Pros and cons of UV hoods

Taking steps to be more environmentally friendly has become important to more Americans in recent years, and the green movement has reached almost every industry.

But when it comes to commercial kitchen range hoods, the greener options are not ideal for all commercial kitchens, and in some cases, they are not yet profitable.

When manufacturers of UV hood systems touted environmental friendliness, cost effectiveness, and reduced cleaning costs, he decided to investigate the subject further.

UV hood systems have been used in Europe since 1998 and in the US since 2000.

UV systems: how they work

The oils and fats used in the cooking processes of restaurants accumulate over time in the extractors, hoods and ducts of traditional kitchens. When these parts of the hood system are not cleaned regularly, these cooking materials pose a fire hazard.

Manufacturers of UV hood systems claim that their systems provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cleaning methods because they are equipped with a series of removable grease particle extractors, Carter stated in his article.

Other benefits of UV hood systems:

o No costs or special installation requirements.

o Equipped with self-control capacity for the operation of the fan and lamps.

o Does not require washing.

o Uses less than 300 watts of light for every seven feet of hood.

o Maintenance requirements identical to standard baffle filter hoods, and filters can be cleaned in a dishwasher when necessary.

o It prevents grease from accumulating in the ducts, helping to keep the duct system and exhaust fan clean.

Broken myths

But for some of these claims, the field realities are different. Commercial canopy companies believe that routine maintenance costs are higher.

UV hood systems require less maintenance than traditional hood systems, according to manufacturers. Where traditional hood systems may need cleaning four times a year, UV systems can be cleaned twice a year. However, the cleaning and maintenance they require is more complicated and technical than their traditional counterparts. UV systems require maintenance by technicians who have been specially trained by UV hood manufacturers. These technicians should have specific knowledge of how to assemble and disassemble the system and how to disassemble and clean the exhaust filter system.

They also disagree with the manufacturer’s claims that these systems are cheaper to maintain.

They have spoken with representatives of the manufacturers and to the best of their knowledge, maintenance costs for these systems can be up to four times the cost of maintaining traditional hood systems.

And while UV hood systems are recommended by manufacturers for widespread applications, they are not for everyone.

Hood cleaning companies don’t think they would recommend the right thing to their customers if they said they are a viable option for everyone due to the costs involved after installation. The product is good in my opinion, but people should do their homework before buying the system.

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