<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIt is out of sight.<\/strong> Owners see the hood. They do not climb onto the roof. If nobody reports a problem, nobody checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRoof access is a hassle.<\/strong> Many roofs require a ladder, a hatch, or a landlord’s permission. Some cleaners avoid the work because it takes longer and carries more risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLow prices leave it out.<\/strong> A cheap quote often covers the hood and filters only. The fan, the duct and the roof are quietly left out, and the price looks better than a full service.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFans are not built for cleaning.<\/strong> Older fans have no hinge kit. They must be unbolted or tipped by hand, which is slow, heavy and awkward. Some cleaners skip it rather than do it properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOwners do not ask.<\/strong> Few restaurant owners think to ask, “Did you clean the fan?” Cleaners that cut corners count on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLandlords and tenants point at each other.<\/strong> In leased buildings, nobody is sure who handles roof access, roof damage or fan repair. The job slips between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>What happens when the fan is not cleaned<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Fire risk<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGrease builds up in the fan housing, on the blades and in the exhaust path. A flare-up at the grill or the wok can carry heat up the duct and ignite that buildup. A fire at the fan can spread to the roof and the building, and it is one of the hardest places to fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Weak ventilation<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGrease on the blades throws off the balance and slows the fan. Your kitchen gets hotter and smokier, and your staff feel it before anyone traces it to the roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Roof damage<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen the fan overflows, grease runs onto the roof. It stains the surface and can break down the roofing membrane. Roof repairs are expensive, and the landlord can bill the tenant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Failed inspections<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGrease staining on the roof around the fan is easy for an inspector to see. If the fan is not clean and accessible, that is a compliance problem you can avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Insurance problems<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAn insurer can dispute a claim if the exhaust was not maintained to the required standard. If a fire starts or spreads from the fan and your records show no roof cleaning, that gap will matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Warning signs your rooftop fan needs cleaning<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Grease stains or dark streaks on the roof around the fan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grease dripping from the fan housing or its base<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- An overflowing or full grease containment cup<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A fan that is louder, shakier or slower than it used to be<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Smoke or heat lingering in the kitchen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A burnt or rancid smell near the fan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- No record of anyone cleaning the roof in your service reports<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
If you see two or more, book a cleaning this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>What proper rooftop fan cleaning includes<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nA full service should cover the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n