Grease Duct Cleaning in Huntsville, AL
Complete interior duct cleaning for commercial kitchen exhaust systems in Huntsville and Madison County. We clean from hood collar to rooftop fan, with access panel installation for full coverage.
NFPA 96 requires that the entire exhaust duct interior be cleaned, not just the visible hood surfaces. Grease accumulates on duct walls, especially at horizontal runs and elbows, and is the primary path for a duct fire to spread.
Call (256) 488-3578What Grease Duct Cleaning Includes
Duct Interior Degreasing
High-pressure hot water and chemical degreasers applied to all interior duct surfaces from the hood collar to the fan. Grease is scraped and flushed from walls, particularly at horizontal runs and elbows where accumulation is highest.
Access Panel Installation
Panels installed at required NFPA 96 intervals (typically every 12 feet on horizontal runs and at every change of direction) so every section can be reached and cleaned at each service.
Full-Length Coverage
Service extends from the hood collar, through all horizontal and vertical duct runs, to the fan inlet. No section is skipped.
Documentation
Written report documenting all duct sections cleaned, access panels installed or found, and grease levels before and after service. Required for fire marshal compliance.
Why Duct Cleaning Is Required Separately Under NFPA 96
NFPA 96 Section 12.6 specifically requires that the complete exhaust system be cleaned, which includes the duct interior. A hood-only cleaning does not satisfy the standard. An inspector checking a system where only the hood was cleaned but the duct has visible grease accumulation will issue a violation even if the hood surface looks clean.
Most grease fires in commercial kitchens do not start at the hood. They start inside the duct, often triggered by a cooking flare-up that throws a flame into the hood, igniting grease on the duct walls. The fire then travels upward through the duct to the rooftop.
Why does the duct need to be cleaned separately from the hood?
Grease migrates past the filters and accumulates on the duct walls, especially at elbows and horizontal runs. NFPA 96 requires cleaning of the complete exhaust system, including duct interiors, not just the visible hood surfaces. A hood that looks clean can still have dangerous grease levels inside the duct.
How do you access the inside of the duct to clean it?
We use extension tools and high-pressure hot water to reach duct interiors from the hood collar and fan end. For long or complex duct runs, we install hinged access panels at standard intervals so every section can be reached and the panel can be re-opened at the next service.
What are access panels and does my duct need them?
Access panels are inspectable openings cut into the duct and fitted with hinged, gasketed covers. NFPA 96 requires access panels at specified intervals so that every section of duct can be inspected and cleaned. If your duct does not have panels, it cannot be fully serviced and a fire marshal inspection may flag the system as non-compliant.
How often should grease ducts be cleaned in Huntsville?
The same schedule as the hood: monthly for solid-fuel operations, quarterly for high-volume or 24-hour kitchens, semi-annually for most restaurants, and annually for low-volume operations. Duct cleaning is included in every complete service visit.