Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Fan Repair: Belts, Motors, Bearings and Makeup Air
The short answer
A restaurant exhaust fan usually fails in a few predictable ways: a worn or broken belt, a motor or bearing that wears out, a fan wheel loaded with grease, or a makeup air unit that stops replacing the air the hood pulls out. When the fan slows down or stops, the kitchen gets hot and smoky, and equipment interlocked with the hood may not light at all.
- Atlantic City + 50 miles across South Jersey
- A written quote before any repair
- Nothing is repaired without your approval
What to check first
Is it running?
Hold a sheet of paper near the hood filters. Weak or no pull means the fan or belt.
Noise
Squealing usually means a belt; grinding or rumbling usually means bearings.
Filters
Grease-loaded hood filters choke the airflow. Clean or swap them first.
Doors slamming
Doors that slam or whistle can mean the makeup air is not keeping up.
Is this your problem?
Pick what you see to read what it usually means.
What fails on a kitchen exhaust fan
Belts and pulleys
Belt-drive upblast fans on the roof wear their belts and pulleys. A loose belt slips and squeals; a broken belt leaves the motor running and the fan still.
Motors and bearings
Heat and grease shorten motor and bearing life. A motor that hums, trips its breaker or runs hot is near the end.
Grease on the fan wheel
Grease builds on the wheel and housing, throws the wheel off balance and cuts airflow. Cleaning the hood and duct is a separate service; the technician tells you when the wheel needs it.
Controls and interlocks
Switches, contactors, speed controls and the interlock that ties the hood to the cooking equipment and the makeup air.
Why makeup air matters
Every cubic foot the hood pulls out has to come back in. When the makeup air unit stops, the kitchen goes negative: the hood pulls weakly, doors are hard to open, pilot lights can be affected and the dining room gets drafts. In winter, a makeup air unit that does not heat sends cold air straight onto the line.
Makeup air units are part of the same visit. See restaurant equipment repair.
How a repair visit works
The technician checks the fan on the roof and the controls in the kitchen: belt and pulleys, motor amperage, bearings, the wheel and the interlock. You get the cause and a written quote before any work starts. Nothing is repaired without your approval.
Call (609) 826-1174 or book a visit online. If the kitchen cannot cook without it, emergency service is available based on technician availability.
Keep the fan running
- Clean hood filters on the schedule your kitchen needs; heavy frying means more often.
- Have belts, bearings and the motor checked at least once a year.
- Keep hood and duct cleaning on schedule with your cleaning contractor.
- Add the exhaust and makeup air to a maintenance plan with the rest of the kitchen.
Repair or replace?
| What to look at | Repair usually makes sense when | Replacement is worth pricing when |
|---|---|---|
| The problem | An igniter, a thermostat, a valve, a safety or a heating element. | A cracked burner box, a rusted-through cabinet or failures that keep coming back. |
| The equipment | Commercial equipment that is built to be repaired and has parts available. | Parts are no longer made for it, or it no longer fits the menu. |
| The cost | The repair is a small part of the price of new equipment. | The repair is close to the price of new equipment. |
A technician tests it first and gives you a written quote, so you can compare repairing with replacing before you decide.
Brands we work on
Gesser Services is an independent service company and is not affiliated with these manufacturers. Brand names and logos belong to their owners.
Questions people ask
Why is my kitchen exhaust fan squealing?
Usually a loose or worn belt slipping on the pulley. Worn bearings tend to grind or rumble instead.
Why does the hood barely pull smoke?
Clogged filters, a slipping or broken belt, a slow motor, grease on the fan wheel, or makeup air that is not keeping up.
Will my cooking equipment work if the hood is off?
Many kitchens interlock gas equipment with the hood, so the burners do not light until the exhaust runs.
Do you repair makeup air units too?
Yes. The exhaust fan and the makeup air unit are checked together because one affects the other.
Where we work
Atlantic City and every town within 50 miles, homes and businesses.
- Atlantic City
- Ventnor City
- Brigantine
- Margate City
- Pleasantville
- Absecon
- Longport
- Northfield
- Linwood
- Smithville
- Egg Harbor Township
- Somers Point
- Ocean City
- Pomona
- Galloway
- Port Republic
- Mystic Island
- Marmora
- New Gretna
- Beach Haven
- Egg Harbor City
- Tuckerton
- Estell Manor
- Mays Landing
And 95 more towns. See the service area