The Pizza Dude: Getting the grease out

The flames of passion might be what drive us to heat up
our sales every day, but a fire in the kitchen can destroy our
livelihood.
I got the call the other day from the guy who takes care of those
avoidable fires in my shop, and just like my dentist he says “Hey,
Pizza Dude, it’s time for your cleaning.”

The flames of passion might be what drive us to heat up our sales every day, but a fire in the kitchen can destroy our livelihood.
I got the call the other day from the guy who takes care of those avoidable fires in my shop, and just like my dentist he says “Hey, Pizza Dude, it’s time for your cleaning.”

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, your hood fan should be cleaned at least twice a year, but some of us know that in a busy kitchen that’s just not enough.

Now in my kitchen, I rely on John Paul Genovesi (a.k.a. JP), owner and operator of Sundance Pressure Cleaning Solutions, to make sure all that metal shines bright. So when he showed up, I asked him about what the IBC recommends, and he says that most fires will start in the duct system because they are not cleaned properly – something all of us pizzaiolos can avoid with proper maintenance.

That’s why when it’s done professionally they will take care of it all – not just what you can see on the surface. They will clean everything from the filters to the hood, the ducts and up to the fan and motor, usually located on the roof. A professional will make sure that all fans are running properly and the motor is cleaned and running the way it should.

I know what you’re thinking: “Hey, Pizza Dude, I clean the hood fan myself, and never had a problem.”

That might be, but who are you going to blame if something does occur. And not to mention, are you really cleaning it properly? There are areas you can’t clean unless you have the proper equipment and cleaning solution.

Just like you wouldn’t want someone who doesn’t know anything about making pizza working your Friday night shift, it pays to get a professional in to do the job right. And not just so the health inspections will go smoothly, but also so you’ll sleep soundly knowing you’ve taken care of a potential fire hazard.

This type of cleaning will ensure that your kitchen will have proper exhaust and ventilation and also help prevent fires from starting. Cleanliness is everything in a kitchen and the last thing you want is to have grease droppings on your customers’ food. Grease accumulation is not good for business; therefore, spending the money on getting your hood fan cleaned professionally is a very sanitary thing to do.

Soon enough, hood cleaning will not only be inspected by the fire marshal and health department, but also by our insurance companies. You can bet they will pay particular attention to the hood system. If it is not up to their standards, you just might have a hard time trying to get insurance.

Remember you paid good money for the equipment in your kitchen, spend the extra money and take care of it the way it should be taken care of.

A professional like John Paul will make sure that all is taken care of because not only will he clean your hood fan, but also the surrounding area, and if need be, the equipment.

A clean kitchen is healthy and profitable kitchen. I’m the Pizza Dude.•