No matter how much maintenance and cleaning you do for your exhaust hood and other kitchen equipment, sometimes it’s just not your day and something seems to go wrong. It could be half way through the lunch rush and the exhaust hood stops working, or 5AM as you turn on the lights and your exhaust won’t turn on. No exhaust hood system means no running kitchen - and that is not good. If you do find yourself with a non-functioning exhaust hood system there are a few things you can check to see if it’s a quick fix before calling in the experts to fix the hood.

First and foremost - check your exhaust hoods on / off switch. Sometimes these can be left off during a cleaning, or perhaps were bumped into during a quick cleaning or when things were being moved in the kitchen. If the switch is set to OFF then the fix may be simply turning the unit back on, however if the switch is in the ON position, your next move should be to check your circuit breaker. Find the circuit breaker box and check that all of the switches are properly turned on. The circuit breaker will most likely be located in your kitchen area, however may be located elsewhere in the building. If the breaker has shorted it will likely be in the off position, and flipping the circuit back on may be all that’s needed to get the hood system back and operational. 

If checking the switches and the breakers don’t fix your hood issues, it’s time to check the mechanical aspects of the hood system. Check the fan belts and see if they are seated correctly and turning properly. If the fan belts are off their track it could be allowing the system to not start. Fan belts are often located on the roof of your restaurant, outside of the hood system itself. While up there you should also check if your restaurant has a roof service switch - and make sure that it is turned on. When these switches are turned off it forces the hood systems off. Lastly - check your hood’s grease filters to see if there’s any blockages. A clogged, dirty hood filter could mean that your exhaust hood was working extra hard over an extended period of time and that could lead to equipment damage. 

If these simple checks don’t help get your exhaust hood system up and running again then it may be time to call an exhaust hood repair or cleaning company. When looking for an exhaust hood cleaner or technician make sure to find someone who is certified and licensed to ensure that everything is done correctly and up to code. HoodMart provides our customers with a wide range of exhaust hood systems - from Compensating (Short Cycle) to Perforated Supply Plenum (PSP) - as well as all exhaust hood accessories such as no-weld grease duct, hood filters, canopy hood lights, and curbs. We also offer a wide range of walk-in refrigeration systems to meet your needs.   If you still have questions regarding the purchase of your hood system, please feel free to contact one of our experts today by calling us at 1.800.715.1014 or contacting us through our live chat system.