Sky wrote:
>
>How does one go about getting the stove/oven vent flume (exhaust pipe)
>cleaned? Would that be the chore of a chimney sweep? When is cleaning
>indicated - regularly on schedule or when a problem is noticed? What
>price can one expect to pay to get a "home" cook stove vent flume
>cleaned of years' worth of cooking fumes/grease/etc. ? Heck, about how
>much does it cost to clean a restaurant's cooking exhaust flume?
>
>I've never researched how to get grease cleaned from cooking exhaust
>systems before, so this is my starting point - to ask here on RFC for
>folks' personal experiences with this aspect of home (and restaurant)
>maintenance. TIA.

You don't mean the stove exhaust vent (those should never need
cleaning). I think you mean the exhaust/hood fan vent, not really a
part of the stove unless yours is a down draft style. It's difficult
to say without knowing more information... there are so many kinds and
so many ways to install those things. Some exhaust to the outdoors,
others have a filter of sorts and exhaust indoors, while others
contain an ozone generator that zaps smoke/grease particles. I need
to know more. Post a picture or a link to the model you have...
probably the best place to get info is from the unit's manufacturer...
there may be maintenence info at their website, probably in the
owner's manual, or phone their customer service and pray you don't get
a moron. My stove exhaust is a hood above that contains a fan and
vents to the outdoors... it also has two stainless steel baffle things
that collect grease to minimize build up in the vent flue, those go
into the dishwasher periodically. I examine the inside of the flue
occasionally by peering up into it with a flashlight (makes me feel
like a gyn) and it doesn't appear to need cleaning, but if it did I
can go up in my attic and remove that piece of plenum, take it
outdoors and hit it with my new power washer. Good luck.