Frequently Asked Questions
Everything Houston restaurant operators ask us about kitchen exhaust cleaning, NFPA 96 compliance, scheduling, and pricing.
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Services and Scope
We provide kitchen exhaust cleaning (KEC), exterior pressure washing, dumpster pad cleaning, and our Compliance Subscription for ongoing maintenance. Our focus is restaurant hood compliance and the exterior conditions that affect a commercial property’s safety and appearance. See our full services overview for details.
Our kitchen exhaust cleaning covers the full system from hood to rooftop. That includes the hood and canopy, baffle filters, ductwork, exhaust fan and housing, and rooftop components, along with before-and-after photo documentation on every job. We clean to the current NFPA 96 standard so the work matches what Houston Fire Marshal inspectors expect to see.
No. We serve commercial kitchens only. Restaurants, multi-unit operators, and commercial property managers are who we are built for.
We serve Houston and the greater metro within approximately a 50-mile radius. That includes Downtown, The Heights, Midtown, Memorial, Galleria, Sugar Land, Katy, Cypress, Energy Corridor, and The Woodlands. Conroe and Clear Lake fall outside our service area, and any job over an hour of travel is handled case-by-case.
Compliance and NFPA 96
NFPA 96 is the Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations, published by the National Fire Protection Association. It defines how commercial kitchen exhaust systems must be designed, inspected, and maintained to prevent grease fires. We work to the latest NFPA 96 edition (most recent revision published 2024), which is the same standard the Houston Fire Marshal uses for inspections. For a deeper walkthrough, see our Houston fire marshal inspection guide.
It depends on what you cook and how often. The current NFPA 96 standard (last updated 2024, on a 3-year revision cycle) sets the inspection and cleaning frequency by cooking operation type:
| Cooking Operation | Inspection / Cleaning Frequency |
|---|---|
| Solid fuel cooking (wood, charcoal, smoker) | Monthly |
| High-volume cooking (24-hour operations, charbroiling, wok cooking) | Quarterly |
| Moderate-volume cooking (standard restaurants) | Semi-annually |
| Low-volume cooking (churches, day camps, seasonal businesses, senior centers) | Annually |
For a plain-language breakdown, read how often you should clean a restaurant hood in Houston.
Yes, we are fully insured.
Yes. Every job includes before-and-after photos, and Compliance Subscription clients receive structured inspection reports delivered by email after each service. The documentation is built to satisfy fire marshals, insurance providers, and your own records.
Scheduling and Response Time
Same-day response on standard requests. When you reach out by phone or through our contact form, we get back to you the same business day to confirm next steps and scheduling.
Yes, we offer 24/7 emergency response for restaurants that need immediate help. Emergency jobs carry a 50% markup above standard pricing because they require off-hours mobilization. If you have a failed inspection, a vendor no-show, or a fire-related issue, call 713-574-7989 directly.
Most jobs take 2 to 6 hours, depending on the size and complexity of your kitchen. A single-hood operation in Midtown is on the shorter end, while a multi-hood, high-volume Heights restaurant with extensive ductwork is on the longer end. We confirm a time estimate after the initial assessment.
We require 48 hours notice to cancel or reschedule a confirmed appointment. This lets us reassign the time slot to another restaurant that needs service.
Need an answer now? We respond same business day.
Pricing and Payment
Pricing starts at a quote-based rate determined after we assess your system. hood cleaning cost depends on the number of hoods, ductwork length, exhaust fan accessibility, and how heavy the grease load is. We do not list flat prices because no two commercial kitchens are the same; instead, we run a $150 assessment and quote the job from there.
The assessment is a $150 flat fee for us to evaluate your kitchen exhaust system on-site and provide a written quote. If you book the recommended service within 15 days, the $150 is credited back toward your cleaning. It exists so you get a real, accurate quote rather than a phone estimate that changes when we arrive.
The Compliance Subscription is peace of mind: it keeps your restaurant compliant without you tracking dates manually. It includes automatic cleaning reminders, direct access to Ann for compliance questions, structured inspection reports delivered by email, and a schedule agreed between Ann and the client. Pricing starts at $250 per month. It exists because most restaurants miss cleaning windows when no one is watching the calendar; the subscription watches it for you.
We accept card, cash, check, and standard business payment methods. New clients pay a 50% deposit at booking, with the balance due upon completion.
Your Team and Process
Ann Tran, our owner, or a team member working under Ann’s direct review. Ann is involved in most jobs personally; on the ones she is not on-site for, she reviews the documentation and quality of work before the job is closed out. Work stays in-house under Ann’s review.
Compliance-first positioning, owner involvement, and documentation rigor. We are woman-owned and locally run, every job is overseen by Ann, and we deliver inspector-ready paperwork on every cleaning. Our compliance expertise is grounded in current NFPA 96 standards, which is the same benchmark the Houston Fire Marshal applies.
Getting Started
Reach out by phone or through our contact form and we will schedule your $150 on-site assessment. We confirm the appointment, walk your kitchen, and follow up with a written quote and a recommended service cadence based on your cooking volume. From there, you decide whether to book a one-time cleaning or set up a recurring Compliance Subscription.
Ready to Get Your Kitchen Inspection-Ready?
Whether you need a one-time cleaning, an emergency response, or a recurring compliance plan, we will get back to you the same business day.