Sources read 2026-11-13; checked again 2026-11-14: Markel’s NFPA 96 summary · VentWash’s published visit range. Markel labels the four tiers as inspection intervals and cites NFPA 96 (2017). The price range is not a quote.
The cleaning company bills the visit. A published range of about $400 to $1,500 is not your quote and is not our fee.
The paid file is a tailored question list for your conversation with a cleaning company. It records the tier and next date you choose. It is not a government form, a cleaning certificate, or an inspection report, and paying does not make you compliant.
The source links identify an insurer’s summary and a cleaning company’s published estimate. Neither is a government fee schedule or a local code determination. Open the current source and confirm local requirements before acting; do not combine conflicting intervals into a new deadline.
What commercial hood cleaning actually covers
A commercial hood cleaning is a documented service on the kitchen exhaust system, not a wipe-down of the visible hood. The work usually reaches the hood canopy, the filters or baffles, the duct run, the access panels, the fan, and the grease containment areas that the service company can safely open. The purpose is to remove accumulated grease from surfaces that can feed a duct fire, and to leave a record that the work happened.
Ask the company what qualification and documentation it provides for the work you are booking. Routine staff upkeep does not turn our checklist into a cleaning certificate. Follow the equipment provider’s instructions for any staff maintenance; this website does not supply cleaning procedures. If an authority asks for evidence of completed work, obtain the required record from the provider that performed it.
The four NFPA 96 frequency tiers
The Markel summary of NFPA 96 Table 11.4 groups kitchens by the type or volume of cooking. Systems serving solid fuel cooking operations are listed at monthly. Systems serving high-volume cooking operations are listed at quarterly, and the same summary explains that high volume includes 24-hour cooking, charbroiling, and wok cooking. Moderate-volume cooking operations are listed at semiannual, and low-volume operations are listed at annual, with churches, day camps, seasonal businesses, and senior centers named as examples of low volume.
The tier follows the busiest cooking style the system serves. A kitchen that runs a wok line at lunch and a low-volume menu at night is not a low-volume kitchen for this purpose. When a system serves more than one style, the more demanding category is the one to discuss with the cleaning company and with the local fire authority. The table is a starting point for the conversation, not a substitute for the rule your jurisdiction has adopted.
Why the certificate comes from the cleaner
The certificate is the tag or written report produced by the company that cleaned the exhaust system. It should identify the system that was cleaned, the date of the service, and the scope of what was done. A tag on the hood with a date is the most familiar form, but a report with photographs and a description of the duct and fan work can carry the same information. The exact format is set by the cleaning company and by local practice, not by this website.
This site does not issue a certificate, does not send a cleaner, and does not certify anyone. The free pages explain the schedule and the questions to ask. The paid PDF is a question list that helps you run a better conversation with the company you hire. If your local authority requires a specific form, ask the cleaning company and the fire marshal which form they accept before the visit.
What a visit costs and what the price does not include
VentWash publishes a range of about $400 to $1,500 in its public FAQ. That is a published industry estimate from a cleaning company, not an official fee and not a quote for your kitchen. Hood count, duct length, roof access, grease load, and the time of day all move the number.
The cleaning company bills the visit. Government fees, permit costs, fire-suppression service, and any repair work are separate. Hood Clean Due does not collect government fees, does not pay contractor bills, and does not add a markup to a cleaning quote. The prices shown on the pricing page are for a digital PDF checklist and, on recurring plans, reminder emails. They are not a deposit toward a cleaning visit.
What the paid PDF checklist contains
The paid file is a short, printable PDF built around the questions that decide whether a cleaning visit is complete. It records the tier you selected, the date you entered as your next date, and the questions to ask the cleaner about the tag, the certificate, and the scope of the visit. It also states that fire-suppression inspection is a separate service and that staff wiping the baffles is not a certificate.
The PDF is not a government form. It is not a cleaning certificate, an inspection report, or legal advice. Paying for it does not make a kitchen compliant, and it does not replace the work of a trained cleaner or the judgment of a fire inspector. What it does is give you one page to carry into the conversation, so the important questions are asked before the invoice is paid.
