It is challenging to maintain a controlled and tidy commercial kitchen environment. It deals with a lot more heat than home kitchens because they cook a lot more food, use different methods, and have more people in them. The people in charge of a commercial kitchen must ensure it remains a healthy and happy place to work.
A good commercial kitchen ventilation system is a crucial part of this. Not only does proper ventilation in a commercial kitchen protect the health and safety of employees, but it also prolongs the life of the kitchen itself.
Here are other benefits of commercial kitchen ventilation in the food service industry.
Air quality and Temperature in the kitchen
For those who work in kitchens, they can be incredibly uncomfortable spaces. Typically, kitchens are extremely hot, but a kitchen can become unbearably cold if the HVAC system is unbalanced. Preparing and cooking food creates smoke, steam, airborne particles, and smells that can irritate eyes, skin, and lungs. A commercial kitchen ventilation system will remove irritants from the air and help keep the temperature in the kitchen at a comfortable level.
Odor control
You can’t avoid the smell in a commercial kitchen, but a well-designed ventilation system can keep odors away from the dining room or other areas that might bother customers. These odors will be supported out of customer areas by configuring ventilation systems to generate negative pressure in the kitchen.
Energy loss reduction
Correctly designed commercial kitchen ventilation systems can reduce the amount of HVAC-conditioned air pulled out and lost through ventilation, thereby reducing air and energy waste.
Preventing the contamination of exhaust systems
Kitchen air can contaminate ventilation systems with grease, dust, and other contaminants. When this happens, ventilation fans, ducts, hoods, and other equipment must be cleaned, costing the restaurant owner more money. You can design a ventilation system with an efficient purification process to reduce the number of particles that pile up on ventilation equipment and ductwork.
Your ventilation system is vital because it removes all the dust, dirt, and debris in the air. However, it’s essential to know that the ventilation system itself can get dirty on the inside from time to time. As a result, you should know that the system will require professional cleaning and maintenance now and then.
5 Good Reasons to Clean your Commercial Kitchen VC Regularly
Ventilation service and maintenance are essential to the overall operation of a commercial kitchen. A regular maintenance plan aims to identify potential concerns before they become significant issues. The grease duct access door makes it easier for professional cleaners to get into the ventilation system and clean it thoroughly.
- Avoid fires: Maintaining a regular cleaning schedule for your kitchen exhaust system reduces fire risk. Proper cleaning includes degreasing your system. It eradicates the highly combustible grease as well as any other residue that could be potentially explosive. It safeguards not only your organization’s valuable assets but also the safety of its personnel.
- Remove Toxic Mold: Your ventilation system is an excellent setting for the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew due to the high amounts of moisture and heat. Cleaning your kitchen hood regularly and having it done by a professional will help you avoid getting sick.
- Productive Airflow: If you keep your exhaust and ventilation system clean, you’ll notice an improvement in the airflow. It improves the effectiveness as well as the performance of your equipment. When equipment is more efficient, production rates can increase while simultaneously reducing the amount of energy needed to do it. There is also the potential for reduced maintenance costs.
- Environmental Safety: The grease comes from the stovetop to the ceiling via the ventilation system. Large volumes of grease particles in the air of a commercial kitchen pose an environmental concern to your employees and customers. Local rules and codes, such as IKECA and NFPA 96, mandate the removal of oil and smoke-laden gases produced during the cooking process.
- Safeguard Your Employees. Everyone wants healthy employees and maintaining a clean ventilation system will protect your staff from airborne toxins.
Takeaway
Commercial kitchen ventilation is an essential part of the restaurant industry. Not only does it keep your employees safe, but it also helps to keep your food fresh and free of contaminants. Regularly cleaning your commercial kitchen ventilation can help ensure that your employees and customers are safe and healthy. Have you cleaned your commercial kitchen ventilation recently? If not, this is the time to start!
