Kitchen exhaust fan eliminates different kind of smell from the air while you are cooking by drawing them out of the room. Over time, this oil and debris collects in the filter, lowering the efficiency of your fan gradually and significantly.
Leaving a clogged grease filter unattended for an extended period of time might result in a serious fire danger. Thanks to modern technology, cleaning your kitchen exhaust fan is a quick and simple process that can be completed with common household products.
Exhaust fans in the kitchen: what are they and how do they work?
The exhaust fans in commercial kitchens, work relentlessly to remove contaminants and humidity out from air in a home kitchen environment.These fans are positioned immediately over stovetops and other cooking surfaces to provide additional ventilation.
They are made up of two parts: a hood (also known as a canopy) and a fan (or ventilator).The hood’s primary function is to capture polluted, moist air. The fan which is in kitchen extracts this air and sends it out from the kitchen and the window while you are cocking.
This operation removes the following in a kitchen where cooking is constant:
- Steam is produced by boiling water and simmering food.
- Cooking aromas, smoke, grease particles, pollutant vapors, and other toxic byproducts are all potential hazards.
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How to Clean Kitchen Exhaust Fan Grease?
Cleaning a kitchen exhaust fan isn’t impossible, despite how difficult it appears at first sight. It takes less time and you have to follow some steps:
1. Remove the grease filter from the machine
First, make certain that the exhaust fan is not hooked in. Using this method, you will be protected in the event that an electric surge happens while you are contacting the fan or removing or changing the filter.
With gloves on, gently remove the grease filter once everything has been unplugged from the power and water. The rectangular metal mesh component beneath the fan is seen in this illustration. Carefully remove the filter from its mounting bracket by unhooking any levers or tabs that are holding it in place. If it’s stubbornly refusing to come off, try sliding a butter knife over the edges.
2. Transfer it to a huge pan
Using a big pan or container, carefully place the grease filter after it has been removed. Before inserting the filter in the container, make sure that it is wide enough even to completely cover the filter on all edges of the container.Let’s take an example, a plastic pan may be a suitable for your needs and budget. Warning: once you start cleaning the filter, the pan or container will get quite dirty! Be prepared!
3. Construct a cleaning solution.
As soon as you have put the grease filter in a big pan or container, you can begin preparing the cleaning solution for the kitchen exhaust system.
Baking soda and dish soap should be combined in a large saucepan of water to form the cleaning solution before you use it. These two chemicals are amazing since they are capable of dissolving grease. You won’t have to worry about inhaling poisonous fumes when cleaning the filter because they are considered non-toxic when combined together.
4. Take the filter out.
Now, clean the filter once and for all! 1 cup filled withscrubbing solution should be poured into pan housing the filter, approximately. Continue to fill the filter with one cup at a time of the kitchen exhaust cleaning solution until it is entirely submerged in the solution.
Allowing the cleaning solution to sit for 15-30 minutes will allow it to dissolve as much oil and grime as possible, maximizing its effectiveness. Using a sponge or bristle brush, carefully scrape the filter to remove any remaining residue.
The grease should easily come off with a little effort. It should be left in the cleaning solution for an extended amount of time if not.After properly cleaning the filter, run it under hot water to remove any remaining grease residue and cleaning solution from the filter.
5. Allow for the drying of the air filter
Using a towel, wrap up and allow the filter to air dry completely once it has been thoroughly cleaned and rinsed (approximately 2 hours). It is vital that all moisture be removed from the filter prior to reinstalling it for safety reasons.
Any moisture that persists after the filter has been repaired has the potential to cause electrical difficulties in the system.
6. Cleaning the exhaust fan
Meanwhile, you may wash the exhaust fan itself while the filter is going to dry. To do so, use a moist sponge or cloth to gently remove oil streaks from the surface. Direct application of chemicals is not recommended.
Excessive moisture may cause electrical faults in the internal components of your exhaust fan, shortening its service life.Remove any leftover oil, paying particular attention to the fan blades.
It is possible that any residual grease will result in a quicker accumulation in the future, prompting the need for more regular cleaning.
7. Replacing the filter with new filter
Following a thorough cleansing of the greased filter and the kitchen exhaust fan, it is recommended that the filter be changed.Simply reinstall it in the same manner in which it was removed, making care to rehook the latches and secure it properly the second time around. After that, the machine may be plugged back in and operated as normal again.
