your cleaning history and sends service reminders so you never miss a required cleaning.
Emergency Service Available: If you fail an inspection or discover a hood cleaning issue that needs immediate attention, we offer priority emergency service to get you back in compliance quickly. Our 24/7 on-call technicians respond when you need us most.
Complete Commercial Kitchen Service: Unlike companies that only offer hood cleaning, Pro Serv Food Equipment is your complete commercial kitchen partner. We provide equipment repair, installation, preventative maintenance, and equipment sales, making us your single source for all commercial kitchen needs.
Full Liability Insurance: We carry comprehensive liability insurance that protects your business during service. You can have confidence working with a fully insured, professional service company.
Since 2018, we've built a reputation for responsive service, technical expertise, and genuine commitment to our customers' success. We treat every hood cleaning job with the attention and professionalism it deserves.
Service Areas
Pro Serv Food Equipment serves commercial kitchens throughout Eastern North Carolina with professional hood cleaning services. Our strategically located offices allow us to provide fast, reliable service across the region.
New Bern Hood Cleaning
Our headquarters in New Bern serves Craven County and surrounding areas. From our 205 S. Glenburnie Road location, we serve restaurants, schools, hospitals, and commercial kitchens throughout the Crystal Coast region, Jacksonville, Morehead City, and Havelock. Call (910) 650-3721 to schedule your New Bern hood cleaning service.
Raleigh Hood Cleaning
Our Raleigh location at 2810 Yonkers Road Suite 3E provides comprehensive commercial hood cleaning throughout the Triangle area. We serve Wake, Durham, and Johnston counties, including Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding communities. Whether you operate a restaurant in downtown Raleigh or a food service facility in Research Triangle Park, our certified technicians deliver professional kitchen hood cleaning that keeps your operation safe and compliant. Contact our Raleigh team at (919) 505-4586.
Wilmington Hood Cleaning
From our Wilmington office at 311 Judges Road #8G, we provide restaurant hood cleaning services throughout the Cape Fear region. We serve New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties, including Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Leland, and Southport. Our Wilmington technicians understand the unique needs of coastal restaurants and hospitality operations. Call (910) 701-6283 for Wilmington hood cleaning service.
We also serve restaurants and commercial kitchens throughout Eastern North Carolina, from the Triad to the Atlantic Coast. Our service area includes Greenville, Wilson, Rocky Mount, Goldsboro, and communities throughout our coverage region. Learn more about our service areas and find the location nearest you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should restaurant hoods be cleaned?
Cleaning frequency depends on your cooking volume and type of food preparation. NFPA 96 requires monthly cleaning for high-volume operations with continuous cooking, particularly those involving heavy grease production. Quarterly cleaning is standard for most full-service restaurants with regular daily operations. Low-volume kitchens may only need semi-annual cleaning. Our technicians can assess your operation and recommend an appropriate schedule.
What does commercial hood cleaning cost?
Hood cleaning costs vary based on system size, complexity, amount of grease buildup, accessibility, and cleaning frequency. A small single-hood system typically costs less than a large multi-hood commercial kitchen. Regular customers with routine cleaning schedules generally pay less than facilities requiring emergency or first-time deep cleaning. We provide free estimates and can create custom service agreements that fit your budget.
How long does hood cleaning take?
Most restaurant hood cleaning jobs take 2-4 hours, depending on system size and condition. A small quick-service restaurant with a single hood may only require 2-3 hours, while a large hotel kitchen with multiple hoods and extensive ductwork could take 4-6 hours or more. We work efficiently to minimize disruption and can schedule service during off-hours.
Do you provide certificates of cleaning?
Yes, we provide comprehensive documentation after every hood cleaning service. Our certificates include the date of service, areas cleaned, technician signature, before and after photos, and the recommended date for your next cleaning. This documentation satisfies health department inspections and insurance requirements. We maintain digital records of all service history.
Can you clean during business hours?
While we can clean during business hours if necessary, we typically recommend scheduling hood cleaning during off-hours. The cleaning process requires shutting down cooking equipment, uses water and chemicals that shouldn't be near food preparation, and creates temporary disruption. Most clients prefer evening, overnight, or early morning appointments. We're happy to work with your schedule.
What areas do you clean?
Professional commercial hood cleaning includes all components of your exhaust ventilation system. We clean the hood interior and exterior surfaces, all filters, exhaust plenum, ductwork from hood to roof, exhaust fan (blades, housing, and motor area), grease collection devices, and the roof penetration and cap. We also clean the area surrounding the hood and remove grease from walls and equipment near the exhaust system.
What if you find equipment problems during cleaning?
Our technicians are trained to identify equipment issues during hood cleaning service. If we discover problems with your exhaust fan, damaged ductwork, missing access panels, or other equipment concerns, we'll notify you immediately. In many cases, we can perform minor repairs on the spot. For more extensive issues, we'll provide a detailed estimate and can schedule repair service at your convenience.
Do you work with health inspectors?
Yes, we frequently coordinate with local health departments and fire marshals throughout Eastern North Carolina. Our cleaning process and documentation meet all health department requirements. If you've failed an inspection or have compliance concerns, we can provide emergency service to get you back in good standing quickly.
Schedule Your Hood Cleaning Service Today
Don't risk fire hazards, failed inspections, or insurance problems with inadequate hood cleaning. Pro Serv Food Equipment provides professional commercial hood cleaning services that keep your kitchen safe, compliant, and operating efficiently. Our CFESA-certified technicians deliver thorough, documented service backed by our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
Whether you need to establish a regular maintenance schedule, require emergency cleaning before an inspection, or want to switch to a more reliable hood cleaning provider, we're here to help. We serve restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, and commercial kitchens throughout New Bern, Raleigh, Wilmington, and all of Eastern North Carolina.
Contact us today for a free hood cleaning estimate:
New Bern: (910) 650-3721
Raleigh: (919) 505-4586
Wilmington: (910) 701-6283
Email: service@proservfoodequipment.com
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