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When we need to lubricate machinery or a vehicle’s brake pads for maximum performance, grease might be regarded beneficial. When we need to waterproof and protect a pair of shoes, the correct grease or lubricant may also help with a blocked or noisy door.

However, we perceive grease to be negative when we come into touch with greasy skin, oily hair, or greasy food. And if you own a commercial kitchen, or any kitchen for that matter, allowing oil to accumulate in your space not only makes it smell bad, but it also puts you in risk.

Because grease is thick and viscous, it’s only natural to assume that allowing it to accumulate in your business kitchen might result in injuries among people who use it. Allowing grease and moisture to accumulate in your kitchen can also lead to staff dissatisfaction and potential health issues, equipment damage, extra moisture in the food you serve, bug infestations, and, finally, a grease fire.

The hazards of allowing grease to build up in your kitchen are numerous. Fortunately, you can minimize harmful grease vapors from your commercial area by installing a well-functioning kitchen flue system and taking the proper precautionary steps.

Grease buildup in the kitchen: How to avoid it

Unless you intend on not cooking in your kitchen at all, totally preventing any drip of oil from gathering in your kitchen is difficult. Of fact, that precautionary method would be ineffective in any kitchen. However, grease control, rather than prevention, is what you should be concerned about.

Apart from installing a kitchen exhaust, other ways to prevent grease buildup include properly disposing of excess grease, cleaning the floors and surfaces of your kitchen on a daily basis, soaking and cleaning stove burners frequently, and cleaning your grease trap and kitchen exhaust filters on a regular basis. That’s right, even your kitchen exhaust fan, which removes oil, fumes, heat, and other impurities from your kitchen, requires regular maintenance in order to function correctly and remove grease.

By following the latter steps, you may avoid a potentially disastrous tragedy caused by grease accumulation while also making your kitchen more appealing.

Cleaning and repair of kitchen exhaust systems in Southern California

If cleaning your kitchen flue on a regular basis sounds like a chore, or if you want to be sure that your flue is getting the proper cleaning, you can trust our professionals to give your kitchen exhaust system the thorough cleaning it deserves. Our decades of knowledge will ensure that your kitchen is safer than it has ever been.

Aside from kitchen exhaust cleaning, we also provide emergency kitchen exhaust repair services 24 hours a day to guarantee that your commercial kitchen can work safely and lawfully with a fully functional kitchen flue.

Please contact Flue Steam at 800-700-FLUE if you have any queries about our flue cleaning services.

A kitchen exhaust, flue, range hood, or kitchen hood, as many commercial kitchen owners are aware, is an important piece of equipment that incorporates a mechanical fan. As a consequence of cooking, these machines remove heat, moisture, hazardous gases, airborne grease, steam, and smoke. Although kitchen exhaust is not required by construction rules in all business properties, having one is obviously useful in many circumstances.

However, simply having a kitchen flue is insufficient to make your kitchen safe. It is also necessary to clean your flue. In reality, failure to clean your exhaust on a regular basis has a number of serious concerns.

A higher chance of a fire

The chance of a flash fire is one of the most serious dangers that a greasy kitchen exhaust may offer to your kitchen. Such an occurrence has the potential to harm not just your valuable equipment, but also your whole building and maybe other surrounding structures. Imagine not just the price of damages that your insurer may not cover, but also the danger of a lawsuit if others are wounded if your kitchen catches fire.

Failure of inspection

Kitchen hoods and traps that are filthy are frequently seen as a health hazard and might result in inspection failure. While you may be granted a certain amount of time to correct the violation(s), depending on the severity of the offense, your health department has the right to shut down your business (s). Even if you are granted time to repair a problem such as a dirty kitchen exhaust, the loss of sales and even reputation if others learn of your kitchen inspection failure might be enough to ruin your firm.

Issues with kitchen sanitation

When it comes to sanitation, proper ventilation offered by a kitchen exhaust is critical since it may affect the health of your personnel and consumers. Sanitation difficulties might arise as a result of a dirty kitchen exhaust, including possibly poisonous odors, poor air quality, and undesired grease or condensation pouring onto prepared food, plates, and utensils prior to serving hungry guests.

