Tag: Exhaust system

How To Do Dryer Vent Cleaning Like A Professional

September 14, 2013 Leave a comment Jeff Klein Cleaning

dryer-vent-cleaningThe Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that dryers were accountable for 15,000 fires alone. This fire happens because of the lint and debris buildup in the dryer vents. If it is longer than the usual when drying your clothes or if it has not been done in a while, then it may be time to clean your dryer vent.

Equipment

Depending on where your dryer is and how much duct work you have will determine just what equipment you need. If your dryer vent is less than five feet to the outside, a shop vacuum and a household lint brush will be all you need. If you have dryer duct work that is larger than five feet or maybe runs inside a wall, you will need to buy a dryer vent brush along with a handle. These brushes are specially built to go through dryer duct work and are flexible enough to move around bends. You may also want to shop electrical fish tape. This is what the electricians use to run wire inside of walls.

The Dryer

You must disconnect the dryer from the wall outlet. Then pull the dryer away from the wall so that you can easily work behind it. Take off the accordion-like duct work from the dryer by using a screwdriver. After it is removed, you must run a lint brush through the dryer vent opening on the dryer.

Also your dryer has a lint trap either in the door or inserted through the top. You must take it off and clean the lint trap. You must run lint brush in the opening as well to eliminate lint that has made its way past the lint trap.

Dryer Duct Work

If you have duct work that runs a few feet in a wall, you will need to make use of a particular dryer vent brush. With the duct work discharged from the dryer, you must make sure that the other end is detached from the exhaust vent. From the exhaust vent side, you must inset the electrical fish tape and feed it through the duct work until it comes through the other side. Then link the fish tape to the end of the dryer vent brush and gently pull it back through the duct work.

With duct work that is only a couple of feet long and fully reachable, you can cut off it from the exhaust vent and clean it with a common lint brush.

Dryer Vent

The dryer vent that connects to the outside will need to be cleaned too.  With the duct detached, you must rub a lint brush through the vent opening through the wall. After you have performed this, go outside and discharge the pushed out lint away from the outside vent.

Finish

Once you have completed all the cleaning, you must reattach the work to the dryer exhaust vent in the wall. Then, reconnect the duct work back onto the dryer itself. Push the dryer back into place and plug it back in.

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Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning in Hotels

July 29, 2013 Leave a comment Jeff Klein Cleaning
Applying chemicals to a kitchen exhaust system...
Applying chemicals to a kitchen exhaust system using a foamer.

Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning

Kitchen exhaust cleaning is a necessary part of ongoing maintenance to prevent fires from occurring within the hotel. In most cases this cleaning is provided on a quarterly basis although in some cases where wood or charcoal is used as a heat source the NFPA requirement is monthly. The National Fire Protection Association is a body that studies fires and puts forth best management practices prevent fires and save lives.

 

It is typically the standard that is followed by those authorities having jurisdiction when it comes to fire prevention in not only hotels but in almost all aspects of industry.

Kitchen exhaust cleaning in hotels encompasses the removal of grease, soot, creosote, and other fire hazards from within the ducts that carry exhaust from the stoves, broilers, fryers and grills used in commercial kitchens. These systems encompass filters, a hood to hold these filters, a plenum above the hood in larger systems, duct work, and a fan.

All these areas need to be cleaned down to bare metal to comply with the NFPA requirements for proper kitchen exhaust cleaning. In New York City the Fire Department of New York provides a special certificate of fitness for those that clean kitchen exhaust systems. This certificate of fitness shows that the person cleaning the system has the proper knowledge, as well as insurance provide the job in a correct manner.

The FDNY has special requirements due to the risks of grease fires in commercial kitchen exhaust systems including hotel kitchen exhaust systems and the special firefighting procedures it takes to combat these fires. For example with systems that are three stories or under in height they require that the vertical runs be cleaned every visit. For systems that are three stories or over the requirement becomes twice per year. In addition they have several areas that are mandatory and we as commercial kitchen cleaning companies must report defects directly to the fire department essentially “telling” on our customers.

Some of these mandatory requirements are things like access panels being present and labeled every 10 feet as well as every change in direction, the reporting of any areas that cannot be properly cleaned, the prohibition of any electrical wires within the hoods ducts or fan area, the reporting of any visible grease leaks as well as a few others. Systematic has no issues with these mandatory requirements because they promote the safety and integrity of the system. But based on years of experience in the business it is rare to find accessible areas in all systems and in many cases trying to get a business owner to correct that situation is sometimes a strenuous process.

In addition while cleaning hotel kitchen exhaust systems is important that the system is left not only clean but fully operational as well as aesthetically pleasing. So in addition to the interior cleaning we also provide a clean and polish the exterior to add to the beauty of the kitchen. It is unfortunate that many companies concentrate on this alone and do not actually clean the system to required codes. This is typically the case where a company under bits the job and due to time constraints cannot efficiently or effectively clean the areas that are critical. It is important that you as a manager or owner check the interior of your system to ensure that the proper job is being done.

With Systematic Cleaning we provide not only a good job but one that is verified with pictures from before and after. In addition we are happy to open up access panels for you to visually inspect the interior areas of your system. This way you can remain confident that your system is being cleaned properly and that your system remains operationally safe to minimize the risk of fire.

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