In restaurants, cafes, and most institutions, the kitchen is often one of the busiest rooms. It is therefore imperative that the kitchen remains immaculately clean and protected from fire threats at all times.
You can certainly agree that cleaning the kitchen surfaces, floors, cabinets, cooking, and storage equipment is quite an easy task—but the kitchen exhaust…not so much.
Cleaning the kitchen exhaust demands expertise is labor-intensive and time-consuming. It is therefore recommended that you hire a professional cleaning company to do the job.
Many companies claim they clean, but how do you know the job is getting done right? Here are a few questions to get you started:
Is the Company Certified?
Certification ensures a company is well-equipped and experienced to perform kitchen cleaning services. The International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association (IKECA) is a body with jurisdiction in Illinois that certifies companies that have met the following requirements;

  • Expertise in the codes and standards that govern the exhaust cleaning industry
  • All the certified employees demonstrate professional conduct
  • Conduct continuous training of employees to keep them up-to-date in regard to new technology or laws that pertain to the industry.
  • A company can be certified by any other body. To confirm if the certification body is legitimate, you can always look it up on the American National Accreditation Body (ANAB) directory.

Is the Tech Also Certified?

A well-trained and certified person will often provide professional services that meet all the requisite standards. You should hire a company familiar with the different manufacturer’s instructions on how to dismantle the range hood, the best products to use, and how to deal with any challenge that may arise.
What Certifications Should They Have?Technicians are trained and certified in the following courses:

  • Certified Exhaust Cleaning Technician (CECT): This course trains technicians on the National Fire Protection Code (NFPA) 96, which entails training on the regulation of airflow and prevention of fire outbreaks in large-scale kitchens.
  • Additional courses are Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), International Mechanical Code (IMC) 2006, and the International Fire Code (IFC) 2006.
  • The technicians’ certification is renewed annually, provided they earn two Continuous Educational Units (CEU).
  • Certified Exhaust Cleaning Specialist (CECS): The technician is trained further on NFPA 96. They renew their certification annually upon earning two CEUs
  • Certified Exhaust System Inspector (CESI): This is an advanced training course that contains further training on NFPA 96, OSHA, IMC, and IFC.
  • Additional training by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is conducted. Their mandate is to ensure technicians are updated on all technology pertaining the HVAC industry. Technicians who pass ASHRAE’s test are enrolled in the organization.

Certification is renewed after two years only when the technician has earned four CEUs.
What Is the Process of Inspection and Cleaning They Should Follow?
Inspection: The technician should inspect the hood’s vent, filter, and fan to determine whether they are in good working condition.
Shut down: They then prepare to clean by shutting down the cooking furnace, gas fitting, and exhaust fan.
Clean: Dismantle the filter and clean it manually or in a dishwasher. When using the latter, ensure that no other utensil is in the dishwasher.
Place a bucket under the hood. Sprinkle a degreaser, then hot water into the vent from outside. These will collect in the bucket.
Thereafter, the technician focuses on the parts that are still dirty and cleans them physically. The sprinkling and physical cleaning should be repeated until the kitchen exhaust becomes totally clean.
Are Reports Given Upon Completion of the Job?
Certified exhaust cleaning companies often provide a comprehensive and detailed report of their service.
How Does the Given Report Benefit You as The Customer?
The report will detail how the cleaning process and experience was. You will, therefore, be able to ensure if the company met all the required procedural steps.
Moreover, the report ought to contain details of the inspection; therefore, you will get to know the condition of the kitchen exhaust, which parts need to get fixed, and which ones need to be completely replaced.
At Pronto MS, we guarantee professional and quality kitchen exhaust cleaning services in the Chicago area. Our well-trained and certified employees use the latest technology to clean and restore your hood range. We value your business and therefore always deliver on time and within budget. Feel free to contact us today and see why your neighbors at Plainfield, IL, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Missouri always rely on us for great services.