Frequently Asked Questions About Hood & Exhaust Cleaning

Under NFPA 96, cleaning frequency depends on cooking volume and type. As a general guideline: high-volume cooking (charbroiling, wok cooking) is typically cleaned every 1–3 months, moderate-volume kitchens every 3–6 months, low-volume kitchens (churches, seasonal operations) at least annually, and solid-fuel cooking systems monthly. Your fire marshal or insurance carrier may set a specific schedule for your location.

NFPA 96 is the National Fire Protection Association's standard for ventilation control and fire protection of commercial cooking operations. It covers the design, installation, and cleaning of kitchen exhaust systems — hoods, grease filters, ductwork, and exhaust fans — and is the standard most Missouri fire departments and insurers reference for kitchen fire safety compliance.

Missouri does not have a statewide licensing mandate specific to hood cleaning technicians. What typically matters to your local fire marshal, health inspector, or insurance company is that your exhaust system is cleaned to NFPA 96 standards and that you can provide documentation — photos and a service report — showing when it was done. Ozark Commercial Cleaning cleans every system to that standard and provides that documentation on every job.

A full cleaning covers the entire exhaust path: the hood canopy and interior surfaces, grease filters (removed and degreased or replaced), accessible duct sections per NFPA 96 access points, and the rooftop exhaust fan housing, blades, and hinge kit. You receive before/after photos and a written service report when the job is complete. See our full services breakdown for details on each step.

Hood cleaning covers the visible canopy, interior surfaces, and grease trough above your cookline. Duct cleaning goes further, removing grease from the horizontal and vertical ductwork that carries air from the hood up to the rooftop fan. Grease can build up in ducts even when the hood looks clean, so NFPA 96 calls for both to be addressed as part of a complete cleaning.

Cost depends on your hood size, number of appliances, duct configuration, and how long it's been since the last cleaning. Because every kitchen setup is different, we provide a free, no-obligation quote after a quick conversation about your system. Request a free quote or call (573) 733-0031.

Most single-hood restaurant systems can be cleaned in a few hours. Larger kitchens, multiple hood systems, or exhaust systems that haven't been cleaned in a long time may take longer. We'll give you a time estimate when we quote your job.

Grease buildup inside a kitchen exhaust system is one of the leading causes of commercial kitchen fires, since grease is highly flammable and accumulates in hard-to-see areas like ductwork and rooftop fans. Buildup can also lead to failed fire marshal or health inspections, insurance issues, and reduced exhaust fan performance, which affects kitchen airflow and comfort.

Yes. Every cleaning includes dated before/after photos and a written service report describing the work performed. This documentation is designed to be ready to show a fire marshal, health inspector, or insurance carrier if you're ever asked to prove your exhaust system is being maintained.

Yes. We regularly schedule cleanings early in the morning, late at night, or between shifts so the work doesn't interfere with your service hours. Let us know your preferred timing when you request a quote.

Yes. In addition to restaurants, we clean kitchen exhaust systems for schools, churches, cafeterias, nursing homes, and other commercial kitchens with Type I grease exhaust hoods throughout Poplar Bluff and SE Missouri.

We're based in Poplar Bluff, MO and serve Butler County and surrounding SE Missouri communities within roughly a 45–60 minute drive, including Dexter, Qulin, Neelyville, Van Buren, Doniphan, Piedmont, and nearby towns. For larger jobs we also travel further out to Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Malden, Kennett, Farmington, and Fredericktown, MO, as well as Paragould and Jonesboro, AR — and can arrange trips toward the greater St. Louis area on request. See our full service area page for a complete list.

Common signs include visible grease on the hood surface or filters, grease dripping or pooling in the trough, a burning or smoky smell during cooking, reduced exhaust airflow, or it simply being longer than your normal cleaning interval. If you're not sure, we're happy to take a look and let you know honestly whether it's due.

Call (573) 733-0031 or fill out the quote request form with your business name, location, and a bit about your kitchen. We typically respond the same business day to schedule a cleaning or provide a quote.