Frequently asked questions
Common questions for Kan Do Services, answered straight.
Common questions, honest answers.
How often does my restaurant hood need to be cleaned?
NFPA 96 sets the frequency based on your cooking volume and type. Monthly for high-volume operations — 24-hour kitchens, charbroilers, wok cooking, solid fuel. Quarterly for moderate volume — standard restaurants doing lunch and dinner. Semi-annually for low-volume operations like churches, senior centers, day camps. Kan Do Services assesses your kitchen during the first visit and recommends the right interval. If you're not sure, we can measure grease depth in the duct and adjust from there.
What is NFPA 96 and why does it matter?
NFPA 96 is the National Fire Protection Association standard for commercial cooking operations. It's the fire code that governs exhaust system design, installation, and maintenance. Fire marshals and health inspectors use it as the compliance benchmark. Your insurance carrier references it in your policy — if you're not in compliance and there's a fire, they can deny the claim. It's not optional.
Do you provide documentation after the cleaning?
Yes. Every service includes before and after photos, a written service report with the date and scope of work, and a compliance sticker for the hood. That's what you show the fire marshal, the health inspector, and your insurance company. We email you a PDF of the report within 24 hours, and we keep a copy on file in case you need it later.
How long does a hood cleaning take?
Most standard single-hood systems take 2 to 4 hours. Larger kitchens with multiple hoods, long duct runs, or heavy grease buildup take longer — sometimes 6 hours or more. We work with the restaurant's schedule so you don't have down time in your kitchen. If it's your first cleaning in a long time, expect it to take longer.
Can you clean the hood while we're open?
No. The exhaust system has to be off, and we're using pressure washers and degreasers that create overspray and fumes. We need the kitchen closed. Most customers schedule us after close or on a day they're not open. If you're 24-hour, we work around your slowest period, but you'll need to shut down the cooking line for a few hours.
What if my system doesn't have access panels in the ductwork?
That's common in older installations. NFPA 96 requires access panels so the entire duct can be cleaned and inspected. If yours doesn't have them, we note it in the report and provide a quote to install them. Without panels, we can only clean what we can reach from the hood opening and the rooftop fan. That's not full compliance, and a fire marshal can flag it.
Do you work across central and northeast South Dakota?
Yes. Kan Do Services serves central and northeast South Dakota. Travel time is included in the service rate for most locations, and we travel up to 150-200 miles. If you're farther out, there may be a travel charge — we'll let you know when you call for a quote.
What happens if the fire marshal red-tags my hood?
A red tag means the system is a fire hazard and you can't operate until it's cleaned and re-inspected. Call Kendall & Nicole at (903) 571-6744 as soon as you get the tag. We offer emergency service and can usually get to you within 24 hours. We clean the system, provide documentation, and the fire marshal comes back to verify compliance and lift the tag. The sooner you call, the sooner you're back in business.
Can you clean the grease buildup on my roof around the exhaust fan?
Yes. That's part of rooftop grease containment service. Grease that makes it through the fan gets blown onto the roof and builds up over time. We clean the fan exterior and the area around the fan base. If you're required to have a grease containment pan or filter and you don't, we can install one.
Do I need to be there during the cleaning?
Not necessarily. As long as we have access to the kitchen and the roof, we can work without you on-site. Most customers give us a key or leave a door unlocked and let us lock up when we're done. We'll call or text when we arrive and when we finish. If it's your first time using Kan Do Services, some customers prefer to be there for the walk-through.
What's included in a filter exchange program?
We come weekly or bi-weekly, pull your dirty filters, and leave you a set of clean ones. We take the dirty filters back to our facility, degrease them, and rotate them back in on the next visit. You always have clean filters without managing the cleaning yourself. It's a flat monthly rate based on the number of filters and the frequency. This doesn't replace your exhaust system cleaning — you still need that on the NFPA 96 schedule.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Kan Do Services carries general liability and workers' comp insurance, and we're happy to provide a certificate of insurance to your landlord or insurance carrier if they require it. We're NFPA 96 certified, which means our crews are trained on the standard and the cleaning procedures.