Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Services in Muskoka
Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Services in Muskoka are the cleaning of the hidden grease duct that runs from the top of the hood to the fan on the roof. That path has three parts: a horizontal run above the ceiling, a vertical riser, and the access panels that let a technician reach each section. Power Hoods Systems opens the duct at every panel, cleans each section to bare metal, and checks it against the NFPA 96 grease depth of 0.078 inches. Any section that cannot be reached is named on the signed certificate, with the reason, so your record shows what was done and what was not.
The path a kitchen exhaust duct takes from the collar to the roof
The horizontal run. Above the ceiling tiles, the duct leaves the hood collar and travels sideways toward an outside wall or a shaft. As the air cools and slows, grease drops onto the bottom of the duct. It builds heaviest on the far side of each bend.
The riser. The duct turns upward and climbs through the building to the roof. Grease that condenses on the riser walls creeps back down and collects at the bottom of the climb, where nobody looks from the roof.
The access panels. These are bolted, gasketed doors in the duct wall. A section with no panel cannot be cleaned or measured. Where one is missing, the walk-through marks it and the quote lists it before any work is booked. The canopy, filters and plenum below the collar are on the hood cleaning services page.
Hood-only vs full-system kitchen exhaust cleaning in Muskoka
A hood-only clean and a full-system clean can both end with a certificate. They do not cover the same metal.
| What you are paying for | Hood-only vs full-system: hood-only | Full-system |
|---|---|---|
| Surfaces cleaned | Canopy, filters and plenum, up to the collar. | All of that, plus the horizontal run, every bend and the riser. |
| Access panels | Left closed. | Opened, cleaned behind, resealed. |
| Grease depth check | Below the collar only. | Along the whole path to the roof. |
| Photo report | The hood assembly. | Before and after at each panel, so the duct interior is on file. |
| Who it suits | A between-visit touch-up on a short, recently cleaned system. | Any kitchen facing an inspector, an insurer or a season of heavy cooking. |
How often the full system is due, and what the certificate does and does not assert, are on the NFPA 96 page.
Kitchen exhaust cleaning for long duct runs in older lodge and resort buildings
Older timber lodges and resort main buildings often carry the longest and least accessible duct runs in Muskoka.
Many lakeside lodges grew in stages. A kitchen added to the back of the building vents through a duct that crosses the ceiling of a dining room or a storage wing before it finds a way up. Some runs pass through wood-framed floors and attics. The longer the run, the more bends it has, and every bend is a place grease settles.
These runs are often the ones with the fewest panels, because they were boxed in when the room was finished. The walk-through traces the route from the collar, notes each bend, and marks which sections can be opened. Resort and hotel kitchens with long runs are quoted on site, because the length of duct sets the hours. The lodging segment is covered on the who we serve page, and the season plan for resorts is on the camp and resort page.
Hood vent cleaning in Muskoka: measuring 0.078 inches along the whole path
NFPA 96 sets the acceptable grease depth at 0.078 inches, and the limit applies to the duct the same way it applies to the hood.
Hood vent cleaning is often booked as if the hood were the whole system. The duct above it holds grease that the filters let through, and that grease is hotter and harder to reach once it is in there. A kitchen that passes at the canopy can still fail at the first bend.
On a full-system visit, the depth is checked where grease gathers: the first metre past the collar, on the outside curve of each bend, along the long flat stretches of the horizontal run, and at the bottom of the riser. Each point is photographed before and after cleaning. A section behind a sealed ceiling is listed as not accessible on the certificate, along with the panel it needs.
Exhaust hood filter replacement vs cleaning: how the call is made
A filter is cleaned while it still does its job and replaced once it no longer can.
Clean it when the frame is square, the blades are straight and the filter seats tight in the slot with no gaps at the ends. Staining that will not come off is cosmetic. It does not change how the filter works.
Replace it when a blade is bent or crushed, the frame is cracked or corroded, the filter no longer fills the slot, or the slot holds a mesh pad where a baffle belongs. Any of these lets grease past the filter and into the duct this page describes. Replacement filters are listed on the written quote and approved by you before the visit.
Filter types and the soak method are explained on the hood cleaning services page.
Where to find kitchen exhaust cleaning services near me in Muskoka
Muskoka Hood Cleaning traces duct runs across the District Municipality of Muskoka, plus the Town of Parry Sound and Haliburton village.
Short, simple runs are common in the restaurant cores of Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Huntsville. Longer runs show up in resorts and lodges on Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake of Bays. Institutional kitchens in schools and care homes often have runs that cross a corridor before they climb. Route and coverage detail is on the areas served page.
How much does kitchen exhaust cleaning cost in Muskoka in 2026?
Muskoka Hood Cleaning prices kitchen exhaust cleaning from $585 per visit for a single-hood kitchen up to ten feet, and from $995 per visit for a multi-hood kitchen of two to four canopies. Camp dining halls, resort and hotel kitchens, institutional kitchens and long duct runs are quoted on site after a free walk-through.
On a full-system job the duct sets the price. Run length, number of bends, riser height and the number of usable panels all move it. Panels that need to be added and filters that need replacing are separate lines. The written quote comes back within 24 hours of the walk-through.
Next step: call 705-302-3662 or request a written quote. Tell us roughly how far the kitchen is from the roof fan and whether a duct panel has ever been opened. Every service is on the commercial cleaning services page.
Kitchen exhaust cleaning in Muskoka: frequently asked questions
How do I know if my duct has ever been cleaned?
The last certificate and photo report should name the duct sections cleaned. If it names only the hood, or there are no photos from inside the duct, assume the run has not been opened.
Why does a duct need access panels?
Access panels are the only way to reach the inside of a sealed duct. Each bend and each long straight stretch needs one within reach, or that section cannot be cleaned or measured.
Is a long duct run a bigger fire risk than a short one?
A long duct run holds more grease-coated surface, more bends and usually fewer panels. That makes it harder to keep clean, which is why long runs are quoted on site.
Can I replace my own hood filters?
Yes, if the replacement is the correct type and size and seats tight in the slot. A mismatched or loose filter lets grease into the duct, so the walk-through checks the fit.
Does kitchen exhaust cleaning include the rooftop fan?
The fan is where the duct ends, and it is checked on every full-system visit. Fan repair, hinge kits and rooftop grease containment are covered on the exhaust fan page.