Grease Trap Cleaning vs. Hood Cleaning: Why They're Not the Same Service
A lot of restaurant owners assume one covers the other. They don't — different systems, different codes, different inspectors. Here's the actual distinction.
Fully Licensed & Certified
Commercial KitchenExhaust Cleaning Experts in Charlotte
Proudly serving Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville, Rock Hill, Fort Mill & the surrounding NC & SC area.
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15+ Years of Experience
NFPA 96 & IKECA Certified
Part of the Fire Safety Network
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15+Years of
Experience
Experience
About Us
Your Kitchen Hood Cleaning Experts in Charlotte
Expert Hood Cleaning is Charlotte's trusted leader in commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaning and maintenance, specializing in NFPA 96-compliant hood cleaning that keeps your kitchen safe, compliant, and operating at peak efficiency. Whether you operate a busy restaurant in Uptown Charlotte, a hotel kitchen in Ballantyne, or a commercial facility in Concord, Gastonia, Matthews, Huntersville, Rock Hill, or Fort Mill, we provide flexible scheduling and reliable service that fits your business needs.
- NFPA 96 certified hood and exhaust system cleaning for fire code compliance
- Serving Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Matthews, Huntersville, Rock Hill, and surrounding areas
- Flexible scheduling including after-hours and weekend appointments to minimize downtime
Experience
We Have Over 15 Years of Experience
Expert Hood Cleaning is Charlotte's trusted partner for commercial kitchen safety, providing professional hood cleaning services that meet the highest industry standards.
500+
Happy Customers
12,000+
Hours of Service
15+
Years of Experience
100%
Code Compliant
What We Do
Kitchen Hood & Fire Safety Services
Four service categories, one team — cleaning, repair, installation, and fire-safety compliance for commercial kitchens across Charlotte, NC & SC.
Cleaning Services
Primary Service
Kitchen Exhaust Hood Cleaning
Professional commercial kitchen exhaust hood cleaning for restaurants and food service facilities, addressing grease buildup and maintaining fire code compliance.
Learn More About Kitchen Exhaust Hood CleaningRestaurant Hood Filter Cleaning
Expert grease filter cleaning and maintenance for busy restaurant kitchens — baffle and mesh filters cleaned to preserve ventilation performance and health standards compliance.
Exhaust Fan & Ductwork Cleaning
Complete exhaust fan and ductwork cleaning for commercial kitchens, eliminating accumulated grease on rooftop systems and reducing fire hazards.
Repair Services
Commercial Exhaust Repair Experts
Commercial Exhaust Hood Repair
Diagnostic and repair service for hoods that are leaking, losing suction, or flagged during a fire inspection — we find the actual problem and fix it.
- Fan Belt Replacement
- Fan Motor Replacement
- Clogged Commercial Exhaust Filters
Installation Services
Built to Code
From Day One
From Day One
New Construction & Renovation
Commercial Hood Installation
Full-service hood installation for new construction and renovations — sized, positioned, and designed around your kitchen's actual equipment and cooking volume.
- Expert Commercial Hood Vent Design and Consultation
- Restaurant Hood Installations
- Commercial Range Hood Installation
- Expert Commercial Rooftop Installation
Fire Safety & Compliance
Beyond the Hood
Fire suppression, extinguishers, compliance consulting, and emergency lighting — everything else your fire marshal checks.
Fire Suppression System Inspection
Complete fire suppression system inspection and maintenance for commercial kitchen safety. Certified staff evaluate Ansul-style systems to verify code adherence.
Fire Extinguisher Services
Commercial kitchen fire extinguisher inspection, maintenance, and recharging services, with a focus on Class K equipment preparedness.
Fire Safety Compliance Consulting
Expert fire safety compliance consulting for restaurant owners — hazard assessments and inspection-preparation documentation.
Emergency Light Inspection, Installation & Repair
Inspection, installation, and repair of emergency and exit lighting to keep your kitchen and facility compliant with fire and life-safety code.
Who We Serve
Safe, Clean Kitchens for Every Industry
From single-location restaurants to hospital cafeterias and hotel kitchens, we bring the same NFPA 96 standard to every commercial kitchen we service.
