Your commercial kitchen exhaust system needs regular hood cleaning. Full stop. Whether you run a restaurant in Toronto, manage a hospital cafeteria in Ottawa, or operate a hotel kitchen in Hamilton, proper exhaust maintenance protects your business from grease fires. It keeps employees and customers safe.
Here's the reality: cooking equipment causes over 60% of restaurant fires in North America. The cause? Grease builds up in exhaust systems. Nobody cleans it. Fire starts. Research confirms that failure to clean contributes to nearly one in four commercial kitchen fires.
Power Hoods Systems has helped Ontario businesses stay safe and compliant for years. This guide covers everything about professional hood cleaning—from regulations to choosing the right provider.
Why Professional Hood Cleaning Matters
Let's be honest. Hood cleaning isn't glamorous. You might think a quick wipe-down works. It doesn't. The stakes are high, and here's why.
Fire Prevention Starts in Your Exhaust System
Grease burns. When grease coats your hood, ducts, and exhaust fan, you store fuel throughout your ventilation system. A small flare-up on your cooktop can send flames through grease-coated ducts in seconds.
The numbers tell the story. Grease fires cause 75% of cooking-related injuries. They cause 78% of direct property damage. The average restaurant fire costs $23,000. That's before you count lost revenue, temporary closure, and damaged customer trust.
Ontario Fire Code Compliance
Ontario adopts NFPA 96 as the standard for commercial kitchen exhaust systems. This is law, not a suggestion. Municipal fire departments enforce these requirements. Penalties hit hard.
Individuals face fines up to $50,000 for a first offence, plus up to one year in jail. Corporations face penalties up to $500,000 initially. Repeat violations climb to $1.5 million. Fire inspectors can issue immediate closure orders. They shut your business down until you fix violations—often within 24 to 48 hours.
Protect Your Insurance Coverage
You might be wondering: what does hood cleaning have to do with insurance? Everything. Insurance companies can deny fire claims if you lack proper documentation. Gaps in records? Claim denied. Unqualified vendor? Claim denied. No proof of compliance? You pay for fire damage alone.
NFPA 96 Hood Cleaning Requirements
NFPA 96 sets different cleaning schedules for different kitchens. Your frequency depends on cooking type and volume.
How Often Your Kitchen Needs Hood Cleaning
Monthly hood cleaning applies to solid fuel cooking. Wood-fired pizza ovens, charcoal grills, and smokers produce heavy grease fast. Monthly service prevents dangerous buildup.
Quarterly hood cleaning applies to high-volume kitchens. This includes 24-hour restaurants, fast food establishments, wok cooking, and charbroiling. Note: kitchens running more than 16 hours daily may need monthly service under 2025 NFPA 96 updates.
Semi-annual hood cleaning works for moderate-volume operations. Standard sit-down restaurants, hotel kitchens, and hospital cafeterias fall into this category.
Annual hood cleaning is the minimum for low-volume operations. Churches, day camps, senior centers, and seasonal businesses qualify.
Inspectors measure grease deposits. They shouldn't exceed 0.002 inches (50 micrometers). Professional technicians use specialized gauges and clean all surfaces to bare metal.
Warning Signs You Need Hood Cleaning Now
Don't wait for scheduled service if you see these signs. Call for hood cleaning immediately when you notice:
- Visible grease dripping from hood or ductwork
- Grease stains on walls or ceilings near the hood
- Lingering smoke or odors with exhaust running
- Reduced airflow or ventilation
- Unusual exhaust fan noises
- Any grease fire flare-ups
These symptoms mean one thing: grease buildup has reached dangerous levels. Professional service can't wait.
What Professional Hood Cleaning Includes
Professional hood cleaning covers more than most people expect. Here's what happens during each service visit.
Pre-Cleaning Inspection
Technicians start with inspection. They verify exhaust system function, measure grease buildup with depth gauges, photograph current conditions, and identify access points. This establishes a baseline before work begins.
Kitchen Preparation
Professional crews protect your kitchen before hood cleaning starts. They cover cooking equipment with heat boards and plastic sheeting. They remove filters and grease cups for separate cleaning. They implement lockout/tagout procedures to isolate power. They wrap electrical components with watertight protection. They set up wastewater capture systems.
Complete System Cleaning
Hood cleaning addresses every component. The hood interior (plenum) gets degreaser, scrubbing to bare metal, and filter track cleaning. Technicians access ductwork through service panels. They apply chemical degreaser from top to bottom using extension wands. The exhaust fan requires roof-level disassembly, blade degreasing, belt inspection, and drain verification.
Professional crews use industrial pressure washers (1,500-3,000 PSI at 160-200°F), specialized nozzles reaching 12 feet for duct cleaning, HEPA-filtered vacuums, and NSF-approved food-safe degreasers.
Post-Cleaning Documentation
After hood cleaning, you receive NFPA 96 compliance certification, before-and-after photos with date stamps, a detailed service report, and service stickers on your hood. This documentation proves compliance to fire inspectors and insurance companies.
What Staff Can Do Between Professional Hood Cleaning
Your staff can extend time between professional services. Regular maintenance keeps your kitchen safer.
Daily: Wipe hood exterior surfaces. Check for smoke or odor issues. Inspect for grease drips.
Weekly: Remove and clean baffle filters (soak in degreaser 3-8 hours if needed). Empty grease cups and troughs. Scrub filter tracks.
