Commercial Hood Cleaning Services | NFPA 96 Certified | DC, MD & VA
Professional commercial kitchen hood and grease duct cleaning for restaurants across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. NFPA 96 certified, fully documented with before/after photos. Call (800) 200-2134.
Express Kitchen Hoods provides NFPA 96-certified commercial hood and grease duct cleaning for restaurants, hotels, food halls, ghost kitchens, and institutional kitchens across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Every job is documented with before/after photos and a compliance sticker. Call (800) 200-2134 or request a free quote.
Why Commercial Hood Cleaning Is a Legal Requirement — Not Optional Maintenance
Every commercial kitchen that produces grease-laden vapors is required by NFPA 96 (Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations) to maintain a clean exhaust system. Grease is a fuel source: accumulated grease in a duct or hood canopy is the single most common cause of commercial kitchen fires in the United States.
Beyond fire risk, local fire marshals and health departments in DC, Maryland, and Virginia inspect hood cleaning documentation as part of routine restaurant inspections. An expired cleaning sticker or missing service record is a citation — and in some jurisdictions, grounds for immediate closure until corrected.
How Often Does Your Hood Need Cleaning? (NFPA 96 Schedule)
The frequency required depends on your cooking volume and fuel type, per NFPA 96 Section 11.4:
| Kitchen Type | Examples | Required Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Fuel (wood/charcoal) | Wood-fired ovens, live-fire grills, BBQ smokers | Monthly |
| High-Volume | 24-hour diners, fast food, heavy fryer operations, food halls | Quarterly |
| Moderate-Volume | Full-service restaurants, caterers (3-7 hrs/day) | Semi-Annually |
| Low-Volume / Seasonal | Office cafeterias, seasonal venues, churches, bakeries | Annually |
Not sure which category applies to you? Call us at (800) 200-2134 for a free assessment.
What Our Hood Cleaning Service Includes
We clean the entire exhaust system — not just the visible parts. Every service covers:
- Pre-service grease level assessment — we document grease accumulation before work begins
- Full kitchen protection — heavy plastic containment over all equipment and surfaces
- Hood canopy and baffle filters — filters removed, degreased, dried and reinstalled; canopy interior cleaned to bare metal
- Full duct run — all ductwork from hood collar to rooftop exhaust fan, including access panels, transitions, and hard bends
- Grease collection cups and drip trays — emptied and cleaned
- Rooftop exhaust fan — blades, housing, curb, grease containment cap cleaned; belt and motor condition reported
- Make-up air (MUA) filter check — filter condition and any restriction points noted
- Post-service photos and certification — before/after photo report emailed, NFPA 96 compliant service sticker with next clean date applied to hood
Industries We Serve
We service every type of commercial cooking operation across DC, Maryland, and Virginia:
- Full-service restaurants and fine dining
- Fast food, fast casual, and quick service restaurants (QSR)
- Hotel kitchens and banquet facilities
- Food halls and ghost kitchen facilities
- Hospital, university, and government cafeterias
- Sports arenas and event venues
- Food trucks and commissary kitchens
- Assisted living facilities and nursing homes
- K-12 school cafeterias
- Bars and nightclubs with cooking operations
Service Scope by Kitchen Size
Every job is quoted individually before work begins — no hidden fees. Scope depends on hood count, duct configuration, and time since last cleaning.
| Kitchen Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Small kitchen (1 hood, 1 fan) | Cafes, small counters, food trucks with commissary agreements |
| Medium kitchen (1-2 hoods) | Most full-service restaurants, catering operations |
| Large / multi-hood kitchen | Hotels, banquet halls, high-volume QSR, food halls |
| Institutional kitchen | Hospital, university, government facility kitchens with complex duct systems |
| Emergency / after-hours | Same-day or overnight dispatch for failed inspections or code compliance orders |
Warning Signs Your Hood System Is Overdue for Cleaning
- Visible grease dripping from the hood canopy or duct joints
- Sticky or oily residue on the filters after a normal cooking shift
- Reduced airflow — smoke or steam lingering at the cooking line
- Expired cleaning sticker date or no sticker present
- Odor of burning grease during or after cooking
- Grease accumulation visible inside the duct through the access panel
Frequently Asked Questions — Commercial Hood Cleaning
What does "bare metal" cleaning mean?
Bare metal is the NFPA 96 compliance standard — it means all grease is removed from internal surfaces until the underlying metal is visible and clean. A surface wipe that leaves a thin grease film is not compliant. Our technicians clean to bare metal on every service, documented with photos.
Do you clean just the hood or the entire duct system?
We clean the full system — hood canopy, baffle filters, duct run (all the way to the rooftop), and the exhaust fan. A hood-only cleaning is not NFPA 96 compliant and will not pass a fire inspection. Grease accumulates throughout the duct, particularly at bends and transitions.
How long does a cleaning take?
Most single-hood restaurant cleanings take 2-4 hours. Multi-hood or large institutional kitchens may take 4-8 hours. We schedule most jobs after kitchen close (late night or early morning) to avoid disrupting service. We always provide a time estimate before booking.
Can you work after hours or overnight?
Yes — the majority of our work is done between 10 PM and 6 AM to minimize disruption to your kitchen operations. We also offer 24/7 emergency service for failed inspections and compliance orders.
What documentation do I receive after cleaning?
You receive a detailed service report with technician name, service date, grease accumulation levels found, all areas cleaned, and before/after photos. An NFPA 96 certification sticker is applied to the hood with the next recommended cleaning date. Keep the report in your inspection binder — fire marshals and health inspectors will request it.
Do you provide emergency hood cleaning?
Yes. If you have a failed fire inspection, a compliance order, or a grease fire incident that requires immediate documentation, call (800) 200-2134 any time. We maintain 24/7 emergency dispatch coverage across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Can I use your reports for my insurance?
Yes. Our detailed service reports with before/after photos and NFPA 96 certification are accepted by commercial kitchen insurance providers as proof of maintenance. Many policies require documented professional cleaning at NFPA-specified intervals — our reports satisfy that requirement.
Do you also inspect the fire suppression system?
We offer separate fire suppression system inspection and maintenance services. We recommend coordinating your hood cleaning and suppression system inspection on the same visit — it's more efficient and ensures the fire system nozzles are properly repositioned after cleaning. See our fire suppression services page for details.
Schedule Your Hood Cleaning
NFPA 96 certified — DC, Maryland & Virginia — 24/7 emergency service available.