Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Fan Repair
Keep your kitchen open and your exhaust system compliant with NFPA 96-compliant* fan repair — belts, bearings, motors, hinge kits, full replacement, and emergency response across Texas and surrounding states.
Why the Fan Is the Most Critical Link in Your Exhaust System
The fan is what pulls grease-laden air off the cookline, up through the duct, and out through the rooftop discharge. When it fails — bearing seized, belt snapped, motor burned, blade fouled — the entire system stops. The hood smokes. The fire suppression activates more easily because heat builds up. And the kitchen can’t legally operate, because NFPA 96, Section 8.2.3.3, requires the fan to be interlocked with the cooking appliances.
From Cooktop to Rooftop, the fan is the one component an operator can’t get around. A clogged filter slows airflow. A fouled duct triggers a citation. A failed fan closes the doors. Which is why fan repair is rarely scheduled — it’s almost always urgent.
Facilitec Southwest services upblast roof fans, inline fans, and utility-set fans across five states. Belt and bearing replacement is the daily work. Motor swaps, hinge kit installation, and full fan replacement come up across the portfolio. And when a fan fails outside of business hours, our After Hours Service mobilizes Certified Technicians on a 4-hour metro response when scheduling permits. A working fan is what keeps the kitchen Grease-Free and Fire-Safe through every service period.
Fan Repair Services Facilitec Southwest Provides
Every fan repair visit follows NFPA 96, 2024 Edition guidelines and supports IMC 506 compliance. The five service categories below cover almost every fan repair scenario in commercial kitchens.
Belt & Bearing Replacement
The most common fan service. Belts crack and slip. Bearings whine, overheat, and seize. Our Certified Technicians carry belts and bearings for every common upblast fan on the road and complete the swap during the regular service window. Shaft alignment, pulley wear, and motor coupling are inspected at the same visit.
Motor Replacement
When a motor burns out, the fan stops. We source the correct horsepower, voltage, frame size, and enclosure type for the specific fan, install the replacement, verify rotation, and confirm CFM against the original design spec. UL 705 and UL 762 listed equipment per IMC 506.5.
Hinge Kit Installation
NFPA 96 requires upblast roof fans to be hinged with a hold-open retainer so the fan can be lifted for cleaning of the duct, fan housing, and blade. Pre-2018 buildings often lack hinge kits — a common failed-inspection finding. We install hinge kits and hold-open retainers on the unit's existing curb.
Full Fan Replacement
When a fan is beyond repair — cracked housing, corroded base, irreparable damage — we replace the unit. Sized for the original duct and CFM, listed to UL 705 or UL 762, mounted to meet the 40-inch roof-clearance and 18-inch duct-projection requirements of NFPA 96, Section 7.8.2.1, with the 1-gallon grease drain container per Section 8.1.2.3.
Emergency Response — Fan Down
When a fan fails during service, the kitchen can't operate. Our After Hours Service mobilizes Phil Ackland Certified Technicians on a 4-hour metro response window with same-day part dispatch when the failed component is stocked. For multi-site operators, our NFPA Compliance Services route the emergency through a single dispatch line so corporate doesn't have to coordinate with five different vendors.
NFPA 96 and IMC Sections That Govern Fan Service
Fan repair work touches more sections of the standard than any other exhaust service. Below are the sections our Certified Technicians work to on every visit, with the practical reading for each one.