Monthly: Inspect the entire exhaust system visually. Check exhaust fan operation. Inspect fire suppression components. Document everything in a maintenance log.
Important: Routine tasks supplement professional hood cleaning. They don't replace it. NFPA 96 requires certified personnel. DIY efforts won't satisfy compliance requirements.
Why DIY Hood Cleaning Falls Short
You might wonder: can my staff handle this work? Regulations say no. Practical reality agrees.
Access problem: Staff can't reach interior ductwork, rooftop fan housing, areas behind access panels, plenum above filters, or grease at duct joints. Most fires start on cooking equipment and spread into exhaust systems. Grease in ducts fuels rapid fire spread.
Equipment problem: Professional hood cleaning requires industrial truck-mounted pressure systems, HEPA-filtered vacuums, specialized duct tools, and commercial degreasers. Consumer equipment can't match these results.
Safety problem: This work involves chemical burn risks, rooftop fall risks, electrical hazards, confined space entry, and sharp metal edges. Professional training and safety equipment are required.
Documentation problem: Only professional hood cleaning provides NFPA 96 certification, photo evidence, service stickers, and inspection reports. Fire inspectors and insurance companies demand this proof.
How to Choose a Hood Cleaning Company
Not all hood cleaning companies deliver equal quality. Here's how to identify professionals versus operators who leave you at risk.
Verify Certifications
IKECA certification (International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association) sets the standard. Certified technicians pass written exams and practical tests. They complete ongoing education. Levels include CECT (Certified Exhaust Cleaning Technician), CECS (Supervisor level), and CESI (Inspector level).
Also check for NFPA 96 certification. Ask which organization certified them. Contact that organization to confirm validity.
Confirm WSIB Clearance
This matters critically for Ontario businesses. WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) clearance confirms the contractor is registered and compliant. Without it, you face serious liability.
Here's what happens if you hire a hood cleaning contractor without WSIB coverage and they get injured: you may pay their medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation. You lose no-fault liability protection. WSIB can hold you liable for unpaid premiums.
Request WSIB clearance before work starts. Verify the number on WSIB's online portal. Confirm coverage stays valid throughout the job.
Check Insurance Coverage
Quality hood cleaning companies carry $1-2 million in general liability insurance per occurrence. Request a Certificate of Insurance from their agent. Call to verify accuracy.
Red Flags to Avoid
Watch for these warning signs:
- Prices far below market ($100-200 for complete hood cleaning isn't legitimate)
- Quotes without on-site inspection
- No insurance or certification proof
- No written contract
- Service under 2 hours (proper work takes 2-4 hours minimum)
- Only cleaning visible surfaces
- No before/after photos
- Cash-only demands
- No physical business address
Hood Cleaning Service Costs
Hood cleaning prices vary by system size:
- Small restaurants (1-2 hoods): $200-$500
- Medium systems: $800-$1,500
- Large commercial kitchens: $1,500-$3,000+
- Premium systems: $3,000-$6,000
Annual maintenance contracts offer better rates plus priority scheduling and service reminders.
Questions to Ask Hood Cleaning Companies
Get clear answers before signing any contract.
Certification questions: Are you IKECA certified? Can I see proof? What organization provided your certification? How do you maintain certifications?
Insurance questions: Can you provide a Certificate of Insurance with coverage amounts? Do you have valid WSIB clearance? What happens if you damage something during service?
Service questions: What's included in your price? Will you clean hood, ALL ductwork, AND rooftop fan? Do you clean to bare metal per NFPA 96? What chemicals do you use?
Documentation questions: Will you provide before-and-after photos? What documentation will I receive? Do you guarantee your work passes inspection?
Hood Cleaning Services Across Ontario
Power Hoods Systems provides professional hood cleaning throughout Ontario. We serve commercial kitchens in cities large and small. View all our service areas.
Greater Toronto Area: Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Newmarket, Aurora.
Hamilton-Niagara: Hamilton, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Brantford, Fort Erie, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Grimsby.
Southwestern Ontario: London, Windsor, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Chatham-Kent, Sarnia, Stratford, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Owen Sound.
Eastern Ontario: Ottawa, Kingston, Peterborough, Belleville, Cornwall, Brockville, Kawartha Lakes, Prince Edward County, Cobourg, Port Hope.
Central Ontario: Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Midland, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Muskoka region.
Northern Ontario: Sudbury, North Bay, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Kenora.
Long-Term Hood Cleaning Partnerships
Don't treat hood cleaning as a one-time expense. Consider a maintenance partnership instead. The benefits go beyond convenience.
Maintenance contracts deliver consistent service from technicians who know your system. They spot problems early. Pre-scheduled visits keep you compliant without worry. Contract customers get better rates and priority scheduling.
A good hood cleaning partner becomes part of your team—invested in keeping your kitchen safe year after year.
Keep Your Kitchen Safe with Power Hoods Systems
Your commercial kitchen drives your business. Protect it from fire hazards and compliance issues with professional hood cleaning you can trust.
Power Hoods Systems brings NFPA 96 certified technicians, comprehensive insurance, valid WSIB clearance, and bare-metal cleaning. We provide complete documentation: before-and-after photos, service reports, and compliance certificates. See our completed projects.
Need quarterly service for your high-volume restaurant? Annual maintenance for your community kitchen? We serve all of Ontario.
Contact Power Hoods Systems today for a free hood cleaning estimate. Our team assesses your system, recommends the right schedule, and keeps your kitchen compliant and protected.
