With a never-ending task list on top of having to provide customers with high-quality service, restaurant and cafe owners could be forgiven for neglecting certain areas of their business. The kitchen, however, is one area that hospitality business owners should endeavour to stay on top of at all times.
Duct cleaning is often an afterthought to business owners in the hospitality industry, but the truth is that this simple cleaning task should be routine in all commercial kitchens. This blog post will go over the health and safety implications of an unmaintained duct system in your commercial kitchen as well as reasons why every hospitality operator should be thinking about organising duct cleaning in Melbourne.
Canopies, hood exhausts and kitchen ducts that are laden with grease not only rapidly degrade indoor air quality, but are also the biggest hazard when it comes to kitchen fires. In fact, one out of four fire accidents in commercial kitchens in Australia is attributed to build-ups in ducts and cooking systems.
With staff wages, bills and supply costs to look after, the added expense of regular duct cleaning can seem difficult for business owners to justify stretching their budget for. But the reality is that hospitality operators simply can’t afford not to have their ducts cleaned.
A poorly maintained duct system will make it far less likely that you’ll be able to pass your next health and safety inspection. This could lead to the temporary shutdown of your restaurant or cafe, causing a loss in revenue and staff going without pay.
The biggest and most detrimental impact of an unmaintained duct system is the ever-present fire danger it poses. Fires resulting from backed-up exhaust ducts can lead to property damage that might not be covered by your insurance, and in the worst-case scenario, even cause injury or the loss of your business entirely.
Standards in the Australian hospitality industry are at an all-time high, and hygiene standards are no exception. This is especially true when it comes to the hygiene of commercial kitchens.
Meeting Australian commercial kitchen standards requires regular duct cleaning and filter changes. At a minimum, it’s expected that the filters in kitchen hood exhausts and duct systems are changed at least once a month. The expectation for fans and ducting is that they’re checked at least once a year.
While an annual interval for duct systems may seem lenient, the interval period really depends on how busy your cafe or restaurant is. For instance, a cafe that trades in a higher than average volume may require duct cleaning in Melbourne more often than the recommended annual interval. This is because a high volume kitchen will invariably have more grease and oil trapped in its duct system.
A smoky kitchen is not only uncomfortable for staff, but also a bad look to patrons. If your kitchen’s exhaust fan simply can’t keep up during a busy service, it might be time to speak with a company that provides duct cleaning in Melbourne.
The number one advantage of duct cleaning is that it immediately restores a compromised duct system so that staff and customers are no longer breathing in harmful contaminants trapped in ducts, such as cooking oils and chemicals. Having the ducts in your commercial kitchen cleaned also means that when health inspection time rolls around, you won’t be sweating over whether the condition of your kitchen’s duct system is passable.
Compliance is also an instant advantage. Aside from health and safety standards, certain venues will have building codes they must adhere to if situated in or near an apartment building. By having your commercial kitchen’s ducts regularly cleaned, you’ll have peace of mind that you’re not violating any special building requirements in your lease contract.
Surprisingly, commercial duct cleaning is often more affordable than other types of cleaning services you may already be using in your business. The specific cost will vary based on the number of vents in your kitchen and any extra maintenance that may be required on your kitchen’s duct system. The good news is that most professionals conducting duct cleaning in Melbourne provide free quotes so you can get an accurate estimate of what it will cost to get your kitchen’s ducts cleaned without any added pressure.
If you suspect that the hood exhausts, canopies and ducts in your commercial kitchen are a little worse for wear, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Mr Duct Cleaning. Our team can quickly, easily and affordably service the duct system in your commercial kitchen to ensure it’s safe and compliant. Call us today on 1300 673 828 for a free, no-obligation quote.