How Often Should Commercial Kitchen Extractor Filters Be Cleaned?
Weekly for the filters, quarterly to yearly for the system — and why doing the first does not excuse the second.
Weekly, as a rule of thumb, and daily in a chip shop or any kitchen frying all day. Grease filters are the first line of defence in the canopy and they are the part your own staff can and should clean. But cleaning the filters is housekeeping, not extract cleaning, and mixing the two up is how kitchens end up with a certificate-free duct full of grease.
Filter cleaning: what and how often
- Baffle filters (the ridged stainless ones) — weekly in most kitchens, daily under a range or heavy fryer. Dishwasher or a degreasing soak; dry before refitting.
- Mesh filters (older, knitted) — more often, because they load faster and block airflow sooner. Many kitchens replace them with baffles.
- Grease drawers and trays — empty whenever you clean the filters.
- Missing filters — never run the canopy without them. Every hour without a filter is an hour of grease going straight into the duct.
What filters do not catch
Even a clean baffle filter lets a share of fine grease vapour through. It condenses on the cool metal of the plenum behind the filters, the duct and the fan, and it builds whether or not the filters are spotless. That is why TR19 sets a separate interval for the whole system — three, six or twelve months depending on usage — and why an insurer wants a certificate for the system, not a photo of clean filters.
A simple way to think about it
Filters keep the canopy presentable and the airflow moving. The system clean keeps the building from catching fire. You do the first; a specialist provider does the second and gives you the certificate. We arrange the second — including filter exchange if you would rather not do the first either.
Related: Fish & chip shops · Filters and your hygiene rating · Signs the system needs cleaning
Frequently Asked Questions
Can our own staff clean the extractor filters?
Yes, and they should — weekly, daily under a range. It is kitchen housekeeping. It is not a substitute for the periodic TR19 clean of the ductwork and fan.
Does cleaning the filters count as TR19 cleaning?
No. TR19 covers the whole extract system. Filter cleaning alone leaves the duct and fan untouched, and an insurer will not accept it as evidence the system was maintained.
Should I replace mesh filters with baffle filters?
Usually worth it. Baffles catch more, block less and go through a dishwasher. Ask for it in the quote.
Get a Free Swansea Kitchen Extract Cleaning Quote
Send us your kitchen details and we'll arrange a tailored, no-obligation quote — usually the same day.