Which exhausts can be cleaned?

Bathroom fans, kitchen range hoods and their ducts, and in commercial kitchens the larger hood and exhaust systems. Each is a different job, so tell the provider which ones you have.

Why does a kitchen exhaust get dirty?

Cooking puts grease into the air, and the hood and duct catch it. Over time it builds into a sticky layer. In a bathroom the buildup is mostly dust and lint on the fan housing and grille.

How do I know a fan needs cleaning?

Common signs are a noisy fan, weak airflow so steam or smoke lingers, visible dust or grease on the grille or filter, or a smell coming from the vent.

Is this the same as dryer vent cleaning?

No. A dryer vent carries lint from the dryer and is a separate service. Many companies offer both, so ask for each to be listed on the quote.

Exhaust Fan & Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning — Air Duct Cleaning Services

What exhaust cleaning is

Exhaust cleaning removes buildup from the fans and ducts that move air out of your kitchen and bathrooms to the outside. In a kitchen that buildup is mostly grease. In a bathroom it is mostly dust and lint.

A clogged exhaust works poorly: moisture stays in the bathroom, and cooking smoke and smell stay in the kitchen. Commercial kitchens clean their exhaust systems on a schedule for this reason.

What the work involves

Identify what is being cleaned: fan, hood, filters, ducts, and where the exhaust ends outside.
Protect the area and shut off power to the fan.
Clean the grille, housing, blades, and any accessible duct, and degrease hood surfaces and filters.
Check the outside termination for blockage, then reassemble and test airflow.

What changes the quote

The number of fans or hoods, the length and access of the duct, how much buildup there is, and whether the job is residential or commercial all affect the quote. Ask for a list of what is covered.

When to do it

Consider it when airflow is weak, the fan is loud, steam or smoke lingers, or you can see grease or dust on the unit. Commercial kitchens should follow whatever schedule their local rules require.

How to choose a provider

Ask which parts they clean: the grille only, or the full duct to the outside.
Ask whether they do residential, commercial, or both.
Ask how they protect your surfaces and handle the grease they remove.
For commercial kitchens, ask whether they give a written record of the work.

Red flags: a quote that does not say what is cleaned, a cleaning that stops at the grille when you asked for the duct, or no one able to explain how the exhaust ends outside.

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Exhaust fan & kitchen exhaust cleaning questions homeowners ask

Which exhausts can be cleaned?: Bathroom fans, kitchen range hoods and their ducts, and in commercial kitchens the larger hood and exhaust systems. Each is a different job, so tell the provider which ones you have.
Why does a kitchen exhaust get dirty?: Cooking puts grease into the air, and the hood and duct catch it. Over time it builds into a sticky layer. In a bathroom the buildup is mostly dust and lint on the fan housing and grille.
How do I know a fan needs cleaning?: Common signs are a noisy fan, weak airflow so steam or smoke lingers, visible dust or grease on the grille or filter, or a smell coming from the vent.
Is this the same as dryer vent cleaning?: No. A dryer vent carries lint from the dryer and is a separate service. Many companies offer both, so ask for each to be listed on the quote.

Exhaust Fan & Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning