Upblast exhaust fans may well be the most essential thing in your commercial kitchen. Without one, your kitchen would quickly fill with smoke, steam, heat and grease. So it’s really important to know the basics of what they do, how they work, and what you need to do to keep them in good operating order.
What is an upblast exhaust fan?
Upblast exhaust fans are typically located on the roof of your kitchen or food truck but can also be side mounted. They are sometimes called rooftop ventilators or exhausters and are connected to your commercial kitchen hood system via ductwork. There are two basic types of restaurant exhaust fans: belt drive and direct drive. Belt drive fans use a belt and exhaust fan motor pulley to control the motor shaft. Direct drive exhaust fan wheels attach directly to the axle of the motor.
How does an upblast exhaust fan work?
The fan pulls air up through the vent hood and hood filters, which catch the majority of the grease, fats and oils. Then the air travels through the grease duct where some of the remaining grease will inevitably stick to the walls of the duct. Once the air gets to the fan, any grease, fats and oils that are remaining will end up sticking to the fan blades as well as be exhausted to the outside. This is why all grease ducts and upblast exhaust fans need to be routinely cleaned.
How important is it to clean your upblast exhaust fan?
It is extremely important to clean your restaurant exhaust fan. It’s also critical to clean your grease ducts, ventilation hood, and grease hood filters. Even if you have the best grease hood filters, a certain amount of contaminants will always get through. This is also why all upblast exhaust fans should have a grease containment system to protect your rooftop by collecting and containing any grease, fat or oil runoff that made it past the fan.
How should I clean my upblast exhaust fan?
Upblast fans are most commonly cleaned using power washing products and degreasers. Protecting the environment is an important consideration when cleaning your exhaust fan and the EPA has strict requirements for keeping grease, other contaminants, and harmful chemicals from entering the water supply. Using an eco-friendly degreaser, an overspray wash cap, and oil absorbent products can help you make sure you are adhering to environmental guidelines. How often you clean your upblast fan depends greatly on the type of cooking your restaurant does.
If you would like to learn even more about upblast exhaust fans, download our Complete Guide to Upblast Exhaust Fans from the HoodFilters.com Buying Guide page. In this comprehensive guide, we cover:
- Pros and cons of belt drive vs. direct drive fans
- How to clean upblast exhaust fans
- Upblast exhaust fan maintenance and repair
- Exhaust fan troubleshooting tips
- Exhaust fan accessories and fan replacement parts
- NFPA 96 fire codes related to exhaust fans
- Frequently asked questions about upblast exhaust fans
Are you wondering which type of upblast exhaust fan to purchase for your food truck, restaurant or commercial kitchen? Not sure what size fan you need to order? Or maybe you’re ready to buy a whole new ventilation system. We also carry a full range of makeup air and HVAC ventilation products. Whatever your needs, the experts at HoodFilters.com are here to help you! Just give us a call at 877-394-9731 or email us at customerservice@hoodfilters.com