Expert Commercial Kitchen Hood Solutions | Express Kitchen Hoods LLC | (800) 200-2134
Express Kitchen Hoods LLC - expert commercial kitchen hood cleaning, installation, repair, and design across DC, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. NFPA 96 certified. Call (800) 200-2134.
Express Kitchen Hoods LLC is the Mid-Atlantic’s full-service commercial kitchen exhaust specialist — NFPA 96 certified hood cleaning, custom exhaust system installation, fire suppression inspection, and 24/7 emergency service across Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. Call (800) 200-2134.
Who We Serve
We work with independent restaurant operators, hotel F&B departments, multi-unit franchise groups, hospital and university food service, corporate campus dining, food trucks, and ghost kitchen operators across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia metro area and beyond into Pennsylvania and New York. Our clients range from single-location fine dining in Georgetown to 50-unit QSR franchise groups covering six states.
Every engagement — whether a first-time inspection for a new opening or an emergency recharge after a suppression activation — is staffed by IKECA-trained and certified technicians, and every service produces full NFPA 96 documentation suitable for local fire marshal review.
Services
Hood & Duct Cleaning
NFPA 96-compliant grease removal from filters, canopy, plenum, ductwork, and rooftop exhaust fan for any commercial kitchen in DC, MD, VA, PA, or NY. Hot-water pressure wash, before-and-after photos, and certification delivered the same night. Quarterly, semi-annual, and annual programs. Service windows: afternoons, nights, and predawn to prevent kitchen downtime.
Hood System Installation
Type I and Type II commercial exhaust hood design, custom fabrication, and installation for new construction and renovation projects across the Mid-Atlantic. IMC-engineered CFM calculations, make-up air coordination, permit submission and inspection management, and as-built drawings. We handle all jurisdiction permit processes from DC DCRA through New York City DEP.
Fire Suppression Inspection & Service
Semi-annual NFPA 17A inspections for Ansul R-102, Amerex, and Kidde wet chemical systems. Fusible link replacement, nozzle verification, cylinder hydrostatic testing coordination, and emergency 24/7 recharge after activation across DC, MD, VA, and PA. Suppression system design and installation for new hood projects and system upgrades.
Exhaust Fan & Duct Repair
Emergency and scheduled exhaust fan repair and replacement, hinge kit installation, belt and motor service for commercial kitchens across the region. Grease duct replacement — including non-compliant galvanized and spiral duct — with liquid-tight continuous-weld NFPA 96 duct. Access panel cutting for cleaning compliance when existing duct systems lack adequate access.
NFPA 96 Standards We Work Under
| Standard | Scope | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 96 (2021) | Hood cleaning intervals, duct construction, fan requirements | DC, MD, VA, PA, NY |
| NFPA 17A (2021) | Wet chemical suppression inspection intervals and procedures | DC, MD, VA, PA, NY |
| IMC (2018/2021) | Exhaust CFM design & make-up air balance | VA, MD, PA (IBC states) |
| DC Construction Codes | DCRA permit process for hood and suppression work in DC | Washington, DC |
| COMAR 29.06.01 | Maryland State Fire Prevention Code | All Maryland counties |
Why Express Kitchen Hoods LLC
- ✓IKECA-certified technicians — training and certification from the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association
- ✓Full-service: cleaning, installation, suppression, and fan repair from one contractor
- ✓24/7 emergency service for suppression activations and fan failures throughout the Mid-Atlantic
- ✓Same-night documentation — certificates and photo reports emailed before the next business day
- ✓Multi-location and franchise master service agreements with consolidated billing
- ✓DC, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York licensed and insured
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IKECA certification mean for a hood cleaning company?
The International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association (IKECA) is the primary professional certification body for commercial hood cleaning contractors in North America. IKECA-certified technicians have demonstrated knowledge of NFPA 96 standards, proper cleaning procedures, and documentation requirements through formal training and testing. Many fire marshals and insurance underwriters specifically reference IKECA certification when evaluating cleaning contractor credentials.
Can Express Kitchen Hoods LLC handle a project in Pennsylvania or New York?
Yes. We regularly service clients in the Philadelphia metro area, central Pennsylvania, and the New York City metro area. Call (800) 200-2134 to discuss scheduling and documentation requirements for your specific jurisdiction — Pennsylvania and New York have jurisdiction-specific permit and documentation nuances that we navigate as part of our standard service outside the core DC-MD-VA market.
Do you offer bundled contracts for both hood cleaning and suppression inspections?
Yes. We offer combined annual compliance contracts that bundle the required NFPA 96 hood cleaning cycles with the required semi-annual NFPA 17A suppression inspections under a single agreement, with coordinated scheduling and unified billing. For most commercial kitchens in DC, MD, and VA, a combined contract covers: two suppression inspections per year, plus the appropriate number of hood cleanings (quarterly, semi-annual, or annual based on kitchen type). Single invoice, single contractor, complete compliance.
Who We Are
Express Kitchen Hoods was founded to address a gap in the Mid-Atlantic commercial kitchen service market — the need for a contractor that combines technical expertise in commercial kitchen exhaust systems with the reliability, documentation quality, and customer communication that restaurant operators and their management companies expect from a professional service partner. We are not a general HVAC contractor that occasionally cleans hoods — commercial kitchen exhaust systems are our exclusive focus.
Our service territory spans the full Washington DC metropolitan area across all Maryland and Virginia jurisdictions, southeastern Pennsylvania including the Philadelphia suburb and York-Lancaster corridor, and New York City with a focus on Brooklyn and Manhattan. We maintain NFPA 96 cleaning and installation expertise across every major fire jurisdiction in this geography and ensure that our documentation meets the specific requirements of each local fire inspection program.
