Inspector flagged the hood or duct
When the fire marshal or building inspector writes up the exhaust system, we read the notice, find the cause on site and correct it so the reinspection passes.
Serving Elgin & nearby St. Charles, Bartlett
Commercial Kitchen Hood Installation in Elgin, IL
Type I and Type II exhaust hoods, grease duct, exhaust fans and makeup air installed for restaurants and food-service kitchens in Elgin.
- Commercial kitchens across Elgin ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140
- Nights, early mornings and closed days
- Coordination with the fire and health inspectors
Hood and ventilation problems we solve for Elgin kitchens
A commercial hood is a system, not a box on the wall: the canopy, the welded grease duct, the roof fan, makeup air and a fire suppression system all have to work and pass inspection together. We install that system for restaurants, cafes, bakeries and institutional kitchens in Elgin, built to NFPA 96 and the village's mechanical code.
Adding a fryer or charbroiler under the wrong hood
Menu changes bring new appliances, and the hood has to keep up. We measure coverage, recalculate exhaust and coordinate new suppression nozzles for the added equipment.
New restaurant needs a hood before opening
Build-outs stall when the hood is an afterthought. We size the canopy, route the duct and plan makeup air early, so the mechanical permit and final inspection line up with your opening.
Duct too close to combustibles
In older buildings the grease duct often passes through a ceiling or wall without the required clearance or fire-rated protection. We reroute or enclose it to meet code.
Smoke rolls out past the hood
A cook line that fills the room with haze is uncomfortable and a sign the exhaust can't keep up. We check hood size, fan performance and makeup air together.
Old hood with no fire suppression or an outdated system
If your hood has no suppression, or the service tag says the system is obsolete, the fix touches the hood, the nozzles and the gas shutoff. We coordinate that work with the suppression contractor.
Exhaust fan noisy, slipping or dead
When the upblast fan on the roof fails, the cook line has to shut down. We replace motors, belts or the whole fan and add a hinge kit for cleaning access.
Taking over a space with a used hood
Reusing a hood left by a previous tenant can save time, but only if the size, duct and suppression suit your cooking. We assess it and list what needs upgrading.
What the job covers
- Site survey and equipment reviewWe look at the cook line, the roof and the path between them, and list every appliance that goes under the hood.
- System design and sizingHood length and type, exhaust volume, duct size and makeup air are sized to the equipment and cooking load.
- Roof penetration and curbA cut through the roof, a fan curb and flashing done so the roof stays watertight.
- Grease duct installationWelded, liquid-tight grease duct with cleanout access, sloped toward the hood and kept clear of combustibles.
- Exhaust fan installationAn upblast exhaust fan on a hinged base with grease containment, wired to the hood controls.
- Start-up and airflow checkFans and makeup air started, balanced and checked so the hood captures smoke at full cooking.
- Inspections and closeoutFinal inspections attended, corrections made and the permit closed.
Equipment and options
Type I hoodThe grease hood for fryers, griddles, ranges and broilers, with listed baffle filters and fire suppression.
Type II hoodA heat and condensate hood for dish machines, steamers and ovens that don't produce grease.
Baffle filtersListed stainless or aluminum baffles that trap grease and keep flame out of the duct.
Duct wrap and rated enclosuresFire protection for duct runs that can't keep open clearance to building materials.
Upblast exhaust fanThe common choice for grease exhaust, hinged so the cleaning crew can reach the wheel and duct.
What the work looks like in Elgin homes
Before
Installed
DetailElgin kitchen, commercial kitchen: commercial kitchen hood installation
This one is a commercial kitchen near West Side. The reason for the call: an exhaust system that had been written up at inspection. After: a new stainless type I exhaust hood with fire suppression nozzles over the cook line. The job covered roof penetration and curb, start-up and airflow check, plus inspections and closeout.
Before
AfterSt. Charles kitchen, cafe kitchen: commercial kitchen hood installation
This one is a cafe kitchen in St. Charles. What bothered the owners most: an exhaust system that had been written up at inspection. After: a new stainless type I exhaust hood with fire suppression nozzles over the cook line. The job covered site survey and equipment review, start-up and airflow check, plus inspections and closeout.
Commercial Kitchen Hood Installation in St. Charles →
Before
AfterCommercial Hood Cleaning in a bakery kitchen, Elgin
Finished: the same hood degreased to bare stainless with an inspection sticker area.
Commercial Hood Cleaning in Elgin →
Before
AfterElgin kitchen, cafe kitchen: grease trap installation & cleaning
Finished: the same interceptor pumped and the lid closed, service hose coiled on the truck.
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning in Elgin →
Before
AfterElgin kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen remodeling
Cabinets in white uppers and deep green lowers with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Elgin →From survey to sign-off
- Call with your equipment listTell us what you cook, what equipment goes under the hood and where the space is.
- Site surveyA visit to measure the line and see how exhaust and makeup air can run.
- Written proposal and permitsYou get a written, itemized proposal, then we prepare the drawings and file for permits.
- InstallationWe install the system, coordinate suppression and keep the rest of the trades moving.
- Testing and inspectionStart-up, airflow check, final inspections and the permit closed.
Commercial Kitchen Hood Installation questions from Elgin businesses
What does a commercial hood installation cost?
We don't quote hoods blind. The size of the line, the duct path and the makeup air needed set the cost, and we put it in writing after the visit.
Do you work on school, church and daycare kitchens?
We do. Whether it's a cafeteria line or a church kitchen used for events, we plan the right hood type and get it permitted.
Who approves a new restaurant hood in Elgin?
Expect three reviewers: building and mechanical, fire, and health for a new or remodeled food establishment. We coordinate the ventilation submittals.
Who installs and services the fire suppression system?
A licensed fire suppression contractor installs, certifies and services it on a regular schedule. We coordinate with them so the hood, nozzles and gas shutoff work together.
Why do I need makeup air?
Every cubic foot the hood pulls out has to come back in. Without makeup air the kitchen goes negative, doors fight you, hoods lose capture and gas appliances can backdraft.
Elgin contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
City requires a notarized letter of intent from all licensed contractors; general contractors submit one for each licensed subcontractor. We take care of that before work starts.
Which Elgin office signs off on hood work?
Fire Prevention Bureau, 550 Summit St. We schedule the inspection and have the paperwork ready.
Elgin building permit for hood installation: where do I apply?
Permits go through Community Development Department (Building permits), City of Elgin, 150 Dexter Court, phone 847-931-6001. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do you work in my part of Elgin?
Yes. Our crews work across Elgin, including Gifford Park, West Side, Downtown — ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140 — and nearby St. Charles, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Elgin
- We plan Elgin jobs around your service hours, including early mornings, nights and closed days.
- When a permit is required, we prepare the submittal for Community Development Department (Building permits), City of Elgin, 150 Dexter Court and meet the fire inspector on site.
- Insurance certificates, site access and landlord requirements are sorted out before work starts.
Gifford ParkWest SideDowntown
ZIP 60123ZIP 60124ZIP 60120ZIP 60140
Commercial Kitchen Hood Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Elgin
Commercial Hood CleaningHood, duct and roof fan degreased to bare metal, after hours.
Grease Trap Installation & CleaningTraps and interceptors installed, cleaned and logged for inspectors.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.