Keeping your kitchen's ventilation system clean is essential for the safety and longevity of your kitchen. Grease build-up in the system can lead to fires, which can cause devastating damage to your kitchen and entire building. Cleaning your restaurant kitchen hoods regularly can help prevent disasters and keep everyone safe. In addition to fire prevention, there are other advantages to cleaning your ventilation system. Air ducts can contain harmful microorganisms, which can cause health issues for those with weakened immune systems or allergies.
Regular cleaning of the air ducts will help prevent allergens from circulating throughout the house, creating a healthier living environment. Cleaner air also makes it easier to breathe, reducing sick time, medical bills, and levels of discomfort. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except when necessary, due to continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances. However, if done correctly, duct cleaning can be useful in limited situations. Duct and air conditioning system cleaning by a person trained and certified by the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) is more likely to be done safely. Cleaning ducts helps remove contaminants and dead creatures and discourages insects from nesting, as they are less likely to find hiding places in clean ducts.
While the debate over the value of regular duct cleaning continues, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful, provided it is done correctly. Duct cleaning is not considered a necessary part of the annual maintenance of your heating and cooling system. However, unlike dryer duct cleaning, which must be checked and cleaned regularly, no objective, independent organization recommends cleaning air conditioning ducts as an essential part of routine air conditioning system maintenance.