Restaurants & Restaurant Groups
Whether you run one location or a growing group, we keep every kitchen in your portfolio fire-safe, code-compliant, and ready for service.
Hotels & Hospitality
From the breakfast bar to the banquet kitchen, we keep your hotel's food service areas clean, compliant, and ready for your next guest — and your next inspection.
Schools & Educational Institutions
Cafeteria kitchens serving students face the same fire code requirements as any commercial kitchen. We work around the academic calendar to keep them safe and compliant.
Hospitals & Senior Living Facilities
Healthcare kitchens can't afford downtime. We service hospital and senior living facility kitchens to the same NFPA 96 standard, on a schedule that works around your operations.
Corporate Cafeterias
Office and corporate dining kitchens get the same thorough hood, duct, and fire-safety service as any commercial kitchen, keeping your workplace dining program running.
Catering & Event Kitchens
Banquet halls, event spaces, and catering kitchens need exhaust systems that can keep up with high-volume service. We keep them clean and code-ready.
Restaurants & Restaurant Groups
Whether you run one location or a growing group, we keep every kitchen in your portfolio fire-safe, code-compliant, and ready for service.
Hotels & Hospitality
From the breakfast bar to the banquet kitchen, we keep your hotel's food service areas clean, compliant, and ready for your next guest — and your next inspection.
Schools & Educational Institutions
Cafeteria kitchens serving students face the same fire code requirements as any commercial kitchen. We work around the academic calendar to keep them safe and compliant.
Hospitals & Senior Living Facilities
Healthcare kitchens can't afford downtime. We service hospital and senior living facility kitchens to the same NFPA 96 standard, on a schedule that works around your operations.
Corporate Cafeterias
Office and corporate dining kitchens get the same thorough hood, duct, and fire-safety service as any commercial kitchen, keeping your workplace dining program running.
Catering & Event Kitchens
Banquet halls, event spaces, and catering kitchens need exhaust systems that can keep up with high-volume service. We keep them clean and code-ready.
Where We Work
Serving Restaurants Across Two States
We cover the greater Charlotte metro on both sides of the state line — North Carolina and South Carolina each have their own fire code and inspection authority, and we handle the paperwork differences so you don't have to.
Proudly Based in Charlotte
Charlotte grew from a small 1700s trading post settled by Scottish and Irish immigrants into North Carolina's largest city and the nation's third-largest banking center — home to Fortune 1000 companies like Bank of America, Lowe's, and Duke Energy. You can read more about the city's growth on the City of Charlotte's own economic development page.
That same growth is exactly why we stay busy. More office towers uptown, more hotels, and more restaurant rows across South End, NoDa, and Ballantyne means more commercial kitchens that need real, documented NFPA 96-compliant hood cleaning. See our dedicated Charlotte hood cleaning page for local details, or read on — we cover Charlotte itself plus 58 surrounding cities across North and South Carolina — read more about how the fire code differs between the two states, or learn more about our team.
Charlotte at a Glance
- Named For
- Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Population
- 943,000+ — largest city in NC
- US Ranking
- 14th largest city in the country
- Banking
- Nation's 3rd-largest banking center
North Carolina
Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville, Gastonia, Matthews, and the wider metro.
South Carolina
Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and the York County area.
Plus 52 additional cities across both states — from Asheville and Winston-Salem, NC to Columbia and Greenville, SC.
View all service areas →How It Works
From booking to compliance documentation — here's what to expect.
1
Book Your Service
Contact us to schedule hood cleaning, repair, installation, or fire-safety service at a time that works for you.
2
Inspection & Assessment
Our certified technicians inspect your hood, ducts, exhaust system, or fire-safety equipment to determine exactly what’s needed.
3
We Get to Work
From deep cleaning to fan repair, hood installation, or emergency lighting service — we complete the job to meet fire and safety codes.
4
Documentation & Compliance
You receive proper documentation and certification for the work performed, so your kitchen stays fully compliant.
Why Choose Expert Hood Cleaning?
What makes us different from a typical commercial kitchen cleaning company?
Fast & Reliable
Efficient scheduling with most jobs completed in 3-4 hours, plus same-day service availability.