Employee productivity drops

Your employees’ productivity may suffer as a result of harmful odors, poor air quality, and even heat accumulation from inadequately vented kitchen emissions and heat. Uncomfortable odors, stuffy, dangerous breathing air, and an uncomfortable kitchen temperature can all lead employees to get distracted and perhaps create short- or long-term health risks.

You may face not just a high staff turnover rate and, as a result, irate customers as a result of poor ventilation, but also potential litigation if an employee suffers health effects as a result of working in a poorly ventilated kitchen.

Concerns about environmental safety

Kitchen ventilation systems are intended to effectively evacuate smoke and grease that are harmful to the environment. However, it is your obligation to follow any environmental standards and legislation that apply to you when it comes to the correct cleaning and disposal of grease and other wastes collected by a kitchen exhaust. A professional kitchen flue cleaner can guarantee that these environmental requirements are satisfied, perhaps avoiding a fine from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The latter are obviously not something you want to go through, but they are, thankfully, avoidable. You may benefit from a safer cooking environment by having your industrial kitchen exhaust steam cleaned on a quarterly basis. To schedule your first exhaust cleaning call 800-700-FLUE now!

There are several regulations that must be met in order to open, operate, and maintain a commercial kitchen in California. These include maintaining correct license and certification, adhering to safe food handling practices, passing frequent safety inspections, and keeping appliances and plumbing up to code.

Aside from that, installing fire extinguishers in your commercial cooking area is not only a good idea, but it’s also a legal necessity in California. However, having a fire extinguisher or two in your commercial kitchen isn’t enough; the type, quantity, and location of your extinguishers are all important.

What California Commercial Kitchen Laws Require Fire Extinguishers?

The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 8, Section 6151, specifies the fire extinguisher standards for California enterprises. Cal OSHA, the California State Fire Marshal, municipal fire marshals, and commercial and corporate liability insurance carriers are among the entities that monitor and enforce these requirements.

Class K fire extinguishers must be safely positioned every 30 feet in commercial kitchens and restaurants. Each extinguisher must be readily accessible at all times and must not be obstructed by furniture or other items. Additionally, all personnel must be instructed on how to use a fire extinguisher and be aware of where they are situated around the facility. Employee training should take place at the time of hire as well as once a year thereafter. Extinguishers should also be examined periodically, and hydrostatic testing should be done on a regular basis.

Are there any consequences if you don’t have fire extinguishers?

Failure to have the required quantity, type, and location of fire extinguishers on your business property may result in heavy fines from OSHA, which can cost thousands of dollars each non-compliant fire extinguisher. If you fail to teach your personnel on fire safety and/or fail to pass yearly inspections/testing, you may face penalties.

It’s vital to follow all rules and standards set by the state of California as well as your city in order to avoid these fines.

In Southern California, you may get a high-quality fire extinguisher supply.

You’ll want to be in compliance not just to keep your commercial restaurant or kitchen running smoothly, but you’ll also want to have excellent, dependable fire extinguishers on hand in case of a flash fire. But how can you know you’re getting high-quality fire extinguishers?

Flue Steam, fortunately, offers a large inventory of different fire extinguishers for companies in Southern California. For more information on how to safeguard your commercial kitchen or restaurant against a tragic fire, contact us today: Flue Steam.

If you’re the manager of a commercial kitchen, you may not realize how critical it is to keep your kitchen exhaust system clean. Because you have so many essential things on your mind at all times, your kitchen exhaust system may go unnoticed. However, your kitchen exhaust system is one of the most important components in keeping your commercial kitchen running smoothly and safely.

Why should you make cleaning your commercial kitchen exhaust system a priority?

However, keeping your kitchen exhaust system clean is critical since a clogged system can pose a fire danger. A kitchen exhaust system’s function is to remove hot air, smells, and vaporized oil that are naturally discharged into the air during the cooking process.

