Typically made from aluminum or stainless steel, baffle filters – often called hood filters – function by forcing grease-saturated air to quickly and repeatedly change direction as it rises through the filter. Because the grease droplets cannot change directions as rapidly as the air carrying them, they end up condensing and sticking to the metal blades and then draining into the filter tray. This also drastically reduces the risk of spreading flames should a fire break out on the cooking surface below.
NFPA 96 states that grease removal devices need to be maintained on a more frequent basis than the rest of the system, due to the following risk factors:
Whether you choose to clean the filters yourself or hire a vent hood cleaner to do the job, this maintenance task should take place monthly, weekly or even daily depending on your cooking volume and type of facility.
Preventing an excess amount of grease build-up ultimately helps to reduce your risk of kitchen fires and prevent the need for costly repairs. Maintain a clean kitchen and promote safety by making baffle hood filter cleaning a top priority.