Reasons Why Access Panels Are Important in Kitchens
Posted by Access Doors and Panels on 5th Jan 2022
If you are wondering, "why is the kitchen the most important room in a home or a business?". It is where the magic of combining various ingredients to create delicious and filling food happens. However, some components and parts of the kitchen can also be hazardous. Different flammable materials like oils, fats, and other build-ups can cause considerable fire damage if left unattended.
The Dangers in the Kitchen
Depending on the frequency of usage and the type of cooking done, kitchen exhaust systems require frequent cleaning to remove oil, dirt, and other wastes. Grease is a fire hazard, and because cooking occurs directly beneath the exhaust systems, cooktop fires are very easy to spread to grease-clogged ducts. Access panels like duct access doors and panels enable entry to all regions of the ducting for thorough cleaning.
Why Do You Need Access Panels?
Cleaning your kitchen hood is vital for various reasons, including safety, removing foul odors, and ensuring that your hood functions correctly to eliminate smoke, ventilate air, and decrease heat accumulation. Dust and grease can obstruct airflow and ruin exhaust fan blades.
Here are other reasons why you should install access panels in your kitchen:
1. Enable Thorough Cleaning and Inspection
According to the National Fire Protection Association, commercial kitchen hoods need to undergo regular cleaning. There are time constraints for inspection and cleaning, based on your location. However, if grease is visible or leaking on the floor, grill, or stove, the standards indicate that the system needs cleaning.
Grease can also cause bearings, drive belts, and fan motors to become more overworked. Replacing or replacing a broken kitchen hood may be costly. Still, routine cleaning and maintenance can avoid these costs, prolong the equipment's life, and reduce the danger of fires and other safety hazards.
2. Improve Safety
When utilized appropriately, duct access panels may be highly advantageous; yet, they can be a severe threat when they aren't. One can find access panels in the walls and ceilings, and they may flex because they move with the room and the structure. When a duct panel curves or bends, it might be difficult to reach; nevertheless, it does not mean there is no means of doing it.
Fortunately, one may utilize duct access panels to access these areas. These are a few examples of the benefits of duct access panels when installing them, especially in an area that needs ventilation to rid hazardous particulates.
3. Eliminate the Need for More Cleaning Chemicals
Hood cleaning chemicals will clean the grease in fans, filters, blades, grills, ducts, equipment, and floors, notably in commercial kitchens. Oil, chemicals, and water from commercial hood cleaning must follow a collection process and must not enter the city's storm drains, where they might harm the water supply. Local governments may impose further restrictions on cleaning products that cleaning services can utilize.
Selecting the Product Fit for You
Choosing the correct product that will complement your needs is a tedious task. The contractor must integrate them into the current ventilation system, so you need to consult with them first. It will save you money and time; but, beginning from scratch may be the only alternative if the duct system is challenging to resolve. Choosing ductwork entails inspecting the present scenario and ensuring that you utilize comparable, if not identical, materials.
Takeaway
On kitchen exhaust systems, access panels or cleanouts are available for various purposes. Better cleaning, more detailed inspections, and speedier repairs are all possible through the access it provides. However, without the insights of a credible licensed professional, the project might be at risk.
It's critical to locate a cleaning contractor in your location or relatively near familiar with local and national requirements. Only consider someone reputable if you need to consult.
Access Doors and Panels have an excellent array of high-quality products from trusted manufacturers. You can certainly select the correct product type for your project by calling 1-800-609-2917. Our excellent customer service representatives can help you with your purchase or additional inquiries.