Size up your commercial kitchen equipment

There are many different kinds of commercial ventilation hoods and exhaust fans available. Kitchen ventilation equipment comes in both standard and custom sizes, depending on your layout.

I recommend: Greenheck can help you plan and equip your commercial kitchen with their kitchen ventilation application and design guide. You can also contact Ventilation Direct, a leading manufacturer of stainless steel hoods. They carry both canopy and island mounted hoods, ideal for commercial kitchens.   

Make safety the No. 1 priority

Two critical elements of commercial kitchen ventilation equipment are fire extinguishing and grease extraction. With any cooking equipment, there is a chance of accident or fire. However, restaurant kitchens, because they are operating all day and night, need to be extra cautious where safety is concerned. Grease buildup, a common problem of many restaurant kitchens, presents a potential fire hazard.

I recommend: APS Hoods offers both installation and fire safety checks for commercial kitchens. They also work with your HVAC system, installing, repairing and servicing every type of rooftop unit. Safety First Services offers hood cleaning to remove dangerous buildup of grease and other debris. Along with cleaning restaurant ventilation systems, Safety First Services also does general commercial kitchen maintenance.

Used professional kitchen equipment is a tight budget's best friend

One of the best ways to save money when outfitting your commercial kitchen is to buy used equipment. You can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars by purchasing "gently used" commercial equipment. Whole distributors are another place to look for steeply discounted prices on commercial ventilation

I recommend: Jean's Restaurant Supply offers both new and used kitchen ventilation systems. ACityDiscount.com offers a large number of used and new kitchen ventilation equipment at wholesale prices. 

Soup to nuts (and bolts): Installing commercial ventilation hoods

Many companies that make commercial kitchen hoods also offer installation. Unless you have experience installing ventilation systems, it is best to leave it to a professional. If the manufacturer does not provide installation, you should contact a fire safety company or a heating company, both of which should have staff trained in the proper installation of commercial kitchen hoods.

I recommend: Ventilation Technology is an expert in installation of commercial ventilation hoods. BPA is another vendor of commercial restaurant hoods who also specializes in installation. They can walk you through setting up your kitchen and suggest which ventilation systems are right for you.