Does My Insurance Require Hood Cleaning?
By Texas Hood Cleaning Co. · General planning information
Hood cleaning is a fire-code requirement — but it’s also increasingly an insurance requirement, and that’s the angle that can cost you the most if you get it wrong. Here’s how your policy and your hood are connected.
What most policies say
Commercial kitchen and restaurant property policies commonly include language requiring that cooking-exhaust systems be cleaned and maintained per NFPA 96 by a qualified company. Some require documentation of the cleaning schedule at renewal. The exact wording varies by carrier, so the safe move is to read your policy or ask your agent directly — but the trend is clear: insurers want proof.
How it affects a claim
This is where it bites. If a grease fire starts in your duct or fan and you cannot produce a current, documented cleaning history, the insurer may argue the loss resulted from failure to maintain the system — and reduce or deny the claim. A stack of dated certificates is your evidence that you did your part.
How it affects your premium
A clean, well-documented compliance record can work in your favor at renewal, while a history of lapses or a prior grease-fire claim raises your risk profile and your premium. Consistent, documented cleaning is one of the few fire-risk factors fully within your control.
What to keep on file
Keep it simple and keep it complete:
- A dated certificate from each cleaning, naming the servicing company.
- A running history that shows an unbroken schedule at your NFPA 96 tier.
- Before-and-after photos when available.
- Your service sticker current on the hood for on-site verification.
FAQ
Does my insurance actually require hood cleaning?
Most commercial kitchen policies require NFPA 96 cleaning by a qualified company, and many require documentation. The exact terms vary by carrier — check your policy or ask your agent.
Can a claim be denied over a dirty hood?
Yes. If a grease fire occurs and you can’t show a current, documented cleaning history, the insurer may reduce or deny the claim on failure-to-maintain grounds.
Does documented cleaning help my premium?
It can. A clean compliance record reduces your fire-risk profile, while lapses and prior grease-fire claims raise it.
What records should I keep?
Dated certificates from every cleaning, an unbroken schedule history, before-and-after photos, and a current service sticker on the hood.
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