Technician cleaning commercial kitchen exhaust ductwork showing grease removal

Kitchen Exhaust Duct Cleaning in Ontario

Grease accumulates inside your ductwork where you can't see it. But fire can reach it. Duct fires spread fast and cause catastrophic damage. Ontario Hood Cleaning cleans your entire exhaust system—from hood to rooftop—removing the hidden fire hazards.

NFPA 96 Compliant

After-Hours Service

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The Hidden Fire Hazard in Your Walls

You clean your hood every shift. But what about the 20, 50, or 100 feet of ductwork connecting it to the roof? Grease vapor travels through that entire path—and deposits along the way. Fire marshals and insurance companies know this.

Ontario Hood Cleaning provides complete exhaust duct cleaning from the hood connection to the rooftop exhaust fan. We access all sections of ductwork through existing panels or by installing new access points. Our mechanical scraping and pressure washing removes years of grease accumulation. The result: ductwork that meets NFPA 96 standards and provides documented protection for your insurance.

Complete Ductwork Cleaning

Horizontal exhaust runs (where grease settles)
Vertical risers (full-length cleaning)
Elbows and turns (high grease accumulation points)
Duct connections and transitions
Access panels (cleaning and resealing)
Supply air ductwork (when needed)

Inside view of commercial exhaust ductwork before and after professional cleaning

Benefits

Why Duct Cleaning Saves Your Business

Most kitchen fires that cause total losses involve ductwork. Clean ducts break the fire path.

Fire Prevention

Grease-laden ducts are fire highways. A flame from the cooking surface ignites duct grease, and fire races through walls to the roof. Catastrophic losses start this way. Regular duct cleaning removes the fuel.

Eliminates grease fire path
NFPA 96 compliance documented

Improved Exhaust Performance

Grease buildup restricts airflow. Your exhaust fans work harder but move less air. Clean ducts restore designed airflow capacity—improving kitchen comfort and hood capture efficiency.

Restored airflow capacity
Lower exhaust fan energy use

Insurance & Code Compliance

Insurance policies require documented duct cleaning. Fire marshals inspect ductwork. Without proper cleaning records, claims get denied and operations get shut down. We provide full documentation.

Before/after photo documentation
Service certificates for records

Cleaner Kitchen Air

Dirty ducts spread contamination. Grease particles recirculate when exhaust flow is restricted. Clean ducts improve air quality and keep grease out of dining areas.

Better kitchen air quality
No grease odor transmission

How We Work

Our Duct Cleaning Process

Complete access, thorough cleaning, and documentation that satisfies inspectors and insurers.

Steps

System Inspection

We inspect your entire duct system—measuring grease levels, identifying access points, and noting any damage or modifications since last cleaning.

Access Preparation

We open all existing access panels. Where access doesn't exist, we install new panels to reach all sections of ductwork. Panels are properly sealed after cleaning.

Mechanical Scraping

Specialized rotating brushes and scrapers remove heavy grease deposits from duct walls. This is critical for horizontal runs where grease accumulates.

Pressure Washing

High-pressure hot water removes remaining grease residue. We contain water and ensure proper drainage to prevent leaks into occupied spaces.

Documentation

Before-and-after photos of all duct sections, service report with findings, and your NFPA 96 compliance certificate—ready for insurance and fire marshal review.

FAQ

Common Questions

NFPA 96 sets the standard based on cooking volume. High-volume operations (24-hour cooking, charbroiling, wok cooking) require monthly cleaning. Most restaurants need quarterly service. Light cooking operations may qualify for semi-annual or annual cleaning. We assess your operation and recommend the appropriate schedule.

Pricing depends on duct length, accessibility, and grease accumulation. Most restaurant exhaust systems run $400-$1,200 for complete duct cleaning. Systems with difficult access or heavy buildup cost more. We provide detailed quotes and can often combine duct cleaning with hood cleaning for better value.

Hood cleaning addresses the visible hood, filters, and plenum area. Duct cleaning goes deeper—cleaning the entire ductwork path from hood to rooftop fan. Complete kitchen exhaust cleaning typically includes both. Some services only clean hoods; we clean the entire system.

We access ductwork through existing access panels and can install additional panels where needed. Proper access is required by NFPA 96 anyway—if your system lacks adequate access, we install panels as part of the service. This improves cleanability for future service too.

Most restaurant duct systems take 2-4 hours to clean thoroughly. Longer or more complex systems may take 4-6 hours. We typically work overnight so your kitchen is ready for morning prep. We'll provide a time estimate when quoting your specific system.

We take extensive precautions. Plastic sheeting protects kitchen surfaces. We contain water and grease during cleaning. HEPA-filtered equipment captures debris. Professional duct cleaning shouldn't leave your kitchen dirty—if anything, it should be cleaner when we leave.

Visual inspection through access panels shows grease accumulation. Other signs include: reduced exhaust airflow, grease dripping from duct connections, visible grease around access panels, or exceeding your NFPA 96 cleaning interval. When in doubt, schedule an inspection—we'll assess and recommend honestly.

Yes. Every duct cleaning includes a detailed service report, before-and-after photos of key duct sections, and an NFPA 96 compliance certificate. This documentation satisfies insurance requirements and provides proof of compliance for fire marshal inspections.

We note any damage found during inspection and provide repair recommendations. Common issues include holes from previous cleaning, failed seams, and deteriorated duct materials. We can perform many repairs ourselves or coordinate with your contractor for major work.

Absolutely—this is the hidden danger. Flames from cooking flare-ups can enter the duct system and ignite accumulated grease. The fire then travels through walls and ceilings to the rooftop. Many catastrophic kitchen fires start this way, which is exactly why duct cleaning is required by code.

Yes, when needed. Make-up air and supply duct cleaning is different from exhaust duct cleaning—there's no grease, but dust, debris, and microbial growth can accumulate. We can clean supply ductwork to improve air quality, typically as a separate service.

Three consequences stack up: fire risk increases with every month of grease accumulation, insurance claims may be denied if cleaning records are incomplete, and fire marshals can shut you down for code violations. Regular cleaning costs far less than any of these outcomes.