How reminders fit around your next date
On the annual, lifetime, and multi-location plans, the site records the next date you enter and sends reminder emails 30 days, 7 days, and 1 day before that date. The reminder is a calendar aid. It does not create a legal deadline, file a form, or schedule an inspection. You choose the date, and you can change or remove it in your account.
The one-time plan does not schedule reminders. It delivers the PDF and stops there. If you want reminders, choose an annual or lifetime plan, or upgrade on the same UTC day from your account. The account area also lets you stop reminder emails without closing the account.
How to use the free pages before you buy
Start with the NFPA 96 hood cleaning frequency guide if you need to understand the four tiers and how the busiest cooking style sets the category. Read the kitchen hood cleaning certificate page if your question is about the tag, the report, or what to ask the company that cleans the system. Both pages are free, cite the sources, and show the date the sources were read.
When you are ready to choose a plan, the pricing page lists the digital checklist options and the secure checkout form. The FAQ page answers delivery, account, and refund questions in one place. The how-it-works page walks through the order from the first free page to the reminder emails. No page on this site collects a phone number or promises a contractor referral.
Who this is for and who should not buy
This site is for restaurant owners, kitchen managers, and facilities staff who want to understand the cleaning schedule and ask better questions before they book a cleaning company. It is useful when a fire inspection is coming, when a new manager takes over a kitchen, or when a multi-location owner needs one consistent question list across several sites.
It is not for anyone who wants the site to file a form, visit a property, perform an inspection, certify a hood, or introduce a local contractor. Hood Clean Due is an independent digital publisher. It does not clean, inspect, certify, or sell leads, and it does not offer phone support. If those services are what you need, contact a licensed local company and your fire authority.
How often should a commercial hood be cleaned?
The linked Markel table describes inspection for grease buildup: monthly for solid fuel, quarterly for high volume, semiannual for moderate volume, and annual for low volume. Ask your cleaner and local fire authority what inspection, cleaning, and documentation your operation requires. This website does not assign a cleaning deadline.
Does staff cleaning count as a hood cleaning certificate?
No. Staff can remove and soak filters and keep the hood clean between visits, but the certificate or tag is produced by the trained cleaning company that cleaned the exhaust system. A clean hood is not a substitute for the service record.
Does this website clean hoods or send a contractor?
No. Hood Clean Due is a digital publisher. It sells a PDF question list and reminder emails. It does not clean, inspect, certify, dispatch a contractor, or collect a phone number for lead sales.
What do I receive after paying?
You receive a tailored PDF checklist by email, normally within five minutes of payment confirmation. The email comes from support@hoodcleandue.com, and you can also sign in at the account page with a six-digit email code to download the file again.
Is the PDF a government form?
No. The PDF is a question list and planning aid. It is not a government form, a cleaning certificate, or an inspection report. Paying for it does not make a kitchen compliant by itself.
Which plan includes reminder emails?
The annual, lifetime, and multi-location plans include reminders sent 30 days, 7 days, and 1 day before the date you enter. The one-time plan includes the PDF only and does not schedule reminders.
Can I change the next date after I buy?
Yes. Sign in at the account page with the email you used at checkout, then update the tracked date. The reminder schedule follows the date you save. You can also stop reminder emails without deleting your order history.
Does the price include the cleaning visit?
No. The cleaning company bills the visit separately. A published industry range of about $400 to $1,500 is not your quote and is not our fee. Government fees, permit costs, fire-suppression service, and repairs are also separate.
Is fire-suppression inspection part of hood cleaning?
The Markel summary describes automatic fire-extinguishing systems as maintained at least every six months, and it treats that as a separate item from hood cleaning. Ask the cleaning company whether suppression service is included in the visit you are booking.
What if the PDF email does not arrive?
Check the spam or promotions folder first, then sign in at the account page with the same email address and download the PDF directly. If you still need help, write to support@hoodcleandue.com from the email you paid with.
Choose your next step
Before booking, use the inspection frequency guide to prepare your classification questions and the certificate question list to ask what record the provider will leave. If a tailored digital file would help, compare the five checklist plans and read how email delivery and account access work.