| SECTION | REQUIREMENT | PRACTICAL READING |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 96 §7.8.2.1 | Rooftop discharge termination | Upblast fan discharge: 40 inches above the roof surface, 18 inches of duct projection above the fan curb, grease drain to a 1-gallon container. |
| NFPA 96 §8.1.1.1 | Hinged upblast fans | Upblast fans installed on roof terminations shall be hinged and equipped with a hold-open retainer so the fan can be lifted for cleaning. |
| NFPA 96 §8.1.2.3 | Grease drain receptacle | Upblast fans shall have an approved drain directed to a continuously sloped grease container of at least 1-gallon capacity. |
| NFPA 96 §8.2.3.3 | Fan-appliance interlock | The exhaust fan shall be interlocked with the cooking appliances so that the appliances cannot operate when the fan is off. |
| NFPA 96 §11.6.13 | Fan inspection | Fan housings, blades, scrolls, and discharge tunnels shall be inspected at the frequency in Table 12.4. |
| NFPA 96 §11.6.14 | Fan cleaning | Fan housings, blades, and scrolls shall be cleaned to bare metal when grease deposits exceed the thresholds in Section 12.6.1.1. |
| IMC 506.5 | Listed equipment | Exhaust fans serving Type I hoods shall be listed to UL 705 or UL 762. Replacement fans shall be listed equipment. |
| IMC 506.3.12 | Grease-tight connection | Fan-to-duct connection shall be grease-tight. Failed gaskets and corroded connections create grease leaks onto the roof. |
| IFC 609.3.3.1 | Inspection frequency | Commercial cooking systems shall be inspected at the frequency in the published table, including the fan as a system component. |
Field Note — The Hinge Kit Catch
The single most common fire-marshal write-up Facilitec Southwest sees on rooftop fans is "fan not hinged, hold-open retainer missing." Many buildings constructed before the 2018 edition of NFPA 96 were never built with hinge kits because the requirement language was tightened. A retrofit hinge kit installs on the existing fan curb in a single visit and clears the deficiency. We carry hinge kits for every common upblast fan on the road.
Common Fan Failure Modes & Diagnostics
Most fan problems present with audible or visible symptoms before they become hard failures. Below are the diagnostics our Certified Technicians work through on every emergency call.
| SYMPTON | LIKELY CAUSE | REPAIR ACTION |
|---|---|---|
| High-pitched whine from the fan | Bearing failure — shaft starting to bind | Bearing replacement; check shaft for scoring |
| Squealing or rapid drop in airflow | Belt slip, glazing, or cracking | Belt replacement; check pulley alignment and tension |
| Fan doesn't start, no sound from motor | Motor burnout, failed capacitor, tripped breaker | Diagnose motor windings; replace motor or capacitor as needed |
| Fan starts then trips breaker | Failed capacitor, motor short, or overloaded circuit | Capacitor swap or motor replacement; verify circuit sizing |
| Visible vibration of the fan housing | Blade imbalance from grease buildup or damage | Clean blade to bare metal; rebalance or replace if damaged |
| Grease pooling around the fan curb | Blocked grease drain or failed drain container | Clear drain, replace container, redirect scupper if needed |
| Fan operates but cookline still smokes | Reduced CFM — fouled blade, slipped belt, or duct restriction | Verify motor output, belt tension, and inspect duct interior |
| Fan rotation reversed after motor swap | Phase wiring error on three-phase motor | Reverse two phase leads, confirm rotation matches arrow |
Protect Your Business With Regular Exhaust Hood Cleaning
Kitchen hood cleaning helps reduce fire risk, support inspections, and keep commercial kitchens operating safely. Facilitec Southwest provides NFPA 96-compliant kitchen hood cleaning and kitchen exhaust cleaning for restaurants, hospitals, hotels, schools, and other commercial facilities across our service areas.
Serving Kitchens of Every Industry
If your facility isn’t listed, we likely still serve it—contact us.
Why Choose Facilitec Southwest for Hood Cleaning?
Facilitec Southwest provides professional kitchen hood cleaning, detailed documentation, and flexible scheduling to help commercial kitchens stay compliant and inspection-ready.
- NFPA 96-Compliant Service* – Every cleaning is completed to support fire safety standards and inspection readiness.
- Fire Risk Reduction – Remove hazardous grease buildup before it becomes a safety issue.
- Comprehensive Cleaning – Hoods, ducts, filters, and fans cleaned as part of a full exhaust system service.
- Certified Technicians – Trained professionals using industry-approved cleaning methods and documentation practices.
- Flexible Scheduling – After-hours, overnight, and coordinated service options to reduce disruption to operations.
- Detailed Documentation – Before-and-after photos and service records to help support compliance and inspections.
- Trusted Since 1986 – Serving commercial kitchens across Texas and surrounding service areas for decades.
The Cost of a Fan Down
When the exhaust fan fails, the kitchen can't legally operate — the fan-appliance interlock under NFPA 96, Section 8.2.3.3, takes the cookline offline. For an operator, that's lost service, lost reservations, and lost revenue every hour the doors stay closed.
$5K–$15K
Estimated lost revenue per day closed for a single-location quick-service restaurant during peak hours.
