Water After Hood Cleaning: What’s Normal and When to Call Your Vendor

You come into your commercial kitchen the morning after a hood cleaning and find water on the floor, in the ductwork, or on the roof. How much of that is normal, and when should you call your hood cleaning company back?

Some residual water can be expected after a commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning. Standing water, uncontrolled wastewater, or water pooling inside the ductwork can point to a larger issue.

Here’s what to look for and what to do next.

Is Water Normal After Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning?

Yes, some residual water can be normal after a commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning.

Technicians may use tens or even hundreds of gallons of water during the cleaning process to remove grease, degreasers, and debris from the hood, ductwork, and rooftop exhaust fan.

A few drips from the hood after service may simply be residual water continuing to drain. Some water on the roof may also be expected.

The bigger question is where the water is collecting and what was left behind.

What Does Water on the Kitchen Floor Mean After Hood Cleaning?

A small amount of residual water may happen, but your kitchen should not be left with significant standing water or a mess for your team to clean up.

Your hood cleaning company should leave the facility in the same or better condition than they found it.

If you come in after service and find excessive water on the floor, contact the vendor that performed the cleaning and let them know what you found.

Is Water on the Roof Normal After Hood Cleaning?

Some residual water on the roof can be normal. Greasy wastewater or uncontrolled runoff is a different issue.

After cleaning, the area around the rooftop exhaust fan should be relatively free of grease. Your vendor should also have a process for containing wastewater and preventing grease, cleaning chemicals, and contaminated water from traveling across the roof, into a parking lot, or into other areas of the property.

If you find greasy residue or wastewater where it should not be, bring it to your vendor’s attention.

Should There Be Water Inside Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Ductwork?

Water should not be pooling inside commercial kitchen exhaust ductwork.

Ductwork should be installed so liquids drain toward the kitchen hood. If water is collecting inside the duct, there may be a problem with the pitch or construction of the system.

That matters because a low point that collects water can also collect grease.

Grease buildup inside commercial kitchen exhaust ductwork can create a significant fire hazard. Your hood cleaning company may not be responsible for repairing the ductwork itself, but a qualified vendor should identify the deficiency, document it, and communicate it to you.

What Should You Do If You Find Water After Hood Cleaning?

1. Contact Your Hood Cleaning Company

Start with the company that performed the service.

Tell them what you found and where you found it. Finding water does not automatically mean they did a poor job, but it does mean there is something that should be reviewed.

Give your vendor an opportunity to inspect the issue and correct anything related to the cleaning.

2. Check the Rest of the Commercial Kitchen Exhaust System

If you find one problem, take a look at the rest of the system.

Check for:

• Standing water on the kitchen floor
• Water pooling inside the ductwork
• Grease or wastewater remaining on the roof
• Wastewater that traveled into the parking lot or surrounding property
• Areas of the hood, ductwork, or exhaust fan that appear to have been missed
• Damage or system deficiencies that may need attention

One issue can sometimes be an indication that there are other concerns worth checking.

3. Request the Completion Report

Ask your vendor for the completion report from the cleaning.

The report should document what work was completed and identify deficiencies or concerns discovered during service.

If something does not look right, the completion report can also help clarify whether the issue is related to the cleaning or to the condition of the kitchen exhaust system itself.

4. Give Your Vendor the Chance to Make It Right

A professional hood cleaning company should be willing to come back, inspect the issue, and address anything that was not left as it should have been.

The goal is not just to clean grease from the system. Your facility should be left in good condition, and concerns that could affect the performance or fire safety of the commercial kitchen exhaust system should be identified and communicated.

What If Your Hood Cleaning Company Does Not Respond?

If you are not getting a response, cannot get clear answers, or still have concerns about the condition of your system, it may be time for a second inspection.

Another qualified commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning company can help determine whether the issue came from the cleaning itself, a deficiency in the exhaust system, or another maintenance concern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal to have water after hood cleaning?

Yes. Some residual water can be normal after commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning because a significant amount of water is used during the rinsing process. Large amounts of standing water or water collecting where it should not be should be evaluated.

Why is my kitchen hood dripping after it was cleaned?

A kitchen hood may drip after cleaning because residual rinse water is still draining from the system. A small amount of dripping shortly after service can be normal.

Should there be water inside kitchen exhaust ductwork?

Water should not be pooling inside the ductwork. Standing water may indicate an issue with the pitch or construction of the duct that could also allow grease to collect.

Is water on the roof normal after hood cleaning?

Some residual water can be normal. Greasy wastewater, significant grease residue, or uncontrolled runoff should be reported to your hood cleaning company.

What should I do if my hood cleaning company leaves water or a mess?

Contact the vendor, explain what you found, request the completion report, and give them an opportunity to inspect and correct the issue.

When should I get a second kitchen exhaust inspection?

Consider a second inspection if your vendor is unresponsive, cannot adequately explain or correct the issue, or you have concerns about the condition of your commercial kitchen exhaust system after cleaning.

Need a Second Look at Your Commercial Kitchen Exhaust System?

If you find one problem after a hood cleaning, it is worth making sure there are not others.

Bare Metal Standard can inspect your commercial kitchen exhaust system, help identify potential cleaning or system deficiencies, and give you a clearer picture of what your system needs.

Request a free inspection and price quote from Bare Metal Standard.