Most commercial cooking equipment – such as ranges, griddles, and fryers – requires the use of an exhaust hood. These hoods are designed to remove smoke, heat, steam, and fumes, as well as dirty kitchen air. However, the air in commercial kitchens is filled with bits of grease and food residues that can quickly clog up the ductwork in a hood system if not properly filtered out. By selecting the appropriate hood filter for your establishment, you can keep your exhaust hood working at peak performance and ensure clean kitchen air.

Filter Material
12 inchH x 20 inchW x 2 inch Thick Stainless Steel Hood Filter – Ridged Baffles

Stainless steel hood filters are durable and easily washable, making them great for high-volume establishments where saving time is important. For maximum convenience, stainless steel filters can be placed in the dishwasher or soaked in water, unlike filters made of aluminum. They can also be cleaned by hand or with a pressure washer and are available in an array of styles and sizes to fit common kitchen exhaust hoods.
20 inch X 25 inch X 2 inch Thick Aluminum Hood Filter – Kleen-Gard

Aluminum hood filters are a more economical choice for lower-volume kitchens. However, they are not as durable as stainless steel filters. Aluminum hood filters are best cleaned by hand and should not be placed in a commercial dishwasher.

Filter Design

Each hood filter is designed to be used so that the metal ridges, or baffles, are positioned vertically when holding the filter in front of you. As dirty kitchen air comes in contact with the filter, these vertical baffles catch grease and other deposits, allowing them to drain down and out into collection trays. This keeps the rest of the hood from getting clogged with grease, reducing fire hazards and resulting in cleaner air.

Filter Sizing
Exhaust Hood Filter Measurements

When choosing the proper filter for your exhaust hood, it is important to be sure you have the correct measurements for the “long” side and the “wide” side. To determine which side is which, hold the filter so that the baffles (ridges) run vertically from top to bottom like in the photo below. The long side runs perpendicular to the baffles from left to right, while the wide side is the vertical measurement.

Filter measurements are commonly listed in nominal sizing, meaning measurements are slightly rounded up to the nearest whole number. Exact measurements of the filters are approximately 1/2″ smaller in size.