A kitchen should run slightly negative so cooking smells stay out of the dining room, but not so negative that the hood fights the building. Getting that balance right keeps the line comfortable and the rest of the HVAC working.
Symptoms of an air balance problem
- Smoke rolling out from under the hood instead of being pulled up
- Front or back doors that are hard to open or slam shut
- Pilot lights and burners flickering or going out
- Kitchen far hotter than it used to be
- Cooking smells drifting into the dining room
- Exhaust fan squealing, vibrating or not running
What we repair
Exhaust fans
Upblast fan motors, belts, pulleys, bearings and electrical controls.
Make-up air units
Direct-fired and indirect-fired MUA units, tempered air, controls and interlocks.
Interlocks
Controls that bring make-up air on with the hood so the two run together.
Balance
Troubleshooting pressure problems between the kitchen, dining room and rooftop units.
Hood and duct grease cleaning and fire suppression system inspections are separate, specialized services. We work alongside your hood cleaning and fire suppression companies and handle the fans, motors and air side.
Flat-rate, approved first. We diagnose, tell you what failed and what it costs to fix, and start only after you approve the price. No surprise add-ons on the invoice.
Common questions
Why does smoke spill out of my hood?
Usually the exhaust fan isn't moving enough air (a slipping belt, failing motor or grease-loaded fan), or the make-up air unit isn't bringing air back in so the building goes too negative.
Do you clean hoods and ducts?
No. Grease cleaning is done by certified hood cleaning companies. We repair the exhaust fans and make-up air equipment and coordinate with your cleaner when needed.
Why do my doors slam or stick?
That's a sign the building is too negative: more air is being exhausted than is coming back in. The make-up air unit or its interlock is the first thing we check.
Call (757) 495-7782 or send a request. You approve the price before we start.