What It Is
Most people think hood cleaning means wiping down the visible hood surface. In reality, NFPA 96 compliant hood cleaning covers the entire exhaust pathway from the cooking surface all the way to the exhaust fan on your rooftop.
Grease doesn't stop at the hood. It travels up through the ductwork and accumulates throughout the system. A cleaning that only addresses the visible hood leaves the most dangerous grease buildup untouched inside the duct and around the rooftop fan.
Core Hood Cleaning services the complete system on every visit, exactly as NFPA 96 requires. You get the full job, the full documentation, and a compliance certificate that holds up to any inspection.
Full System Service
The visible hood and all baffle filters are degreased and pressure washed. Every grease-contact surface is cleaned to bare metal.
The chamber directly above your filters is one of the highest grease accumulation points. We clean the plenum thoroughly on every visit.
All filters are removed, soaked, pressure washed, and reinstalled. We document filter condition and flag any that need replacement.
We clean the complete duct run from the plenum to the rooftop. Not just the accessible sections. This is what separates a compliant cleaning from a partial one.
The rooftop exhaust fan is hinged open, and the fan blades, housing, and surrounding curb are cleaned and inspected. Fan condition is documented.
All grease and wash water is collected and properly disposed of. We never leave grease residue on your roof or drain it into the building.
Photos are taken of every area before and after cleaning. You receive a full photo set with your service report as proof of work performed.
An NFPA 96 compliance sticker is applied to your hood, and a signed compliance certificate is issued, valid for fire marshals, health inspectors, and insurance.
How We Work
All cooking equipment and surfaces near the hood are covered with heavy-duty poly plastic before any cleaning begins. Your kitchen is protected.
We document the condition of every area before we start including the hood interior, duct access points, and rooftop fan. This is your baseline.
Commercial-grade alkaline degreaser is applied to all surfaces. We let it dwell to break down grease before washing, which means a more thorough clean.
High-pressure hot water blasts every surface clean from the hood canopy through the duct to the rooftop fan. All grease is pushed to collection points.
We access the roof, open the exhaust fan, and clean the blades, housing, and surrounding curb. All rooftop grease and water is collected and removed.
After photos are taken. Your compliance certificate is issued. The service report is delivered. Your kitchen is ready for any inspection.
Who Needs It
If your kitchen has a commercial cooking appliance with an exhaust hood requires regular professional cleaning under NFPA 96. This applies to restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, commissaries, food trucks, and any other commercial food service operation.
The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health, the San Diego Fire Department, and commercial insurance carriers all require NFPA 96 compliance. A failed inspection or an uncleaned system that contributes to a fire creates significant liability.
Core Hood Cleaning serves restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, bars, breweries, commissaries, and food trucks throughout San Diego County.
Cleaning Frequency
Operations using wood-burning ovens, charcoal grills, wok stations, or producing very high volumes of grease-laden air.
Most full-service restaurants, fast casual operations, and school cafeterias. This is the most common cleaning frequency in San Diego.
Facilities with limited cooking hours, low-heat cooking methods, or seasonal operations. A certified inspection determines eligibility.
Results
