Commercial Kitchen Hood & Canopy Cleaning in St. John's, NL
Cleaning and maintenance for hoods, canopies, grease filters and accessible exhaust components in restaurants and other commercial kitchens across the Island of Newfoundland, with St. John's and surrounding communities as the primary local focus.
Grease Shields provides commercial hood and canopy cleaning for restaurants, hotels, cafeterias and other food-service kitchens across the Island of Newfoundland, with St. John's and surrounding communities as our primary local service area. We focus on the parts of the exhaust system that can be reached and cleaned safely during a scheduled service: hood and canopy surfaces, grease filters, accessible fan components and accessible exhaust areas.
Every kitchen is different. Before work begins, we confirm the components included, how the work area will be accessed, and any sections that cannot be reached. That scope is reflected in the service record so you know what was cleaned and what was not.
Scope is confirmed up front. Inaccessible duct sections, roof equipment that cannot be safely reached, and repairs outside the agreed scope are identified rather than described as completed.
What the service includes
The exact scope depends on your system, its condition and how it can be accessed. A typical visit covers the items below when they are safely reachable.
- Hood and canopy surfaces. Cleaning of accessible interior and exterior surfaces where grease collects, including canopy panels and grease-collecting areas within the confirmed scope.
- Grease filters. Removal, cleaning and refitting of accessible filters. If a filter is damaged or no longer fits properly, we will point it out so you can arrange a replacement.
- Accessible fan and exhaust components. Cleaning of fan components and accessible exhaust areas that can be reached safely. Duct interiors and roof equipment are included only when access is confirmed.
- Visual inspection. A practical look at accessible components for visible grease buildup, obvious condition issues and access limitations.
- Service documentation. A record of the work completed, the components covered, any limitations and recommendations for the next service.
What the inspection covers — and what it does not
The inspection included with a cleaning visit is a visual check of accessible components. It is useful for spotting visible grease, damaged filters and access problems, but it has limits.
- It can identify visible grease accumulation, filter condition, obvious damage and access problems.
- It does not certify fire safety, code compliance or a legally required cleaning interval.
- It does not cover concealed or inaccessible duct interiors.
- It is not a mechanical repair, engineering assessment or fire-safety inspection.
If we see something that needs a qualified trade or a decision from your authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), we will explain the concern and recommend the next step.
Our cleaning process
- Assess and confirm scope. We review the hood, canopy, filters, fan access and work area with you before starting.
- Protect and clean. We protect nearby surfaces where practical and clean the confirmed components, removing grease and buildup from accessible areas.
- Review and document. We review the completed work with you and provide a service record for your maintenance file.
Preparing your kitchen
A little preparation helps the visit run smoothly and reduces disruption to your operation.
- Clear access to the hood, canopy, filter area and any roof or fan access point included in the scope.
- Tell us about locked areas, roof hatches, ladders, restricted spaces or equipment that must be shut down.
- Let us know about sensitive equipment, open food or service times that should be avoided.
- Share any previous service records or known issues so we can plan the visit.
Service documentation
After the visit, you receive a service record for your maintenance file. It covers the date, the components cleaned, access limitations, visible observations and the recommended next step. This record is intended to support your own maintenance planning. It is not a certificate of compliance or a fire-safety approval.
Maintenance for hood systems
Cleaning is one part of looking after a hood system. Alongside full cleaning visits, we provide preventive maintenance for the components in scope: re-checking accessible parts between cleanings, watching visible condition over time and helping you set an interval that suits your kitchen.
- Preventive visits. Recurring visits to clean or inspect accessible components at a schedule agreed with you, planned around kitchen operations wherever possible. Recommended intervals are based on what we see at your site — we do not claim a legally required cleaning interval, and your authority having jurisdiction decides what applies to your premises.
- Issues identified during a service. Filters that no longer fit or sit correctly, access problems and visible condition notes are recorded and brought to your attention during and after the visit.
- Follow-up within scope. Where something needs follow-up, we explain what we found and what we recommend. Repairs are only carried out within the already-confirmed scope; anything beyond it is referred so you can arrange the right trade for the rest.
- What maintenance does not include. Maintenance visits do not provide code-compliance sign-off, legally required certification of cleaning intervals or a fire-safety inspection. Those remain with your authority having jurisdiction or a qualified inspector.
For practical reading, see our maintenance checklist for commercial kitchen hoods and cleaning vs. maintenance for kitchen exhaust systems. For component-level guidance, read our articles on hood filters, exhaust fan belts and duct access panels. To plan visits around your schedule, contact us.
Scheduling and maintenance planning
There is no single interval that fits every kitchen. Cooking volume, cooking method, grease production, system condition and local requirements all affect how often a hood system should be cleaned. We will discuss a practical interval based on what we see and how your kitchen operates, and we can help you plan recurring service.
For general guidance on the factors that affect frequency, read how often a commercial kitchen hood should be cleaned.
Service area
We serve the Island of Newfoundland, with St. John's, Mount Pearl, Paradise and Conception Bay South as our primary local area. Availability depends on the location, the service requested, the schedule and any travel arrangements. See the service area page or contact us to confirm the visit details for your site.
See a real Grease Shields result
Filmed by Grease Shields: a hood and canopy cleaning transformation in St. John's and surrounding areas. Results depend on your system and scope.
Watch on YouTube: Real work. Real results.
Questions about hood cleaning
Do you clean the entire duct system?
We clean the hood, canopy, filters and accessible exhaust components included in the confirmed scope. Not every duct section or roof component can be reached safely. Inaccessible areas are identified in the service record rather than described as cleaned.
Will I receive a compliance certificate?
We provide service documentation for your maintenance records. We do not certify your system, approve it for fire-safety purposes or guarantee acceptance by an authority having jurisdiction. Confirm any site-specific requirement with your AHJ.
How often should I book hood cleaning?
Frequency depends on cooking volume, cooking method, grease production, system condition and local requirements. We can recommend an interval after looking at your system. Your AHJ determines any requirement that applies to your premises.
Do you clean grease filters?
Yes, accessible grease filters are part of a typical hood and canopy cleaning visit. We remove, clean and refit them where practical. Damaged or poorly fitting filters are pointed out so you can arrange replacements.
Can you work around our service hours?
We try to schedule around kitchen operations where possible. Contact us with your preferred days and times, and we will confirm availability for your preferred service window.
Do you provide maintenance between cleanings?
Yes. Alongside full cleaning visits we can provide maintenance for the components in scope, on a schedule agreed for your kitchen. What is included depends on the components and access confirmed for your site.
What if you find something that needs repair?
We record what we find and explain it. When the fix falls within the confirmed scope, we discuss carrying it out; anything outside the scope is referred so you can arrange a qualified trade for the rest.