A dirty kitchen exhaust system will not only fail to function properly, but it will also significantly raise the risk of flash fires in your exhaust ducts.

If a fire occurs, the fire department will be summoned, resulting in public shame and a significant disruption to the restaurant’s business day.

Cleaning the commercial kitchen exhaust system yourself?

However, you might be wondering, “Can’t I just take care of my kitchen exhaust cleaning?” Is it truly necessary for me to hire a qualified kitchen exhaust cleaner? Yes, to put it succinctly. Only qualified kitchen exhaust cleaners are equipped with the necessary training and equipment to keep your kitchen exhaust system up to code and fire-free.

Flue Steam is a member of the IKECA (International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association) and is committed to providing high-quality kitchen exhaust cleaning services to commercial kitchens across Southern California.

Kitchen exhaust system cleaners who are certified

For commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning, our cleaners strictly adhere to the NFPA’s (National Fire Protection Association) 96+ rules and requirements. Anywhere in Southern California, we can perform regular hand scraping and steam cleaning services for your industrial kitchen exhaust system.

We’ll schedule a regular visit at a time that’s convenient for you, and you’ll never have to worry about the cleanliness of your kitchen exhaust system again. Flue Steam will take care of everything so you can concentrate on other things!

Find out more about our services right now.

To talk with one of our fire prevention and air control specialists about your commercial kitchen’s needs, call 800-700-FLUE. For almost 50 years, we’ve been serving commercial kitchens in Southern California—isn’t it time you joined our long list of happy customers?

When you join with Flue Steam today, you can cross one item off your to-do list for good: commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaning. You’ll never manage it without it again if you don’t have Flue Steam!

One of your most essential responsibilities as a commercial kitchen manager is to ensure that your kitchen is set up for safe cooking at all times. You don’t want to endanger your kitchen employees or clients by disregarding important safety rules. Furthermore, if a dangerous scenario occurs that damages your kitchen, you will be forced to close for repairs, which will cost your business money. Don’t take a chance!

Establish your cooperation with Flue Steam now to ensure safe cooking in your commercial kitchen in 2017.

Many managers of commercial kitchens in Southern California have successfully partnered with Flue Steam. We’ve been offering superior commercial kitchen air control and fire prevention services in this region for over 50 years, so we’re certain that we have the personnel and knowledge to keep your workers cooking safe. Call us at 800-700-FLUE to get started.

Safety, air quality, and energy efficiency are all factors to consider

Our services will significantly improve the safety of your commercial kitchen. Commercial kitchens may be dangerous places to work if they aren’t properly maintained, but you can rest easy when you collaborate with Flue Steam. Our services also enhance air quality, ensuring that your restaurant or hotel’s workers and guests can always breathe comfortably.

Your commercial kitchen will be more energy efficient as a result of forming a relationship with Flue Steam. A kitchen that is clean and grease-free is more efficient, which lowers utility bills and conserves natural resources.

Our products and services

We provide a variety of services for commercial kitchens in Southern California, including:

• Cleaning of the entire kitchen exhaust system (meticulous hand scraping and steam cleaning of fans, hoods, and ducts)
• Service for changing grease filters
• Upkeep of the swamp cooler
• Service for automatic fire suppression systems
• Sales and service of portable fire extinguishers

When you start working with Flue Steam, you’ll immediately realize how much easier it is to keep your hectic schedule when you don’t have to worry about any of these important duties. We give “Certificate of Performance” badges after every kitchen exhaust system cleaning appointment as confirmation that you have met your code responsibilities. Not only will code inspectors be pleased to hear them, but your insurance premiums may be reduced as well!

Let’s talk

We invite you to contact us now to discuss your commercial kitchen’s requirements and how we can assist you in making your day-to-day operations more efficient. Please contact us at 800-700-FLUE. Every day, we hope to make your commercial kitchen a safer place to cook. When you rely on Flue Steam for all of your commercial kitchen air management and fire prevention needs, you can cook up a storm while staying safe. We’re here to help!