Our Services
NFPA 96 Hood & Duct Cleaning
Complete commercial kitchen exhaust system cleaning — hood canopy interior, filters, plenum, grease trough, full duct run from hood collar to rooftop fan, and rooftop exhaust fan — with NFPA 96 certificate and before-and-after photo documentation delivered same night. Recurring semi-annual and quarterly maintenance agreements available for all service areas. We service all kitchen configurations and cooking equipment types including high-output ethnic kitchens, charbroiler-heavy operations, wok range installations, and institutional food service.
Hood Installation & Replacement
Type I grease exhaust systems and Type II heat-and-moisture systems for new restaurant construction, kitchen reconfigurations, and hood replacement projects. Complete scope: site survey, equipment list, exhaust volume calculations, hood selection and custom fabrication, all-welded grease duct, rooftop fan installation, make-up air, fire suppression coordination, and mechanical permit management. We serve new build-outs and replacement projects throughout the DC, MD, VA, southeastern PA, and NYC territory.
Exhaust Fan Repair & Service
Emergency and scheduled exhaust fan repair — belt replacement, motor diagnosis and replacement, bearing service, capacitor repair, fan wheel cleaning, and full fan unit replacement. 24/7 emergency dispatch for fan failures across the DC, MD, and VA territory. Fan condition inspection and documentation at every NFPA 96 cleaning visit. Preventive maintenance that catches developing fan issues before they become emergency shutdowns.
Commercial Pressure Washing
Hot-water commercial pressure washing for restaurant exteriors, dumpster pad areas, drive-through lanes, sidewalks, and kitchen loading zones. Grease accumulation from exhaust system discharge and food service operations creates slip hazards and health code concerns on restaurant exterior surfaces. We provide health code compliant exterior grease removal as a complement to interior hood cleaning service for a comprehensive grease management solution.
The Mid-Atlantic’s Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Specialist
Express Kitchen Hoods LLC has served commercial kitchen operators across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia metro area for over two decades. We work with independent restaurant operators, multi-unit franchise groups, hotel F&B departments, hospital and university food service, corporate campus dining, food truck operators, and ghost kitchen facilities — any commercial operation with a hood and a kitchen.
Every engagement — from a routine semi-annual cleaning in Bethesda to an emergency suppression recharge at 2 AM in downtown DC — is staffed by IKECA-trained, certified technicians who produce full NFPA 96 documentation suitable for any fire marshal review in the region.
Service Lines
Hood & Duct Cleaning
NFPA 96-compliant grease removal from filters, canopy, plenum, ductwork, and rooftop exhaust fan. Hot-water pressure wash, before-and-after photography, and NFPA 96 certificate of cleaning delivered the same night. Quarterly, semi-annual, and annual service programs. Evening, overnight, and predawn scheduling available to prevent kitchen downtime across DC, MD, and VA.
Hood System Installation
Type I (grease-rated) and Type II commercial exhaust hood design, fabrication, and installation. Custom stainless steel fabrication for non-standard configurations. IMC-engineered CFM calculations, make-up air coordination, and full jurisdiction permit management from DCRA through Virginia county building departments and Maryland county permitting offices. As-built drawings and permit close-out included.
Fire Suppression Service
Semi-annual NFPA 17A inspections for Ansul R-102, Amerex, Kidde, and Badger wet chemical systems. Fusible link replacement, nozzle verification, cylinder inspection, pull station testing. Emergency 24/7 recharge after suppression activation anywhere in DC, MD, and VA. New system installation and UL 300 upgrade for non-compliant older systems.
Fan & Duct Repair
Emergency and scheduled exhaust fan repair and replacement, hinge kit installation, belt and motor service, and grease duct replacement (including non-compliant galvanized and spiral duct). Access panel cutting for NFPA 96 compliance. 24/7 emergency fan repair dispatch for the full Mid-Atlantic service area.
Additional FAQ
How is Express Kitchen Hoods LLC different from a national cleaning chain?
Unlike national franchise cleaning chains that dispatch subcontractors of varying quality, Express Kitchen Hoods LLC employs our own IKECA-certified technicians for every service call. Our owner-operated model means client relationships and service quality are managed directly — not through a franchise network. Our technicians know the specific fire marshal requirements in DC, Montgomery County, Fairfax County, and every other jurisdiction we serve, and they produce documentation formatted for local inspection compliance from day one.
Do you offer combined hood cleaning and suppression inspection contracts?
Yes. Our annual compliance contracts bundle NFPA 96 hood cleaning at the correct interval for your kitchen type with the required semi-annual NFPA 17A suppression inspections under a single agreement. One contractor, one invoice, one compliance calendar for both your hood and suppression requirements. Multi-location bundled contracts available for franchise groups and property management companies across the Mid-Atlantic.
What documentation will I receive after each service?
After each hood cleaning visit: a Certificate of Cleaning (NFPA 96), a field inspection report documenting grease accumulation levels and any system deficiencies found, and before-and-after photos of all cleaned components — all delivered by email the same night. After each suppression inspection: an NFPA 17A inspection report, a new inspection tag affixed to the system, and a record of any components replaced. All documentation is formatted for immediate use in fire marshal review or health department compliance submissions.
Express Kitchen Hoods LLC
DC · Maryland · Virginia · Pennsylvania · New York — NFPA 96 certified, 24/7 emergency service.
(800) 200-2134 — Nationwide Line