We get a lot of questions about heated makeup air units and makeup air in general. People often ask us if they need a tempered make up air unit or want to know why their local codes are requiring them to have one. Some customers wonder if they need a makeup air unit at all, while others want to know if they are required to replace one that has become inoperable. We’re going to answer all of those questions and more!
When buying filters for your grease hood, your choices typically include stainless steel, aluminum, or galvanized hood filters. If you’re interested in a durable, and affordable filter and don’t need one with a shiny finish, galvanized is a great option. But what exactly is galvanized steel? And which galvanized filter is right for you?
Hot-dipping the steel effectively coats it in zinc, which helps protect it against corrosion and rust. How does this compare to stainless steel? While galvanized steel is more rust-resistant than aluminum, stainless steel offers more protection from the elements. This is because galvanized steel is simply steel that has been coated with a protective layer.
Stainless steel, on the other hand, is a composite material made up of steel and about ten percent chromium. Stainless steel is stronger and lasts longer than galvanized, but it is quite a bit more expensive. Continue reading
Every commercial kitchen ventilation system needs a centrifugal upblast exhaust fan. It’s one of three main components of a complete exhaust hood system: a hood, ductwork, and an exhaust fan. Without a fan, your kitchen would be probably become filled with smoke and covered in grease.
You may never even see your upblast exhaust fan, but knowing what it is and understanding how it fits into your exhaust system is still important, especially when it comes to troubleshooting issues and properly maintaining your system.
No matter what type of kitchen is being ventilated, having a rooftop grease containment system like the Grease Gutter Sidekick installed isn’t an option – it’s a necessity. So what exactly is the Sidekick, and is it right for you? Let’s find out.
The Grease Gutter Sidekick is a rooftop grease containment system designed to mitigate rooftop damage and maintain the utmost safety for your commercial kitchen. The Sidekick was designed specifically for lower volume applications where a single sided exhaust fan grease catchment system is desired or necessary. Continue reading
The performance of any commercial kitchen ventilation system relies heavily on the type of hood filters you use. If you want to maximize your filter’s available capture area and increase the free area of your hood filter, there’s nothing better than Flame Gard Type III frameless hood filters.
Flame Gard frameless filters are designed to get grease out of your ventilation system before it has a chance to enter the ductwork. As with most grease hood filters, the Flame Gard frameless filter uses baffles to divert and collect fats, oils and grease effluent from a variety of cooking applications from griddles to grills and woks to fryers. Once the grease is collected, it can be easily removed.
Having the proper hood filter installed plays an important role in the effectiveness, efficiency, and the safety of your commercial kitchen. The Flame Gard frameless filter offers some unique benefits to your ventilation system. Learn more about this filter and check out our brief Flame Gard Frameless Hood Filters Review video to find out if it’s right for you. Continue reading
Routine maintenance and cleaning of your restaurant exhaust fan is one of the most important factors in keeping a commercial kitchen running. It can also be a dangerous job when moving the heavy and cumbersome fan off it’s base. That is why the NFPA mandates the use of an exhaust fan hinge to allow the fan to be suspended for safe maintenance and cleaning.
While many hinges on the market are constructed of low-grade materials and utilize precarious chains in order to hold the fan, the Omni Super Hinge is changing the game by reaching new levels of durability and ease-of-use. Thanks to the innovative design and strong construction of the Omni Super Hinge, you can open and close your exhaust fan over and over again without concern. Continue reading
One of the most popular duct access doors on the market is the Flame Gard Access Door. It features a UL-listed, NFPA approved gasket that is rated to 2,300 degrees. Installing the Flame Gard door is simple and straightforward, so you’ll be able to get your duct system in compliance and easily accessible without a hassle.
Here’s what to do: Continue reading
The Grease Gutter grease containment system is a high-quality, easy-to-use solution that provides 360 degree protection around your exhaust fan and prevents grease from spilling onto the roof.
This popular grease collection device utilizes a single-piece absorbent pad that stops grease but allows water to flow freely through the unit. Once you’ve purchased your Grease Gutter containment system, you’ll want to have it up and running as soon as possible. The good news is that you can install it in minutes with just a few simple tools and instructions. Continue reading
Once you install the absorbent boom in your Grease Gutter rooftop grease containment system, you’ll no longer have to worry about oil and grease stains damaging your roof or causing dangerous fire hazards.
Because the booms are hydrophobic, they absorb a tremendous amount of oil while simultaneously repelling water. The filler material is specifically engineered to spread grease throughout the boom evenly, ensuring that you don’t end up with pools of grease that could accumulate and cause damage. Also, the outer shell is UV-protected and fire retardant for additional safety.
Installing the Omni Grease Gutter boom is very easy. Let’s go through the steps. Continue reading
In the scope of kitchen exhaust cleaning, rooftop exhaust fans are an important and challenging part of the job. This is because there are more surfaces for grease to accumulate on such as fan blades and motor casing. And if it isn’t properly maintained, the system can fail due to heavy grease build up which puts stress on areas such as the fan motor, bearings and drive belt.
When cleaning fans, it is particularly important to make sure grease does not contaminate the roof. Grease and oil residue are detrimental to the roof and cause deterioration and structural damage including leaks, blistering, and cracks. They also pose a serious fire risk if left unaddressed. It’s important to make sure that no grease or oil washes off the roof during cleaning, which may result in environmental issues, code violations, and unsightly buildup around the exterior of the building.
The most common method used for cleaning upblast exhaust fans is pressure washing. Here are a few preventative steps you can take during routine exhaust fan cleanings to ensure the job is getting done effectively and efficiently without making a greasy mess of the roof.