Kitchen Exhaust & Hood Cleaning Bay Area | Cal Duct Cleaning

What's Included

Complete hood interior and exterior degreasing
Exhaust fan disassembly and deep cleaning
Duct degreasing (accessible sections)
Filter cleaning or replacement recommendation
Grease trap inspection
Airflow performance verification
Area protection and cleanup

Why Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Matters

Grease buildup in kitchen exhaust systems is a leading cause of kitchen fires. Every time you cook with oil or fat, microscopic grease particles are drawn into the exhaust system where they accumulate over time. This greasy buildup is highly flammable and can ignite from a stovetop flare-up, a hot oven, or even excessive heat in the ductwork.

Beyond fire safety, a dirty kitchen exhaust reduces ventilation performance, causing cooking odors and smoke to linger, and can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Regular cleaning keeps your kitchen safe, fresh, and your exhaust system working at full capacity.

Our 5-Step Cleaning Process

1

Cover Surrounding Areas

We protect your countertops, stove, and surrounding areas with plastic sheeting and drop cloths to prevent any mess.

2

Apply Degreaser

A professional-grade degreaser is applied to the hood interior, filters, and accessible ductwork to break down accumulated grease.

3

Scrub & Clean Hood

We thoroughly scrub the entire hood interior and exterior, removing all grease buildup. Filters are removed and deep cleaned or replaced.

4

Clean Exhaust Fan

The exhaust fan is accessed and cleaned, removing grease that reduces performance and creates fire risk.

5

Final Inspection

We verify the exhaust system is functioning properly, test airflow, and clean up the entire work area.

Our Work

Kitchen exhaust fan parts after cleaning

Standards & Certifications

Commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning follows NFPA 96 — Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations. For residential kitchens, we follow industry best practices for grease removal and fire prevention.

NFPA 96 compliant (commercial kitchens)
Professional-grade degreasing products
Licensed and insured technicians
Compliance documentation available for commercial clients

Service Area

We provide kitchen exhaust cleaning throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including:

San Jose Campbell Sunnyvale Cupertino Mountain View Palo Alto Redwood City Santa Clara Belmont San Mateo Milpitas Fremont Oakland San Francisco San Rafael Santa Cruz Gilroy Morgan Hill

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you clean both residential and commercial kitchen exhausts?

Yes. Our $199 service is for residential kitchen exhaust and hood cleaning. For commercial kitchens and restaurants, we provide custom quotes based on the size and type of exhaust system. Commercial kitchens require NFPA 96 compliant cleaning.

How often should kitchen exhaust systems be cleaned?

Residential kitchen exhaust should be cleaned every 1 to 2 years, or more often if you cook frequently with oils and high heat. Commercial kitchens typically need quarterly cleaning, with high-volume restaurants requiring monthly cleaning per NFPA 96 guidelines.

What are the fire code requirements for commercial kitchen exhausts?

NFPA 96 requires commercial cooking operations to have exhaust systems cleaned by a qualified technician at regular intervals. The frequency depends on cooking volume — monthly for high-volume wood or charcoal operations, quarterly for moderate volume, semi-annually for moderate volume, and annually for low volume.

What are the signs of grease buildup in my kitchen exhaust?

Signs include: visible grease on the hood or filters, a sticky film on surfaces near the stove, reduced suction power from the exhaust fan, cooking odors lingering long after you've finished, and grease dripping from the hood or vent.

What's the difference between a kitchen exhaust and a range hood?

A range hood is the visible canopy above your stove. The kitchen exhaust system includes the range hood, filters, ductwork, exhaust fan, and exterior vent. We clean the entire system — not just the visible hood — to ensure proper airflow and grease removal.

Kitchen Exhaust & Hood Cleaning — Bay Area Professionals