What Exhaust Fan Cleaning Covers
- Fan blade degreasing — both forward-curved and backward-inclined blade configurations
- Fan housing interior and exterior surface cleaning
- Grease reservoir inspection and emptying
- Belt and bearing visual check
- Airflow verification after cleaning is complete
- Documentation of fan condition with photos
Fan cleaning is always paired with a full system service. See what our restaurant hood cleaning includes for the canopy and ductwork.
Why Fan Cleaning Gets Left Out
Many hood cleaning companies stop at the hood canopy and ductwork and never address the rooftop fan. Some include a quick wipe of the fan housing but skip the blades and grease reservoir. The problem is that grease accumulates on fan blades with every run. Over time that buildup reduces airflow enough that the hood can no longer capture cooking vapor effectively — smoke and grease start escaping into the kitchen space. Overflow grease also drips onto the roof membrane, where it causes premature degradation and creates a fire hazard directly above the building.
Clean filters reduce the grease load reaching the fan. Read about our filter exchange service as part of a complete maintenance program.
Signs Your Fan Needs Cleaning
- Visible grease stains or pooling on the roof around the fan base
- Smoke escaping from the hood perimeter during cooking
- Unusual noise or vibration from the rooftop fan motor
- Grease or cooking odors in spaces adjacent to the kitchen
- Health inspector notation of ventilation deficiency
Cleaning Interval and NFPA 96 Scope
NFPA 96 does not treat the exhaust fan as a separate item — it is part of the required exhaust system cleaning. The fan should be cleaned on the same schedule as your hood and ductwork. Asking a hood cleaning company whether fan cleaning is included in their quoted service is worth doing before booking, because many companies quote hood-only pricing and add fan cleaning as an extra.
What Affects the Cost
Fan cleaning cost depends on the number of fans on the system, fan size and blade count, grease accumulation level, and rooftop access conditions. Fans that have not been cleaned in over a year typically require more time. We quote a flat rate per fan after a quick assessment of system size.