Kitchen Exhaust & Hood Cleaning
Exhaust Fan Cleaning in Hyattsville, MD
Grease escapes the hood and ends up on the rooftop fan, where it hardens, drips and slows the air your kitchen depends on.
Why the rooftop exhaust fan needs its own cleaning
The exhaust fan is the end of the line. Whatever grease gets past your filters and ductwork lands on the fan blades and the housing, then runs down to the roof or the wall below. On a typical upblast fan, that buildup collects in the bowl and around the base, and it can sit unnoticed for years because nobody goes up on the roof.
A greasy fan does more than make a mess. Heavy buildup on the blades throws the fan off balance, adds load to the motor and cuts the airflow your hood needs to pull smoke and heat off the line. Cleaning the fan is one of the quickest ways to bring a weak-pulling hood back to life.
The unit in the photo above is a typical belt-driven upblast fan, the kind we clean on restaurant roofs.
Signs your exhaust fan needs cleaning
- Grease streaks down the exterior wall or pooling on the roof near the fan
- A noisy or vibrating fan that used to run smoothly
- Smoke or heat lingering in the kitchen even with the hood on
- Grease dripping from the fan base or drain
- Nobody remembers the last time the roof was checked
How we clean a rooftop exhaust fan
Safe roof access
We reach the fan by ladder or roof hatch and make sure the fan is powered down and locked out before touching it.
Open the fan
If the fan has a hinge kit, we tilt it open. If it does not, we work around the housing to reach the blades and bowl.
Degrease the blades and housing
Scrape heavy deposits, then degrease the blades, the housing interior and the area around the base.
Clear the grease containment
We clean out the drain and containment so grease has somewhere safe to go, not onto your roof.
Close up and test
The fan is secured, powered back on and checked for smooth, quiet running, and we note any belt or motor wear we see.
What affects the price of exhaust fan cleaning
A fan visit is usually quicker than a hood job, but several things move the price:
- Fan size and type. Large upblast fans and units with multiple blowers take longer than a compact fan.
- Roof access. A roof hatch is easier than a tall ladder or a long climb with equipment.
- Hinge kit. A fan with a hinge kit tilts open for cleaning. One without takes more time to reach.
- How long since the last cleaning. Heavy, hardened buildup takes more scraping than light recent grease.
- Bundled work. Adding hood, filter or duct cleaning to the same visit can reduce total cost and trips.
Why choose us for exhaust fan cleaning
We know that rooftops are where small problems turn into emergencies. While we clean your fan, we look at the belt and the motor, because the same visit is the cheapest time to catch wear before it fails.
Insured and owner-operated, we handle the climb, the cleanup and the report back to you.
We service rooftop fans on restaurants in and around Hyattsville, including Hyattsville, MD and Mount Rainier, MD.
Exhaust fan cleaning questions
Where is my kitchen exhaust fan?
Most are on the roof, directly above or near the kitchen, and connect to the hood by a vertical duct. Some systems vent through a side wall. If you are not sure, call us and we will find it.
Why is there grease on my roof?
It is grease that passed through your filters and duct and escaped around the fan. A containment system under the fan should catch it, but when it is full or missing, grease reaches the roof surface.
Does the fan need cleaning as often as the hood?
Not always, but it should be cleaned as part of a regular schedule. How often depends on how much you cook. Ask for a schedule that matches your kitchen.
Can you clean a fan that has no hinge kit?
Yes, but it takes more time and care. We can discuss adding a hinge kit so future cleanings are easier.
Will you check the belt and motor while you are up there?
We look at both and tell you what we see. Replacing a worn belt or motor is a separate service, quoted separately.
Related services
Exhaust Fan Belt Replacement
Replace worn or loose belts so your exhaust fan keeps pulling the air your hood was designed to move.
Learn more →
Exhaust Fan Motor Replacement
Swap a failing or burned-out fan motor before a dead fan fills your kitchen with heat and smoke.
Learn more →
Restaurant Hood Cleaning
Degrease the hood canopy and the exhaust path above your cooking line so grease never builds up unseen.
Learn more →Get your exhaust fan cleaned
Tell us where your fan is and when it was last cleaned. We will quote the visit.