San Francisco hood cleaning Company Says Be Baffled

San Francisco hood cleaning Company Says Be Baffled, Not Confused - By: Farazandeh


PLACENTIA AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - The filter is one of the key elements of any restaurant or other kitchen with a commercial range hood.

Keeping the filter free of buildup and in good working order is important to having an exhaust system that does the job it is meant to do, says Massoud Farazandeh, chief executive officer of American Professional Services (APS-Hoods), a San Francisco hood cleaning company that also operates a fabrication plant in Placentia, California.

Manufacturers that sell range hood filters provide recommendations for filter cleaning frequency, as well as information on preferred cleaning methods. Some filters can be cleaned in-house, while with other models, it is best to leave the cleaning to professionals. Either way, it is important restaurant owners and managers to follow these recommendations closely. Failure to do this can void the filter’s warranty, and in some serious cases, the warranty for the entire range hood.
There is a variety of filter types, including aluminum mesh and baffle style filters.

Baffle filters are common in many kitchen range hoods, said Farazandeh, whose San Francisco hood sales company sells replacement filters and other parts. The baffled design forces fumes and steam to change direction, enabling the grease to then separate from the air. This also allows the filtered air to pass into the hood. Baffle filters keep more than 90 percent of grease particles contained that might otherwise wind up collecting on cabinetry and in areas that could fuel a fire.
Baffle filters also keep flames from reaching the ductwork in restaurants and commercial kitchens and protect against potentially costly and dangerous fires. This filter type provides excellent air flow over steam, gas, or electric-powered cooking equipment and these filters are known to effectively remove contaminants.
When cleaning baffle filters, it is important that they are cleaned carefully to avoid breaking any of the baffles, said Farazandeh, a San Francisco commercial hood expert. Broken and missing baffles in grease filters create a fire hazard because they can allow a flame to pass through the filter barrier and into the plenum and duct.

If regular cleanings have not been performed and grease has been left to accumulate in these areas of the hood, this grease build-up can fuel a fire and potentially lead to extensive damage.

Some baffle filter brands are made with a hinge, which makes cleaning both sides easy, says the San Francisco hood installation professional. This provides for the most complete cleaning. Some filters require soaking overnight, or they can simply be run through a dishwasher, while others should be cleaned by a professional hood cleaning company. Slots in them can reduce static pressure and allow more air to run through them, which lessens stress on exhaust fans and provides a quieter operation.

More air through the filter means more heat is removed from the kitchen, creating a cooler, more comfortable environment and lower cooling costs.

Keeping filters clean and replacing them when necessary means less grease will be able to accumulate in ductwork. That, in turn, means ductwork doesn’t need to be cleaned as frequently and the cost of cleaning it each time may be slightly reduced.


About APS-Hoods
American Professional Services (APS-Hoods) is a full-service restaurant fire protection business that installs, services, repairs and performs routine inspections and sales for hood and fire suppression systems. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Massoud Farazandeh in 1989, APS-Hoods has grown into a national leader in hood sales and fire protection for restaurants and facilities. APS provides superior service, a quality guarantee and maintains a highly qualified and dependable staff. All crew members are professionally trained to comply with the National Fire Prevention Association Standards and state and local codes. APS-Hoods is fully insured and bonded. They are licensed in the mechanical and electrical fields, as well as fire protection contracting. APS-Hoods is affiliated with the National Fire Protection Agency and the Colorado Division of Fire Safety Fire Suppression Program.

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