$10K–$30K
Estimated lost revenue per day closed for a typical mid-range full-service restaurant on a weekend.
$20K–$50K+
Hotel banquet, casino, and high-volume operations where a closed kitchen cascades into event cancellations.
Our SLA for emergency fan response. Phil Ackland Certified Technicians dispatched within 4 hours of the call in metro Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa when scheduling permits. Same-day part dispatch when the failed component is in stock. Repair completed during the closure window so the kitchen reopens at the next service period. For multi-site operators, every emergency is coordinated through a single dispatch line.
Our Proven Hood Cleaning Process
Our hood cleaning process is designed to remove grease buildup, support fire safety, and help keep commercial kitchen exhaust systems compliant.
Hand Scrape
Remove heavy grease from the entire exhaust system.
Degrease & Pressure Wash
Apply industry-leading cleaning agents, then pressure wash to remove remaining residue.
Inspect & Certify
Repeat as needed until clean and compliant, then apply your service sticker and documentation.
What You Receive at the End of Every Fan Repair Visit
Every Facilitec Southwest fan repair closes with the documentation chain NFPA 96 expects — the same file a fire marshal, an insurance carrier, and a building owner all want to see.
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Service label on the fan or curb — per NFPA 96, Section 12.6.13. Date of service marked by perforation, name of the Phil Ackland Certified Technician who performed the work, and Facilitec Southwest's contact information. -
Service tags at every opened access panel — per Section 12.6.10. Small tags preprinted with the company name and dated, placed near every panel opened during the repair. -
Parts list with replacement details — every belt, bearing, motor, capacitor, hinge kit, or fan unit installed, with the manufacturer part number and date code. -
Before-and-after photographs of the fan, the curb, the duct connection, and the grease drain. Filed alongside the written report. -
Rotation and CFM verification after motor swaps or full fan replacement. Documented to confirm the new equipment matches the original design spec. -
Written repair report — per Section 12.6.15. Delivered to the equipment owner within two weeks of the visit. Includes date, named technician, scope of work, parts replaced, and any compliance flags the operator should address.
The complete chain gives operators peace of mind when the next fire marshal inspection lands. For the documentation standards behind each requirement, see button below.
Trusted By Major Brands
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NFPA 96 require commercial kitchen exhaust fans to be hinged?
Yes. NFPA 96, 2024 Edition, Section 8.1.1.1 requires upblast roof fans to be hinged and equipped with a hold-open retainer so the fan can be lifted for cleaning of the duct, fan housing, and blade. Pre-2018 buildings were sometimes built without hinge kits and are a common fire-marshal write-up. Facilitec Southwest installs retrofit hinge kits on the existing fan curb in a single visit.
How quickly can you respond to a fan-down emergency?
What's the most common cause of a failed exhaust fan?
Bearing failure is the most common cause. Bearings whine, overheat, and eventually seize. The second-most-common is belt failure — belts crack, glaze, or slip under high temperature. Motor burnout is third, usually preceded by repeated tripping of the breaker. Our Certified Technicians inspect bearings and belts at every regular cleaning visit per NFPA 96, Section 11.6.13, so failures are caught before they become emergencies.
How long does fan repair take?
Do you offer after-hours fan repair?
What brands of exhaust fan do you service?
Will a failed fan close my kitchen?
Yes. NFPA 96, Section 8.2.3.3, requires the exhaust fan to be interlocked with the cooking appliances so they cannot operate when the fan is off. When the fan fails, the cookline goes offline. The kitchen cannot legally serve food until the fan is repaired and the interlock is verified. This is why fan repair response time matters — every hour the fan is down is an hour the kitchen is closed.
What service areas do you cover for fan repair?
Facilitec Southwest provides exhaust fan repair across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Arkansas. Major metro response zones include Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. For multi-site portfolios, our NFPA Compliance Services route every repair through a single dispatch line.
Do you replace fans or only repair them?
Both. We repair fans wherever the unit is repairable — replacing belts, bearings, motors, capacitors, hinge kits, and grease drains. When a fan is beyond repair — cracked housing, corroded base, structural damage — we replace the unit with UL 705 or UL 762 listed equipment per IMC 506.5, mounted to meet the 40-inch roof-clearance and 18-inch duct-projection requirements of NFPA 96, Section 7.8.2.1.