Kitchen Ventilation & Climate Control

Restaurant Ventilation: What You Need to Know

Restaurant operators must control the temperature and airflow of both their kitchen and dining area to ensure safety and comfort. Depending on your location and the time of year, your establishment might need everything from a heat pump to industrial fans to provide a comfortable atmosphere, while air doors can keep pests, dirt, and atmospheric shifts away from the tranquility of your dining room. Strip curtains offer a cost-effective solution for insulating a walk-in cooler if the door must be left open for a significant period of time. Vapor hoods are required by law to prevent the buildup of grease-laden vapor that can present a life-threatening fire hazard when left untreated.

Not only will customers remember if they're uncomfortably warm or cold during their meal, but your kitchen staff won't be able to perform their best if their hands are shaking with cold or dripping sweat from the heat. Maintaining appropriate temperatures is essential for creating a comfortable atmosphere, which means moving air, no pests, and an agreeable temperature in every part of your business. Because different places in your establishment will have wildly varying heat outputs, you might need restaurant climate control pieces to help your HVAC unit keep up.

Common Questions About Kitchen Ventilation

What commercial kitchen climate control options are available?

Overheating is a common problem in kitchens, and one that can end up costing operators excess money in utilities as the building's HVAC unit tries to keep up. Commercial fans and small, wall-mounted HVAC units can help control the temperature in different parts of your building. Industrial floor fans are not the most attractive option and would probably be better utilized in the kitchen than the dining room, as the kitchen is already filled with industrial equipment and noise. Meanwhile, small, wall-mounted HVAC additions will cool or heat your dining room with minimal noise and a less noticeable profile. Specially designed restaurant climate control pieces are made to fit your existing dining room aesthetic with as little disruption as possible.

How do air curtains work?

Air curtains pump out a constant flow of air in a specific direction, creating a barrier that insects, debris, and gentle winds can't penetrate. By producing a constant outward pressure, lightweight objects, such as flies and leaves, are brushed away from your door, while heavier objects, such as customers, can walk right through. This does take some power, but the utility costs are usually quite small compared to costs that might come with a reputation for bugs flying around or uncomfortable customers.

What is a ventless hood?

Ventless hoods provide a way to handle grease-laden vapor without the need to run ducts to the outside of your building. If you're using small pieces of cooking equipment or only using a few, ventless kitchen ventilation systems might be the cheapest method to meeting all necessary codes. Instead of venting the vapors into the atmosphere, ventless hoods purify the air by filtering the grease out of it until it's deemed safe. Consult your local regulatory authorities to verify a ventless hood will be acceptable.

What outdoor restaurant climate control options are available?

We carry both industrial fans and heat pumps to move heat in whichever direction you want. Infrared heaters can help keep your outdoor tables warm and useful longer into the year, while a steady stream of air from a fan is a great source of restaurant ventilation. Consider the cost of the piece against the extra seating you'll be able to provide.