Certified Technicians
NFPA 96 & IKECA-certified staff, trained to the most recent fire safety standards and ongoing in advanced cleaning techniques.
Documented Compliance
Official cleaning certificates and compliance documentation provided for every job, ready for your next inspection.
24/7 Emergency Service
Emergency cleaning for failed inspections, with response within 24 hours — including nights and weekends.
Reviews
What Our Customers Say
Excellent experience with Expert Hood Cleaning! We needed professional commercial kitchen hood and exhaust cleaning for multiple locations, and their team handled everything the right way from start to finish. The service was thorough, the quality of work was excellent, and they paid close attention to detail. They also cleaned up properly after completing the job. Great service, excellent quality, and very good value for the price. Professional, reliable, and easy to work with. Highly recommend Expert Hood Cleaning for commercial kitchen hood and exhaust cleaning!
Annette M. · Charlotte, NC
Outstanding Restaurant Hood Cleaning service — highly recommend! We've been using Expert Hood Cleaning for our restaurant in Charlotte and honestly couldn't be happier. The team showed up on time, walked us through exactly what they'd be doing, and got our exhaust hoods and grease filters spotless. They follow NFPA 96 standards, which was important to us for our fire suppression compliance. Everything was documented with before-and-after photos — super professional. We're already booked for our next quarterly cleaning. If you're a restaurant owner in the Charlotte area looking for a reliable hood cleaning company, look no further.
Leo Park
Have had a wonderful experience with the company. So far the best hood cleaning in the Charlotte area.
Karna Kankuwala
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about hood cleaning, repair, installation, and service across Charlotte, NC & SC.
What areas do you serve?
We serve the greater Charlotte metro and communities throughout North and South Carolina — including Concord, Huntersville, Gastonia, Matthews, Rock Hill, and Fort Mill, plus 52 additional cities across both states.
How often does a commercial kitchen exhaust hood need to be cleaned?
It depends on your cooking volume and fuel type. See our full breakdown of NFPA 96's frequency tiers, or use our 30-second frequency calculator to get your exact schedule.
What does a kitchen exhaust hood cleaning actually include?
A full NFPA 96 cleaning covers the hood, plenum, filters, ductwork, and rooftop exhaust fan — the complete exhaust run, not just the visible parts of the hood. Every cleaning includes before-and-after photos and a service certificate.
Do you offer emergency or same-day hood cleaning service?
Yes. We're available 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays, with same-day or next-day service for emergencies like a failed inspection or an upcoming fire marshal visit.
Do you only clean hoods, or do you repair them too?
Both. Beyond cleaning, we repair worn fan belts, failing fan motors, and clogged filters, and we handle full hood, ductwork, and rooftop fan installation for new builds and renovations.
Are your technicians certified?
Yes — our technicians are IKECA-certified and trained to NFPA 96 fire safety standards, with ongoing training in fire codes and advanced cleaning techniques.
How much does commercial kitchen hood cleaning cost?
Pricing depends on your kitchen's size, hood configuration, and cooking volume, so there's no single flat rate. See our real published pricing guide for actual ranges, or request a free estimate for your exact number.
Will I get documentation for my fire inspection?
Yes. Every service includes before-and-after photo documentation and a compliance certificate, so you have records ready for your fire marshal, health inspector, or insurance review.
Is the fire code different in North Carolina vs. South Carolina?
Both states require NFPA 96-compliant exhaust systems, but the enforcing code differs — North Carolina uses the NC Fire Prevention Code, while South Carolina uses its own Fire Code based on the International Fire Code, enforced through the SC State Fire Marshal's Office. We handle documentation correctly for whichever side of the line you're on.
Resources
From the Blog
How Much Does Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning Cost? (Charlotte, NC Pricing Guide)
Real published pricing ranges and the actual factors that drive the cost of commercial hood cleaning up or down — not just "call for a quote."
Commercial Kitchen Hood Cleaning FAQ: What Charlotte Restaurant Owners Ask Most
Real questions restaurant owners have before booking a hood cleaning — pricing, documentation, scheduling around business hours, and more.
Ready to Schedule Your Hood Cleaning?
Serving Charlotte, NC & SC — 24/7 availability, emergency service, and 10% off for repeat customers.