Kitchen Exhaust Maintenance – Crunching the Numbers

February 16, 2023

Your routine duct clean with the contractor is fast approaching. This kitchen exhaust maintenance task may require someone to be on-site earlier and/or later than usual on the chosen day or in some cases, the restaurant may need to remain closed. Let’s not forget that the fee for this essential service will most likely put a sizeable dent into the bottom line.

Is there a better way? Yes! By using Shepherd Filters, you can better control and manage kitchen exhaust (KEX) maintenance costs. Our product will not eliminate a visit from the duct cleaning contractor altogether but using Shepherd Filters can reduce both the frequency (x) and extent/complexity ($) of the routine service.

Won’t Shepherd Filters cost the same or more? The cost of a Shepherd Filter media is directly competitive and comparable to:

1) Filter exchange service rates and/or

2) In-house filter cleaning.

Yet by switching to Shepherd Filters, commercial kitchens large and small can avoid the need for either of the above tasks! By stopping up to 98% of airborne grease right there at the filter, the potential for grease build-up inside the kitchen exhaust system is greatly reduced for the long-term. This means the KEX stays cleaner for much longer and routine KEX cleans reduce down to a mini/spot clean. Allow us to demonstrate, starting with a café:

This cafe needs two KEX cleans per year.

Using Shepherd Filters however, their kitchen exhaust maintenance cleans are reduced down to one mini-clean.

A filter exchange service replaces their filters monthly and their hood gutters are checked and cleaned once a week.

Using Shepherd Filters (per the filter change guide, which is based on trading hours, equipment, and menu), filter change costs decrease by $168 per year. Switching to the Shepherd Filters solution means the cafe had a one-off investment in UL1046 stainless-steel baffle frames that are specifically designed to make Shepherd Filters easy to use.

Shepherd Filters still saves this cafe over $1048 in the first year and nearly $1618 in years thereafter!

Let’s also examine at a high-volume char-grill burger business:

Due to the volume of trade, the style of menu and the equipment in use, this establishment requires a KEX clean every six months. They also need to use Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs), which are serviced fortnightly. Using the Shepherd Filters solution, annual KEX cleans are reduced to mini-cleans that are less expensive and not as disruptive. The use of Shepherd Filters has helped reduce the amount of grease going through to the ESP’s. Servicing these units thus changes from weekly to bi-monthly, which is:

Saving this business $3000 on that expense line alone!

Don’t forget the associated costs when cleaning filters in-house!

Cleaning/soaking filters in-house attracts additional costs that need to be factored in, namely:

– Labour – Water – Chemical usage – Electricity – Equipment maintenance

With Shepherd Filters, none of the above apply except for labour. An example of what the associated costs may look like when cleaning filters in-house is illustrated below:

Figures are based on national averages within Australia, so it is always advised to take a moment and do your own due diligence by checking your last rates/bills.
Shepherd Filters’ figures are modelled on the highest change rate possible (daily) as the example is based on the high-volume char-grill burger business. Most businesses we service, however, do not require daily changing, so labour costs would naturally come down.

In terms of labour, the initial findings when comparing the Shepherd Filters solution to the current soak tank method, breaks even. However, once the other associated in-house cleaning costs are factored in, the result points in favour of making the switch.

With Shepherd Filters, businesses:

– Avoid harsh chemicals (helps the environment)

– Save on water & energy costs

– Minimise load on equipment & filters

– Minimise messy tasks that staff dislike:

Because standard metal filters only stop between 20-40% of airborne grease at best, most of the grease is allowed to bypass the filter and builds up inside the KEX. Built-up grease slowly gets extracted further into the system and eventually, onto the roof, where it becomes:

– A potentially devastating fire hazard

– A food safety & hygiene risk

– Affects airflow and temperature in the kitchen

– Equipment load (i.e. fan) reducing the potential lifespan

– Can affect the structural integrity of rooftops if left

This attracts unnecessary maintenance and or/replacement work that could see a business needing to close for a day(s):

As Shepherd Filters capture up to 98% of airborne grease right there at the filter, your KEX and rooftop stay clean long-term.

Routine duct cleans turn into mini/spot-clean inspections performed only once a year.
The need to repair and maintain equipment and structures is minimised.

This solution also saves businesses time and eliminates the stress that comes with tackling mechanical/structural issues.

CONCLUSION

Examples of how two vastly different commercial foodservice businesses manage grease have been provided and compared to Shepherd Filters. In both of these cases, filter cleaning costs actually increased when switching to Shepherd Filters, although this is not always the case.

On taking a closer look, however, the costs associated with both cleaning in-house (labour, utilities, chemicals) and the need for other systems and services (ESP and gutter cleaning) should always be factored in when comparing products and services.

This case study highlights Shepherd Filters is able to:

Every business is unique and should be treated as such. If anything, the hope is that this study motivates readers to take a moment to review their books, do their kitchen exhaust maintenance due diligence and consider alternatives that may improve both business practices and their bottom line.

If you want to learn more about how the Shepherd Filters solution could benefit you, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for an obligation-free assessment.