A range hood is an essential piece of equipment for any kitchen, and it must have a robust external blower to pull out the stale air and bring in some clean, fresh air. Commercial kitchens are chaotic, with tons of gases, grease, and odors everywhere, making an external blower more critical. This blog looks at external blowers and how Telco can help you find what you need.
What Is an External Blower for a Range Hood?
An external blower for a range hood is a specially designed metal box that contains a ventilator, filter, and motor. These three devices push out air from cooking – air full of grease, hot gases, and odors – and pull in clean outside air.
External blowers for a range hood are placed outside the building and air ducts are connected to the range to complete this process. Generally, the external blower boxes consist of stainless steel, while the air ducts linking the range to the blower use aluminum to stop any heat from being absorbed into the metal.
How Does It Work?
An external blower operates by pulling all the heat, smoke, and smells out of the kitchen and replacing it with fresh air from outside. This exchange in air results in lower temperatures in the kitchen and cleaner air, making it a more comfortable working environment – all thanks to the blower motor.
Range hoods that use external blowers require an air duct to run between the length of the range hood to an outside vent of the commercial kitchen, making their installation highly versatile. Most kitchens have their unit fitted through a wall or hung from the ceiling, with the actual blower resting outside the building.
Below are several of the critical factors to keep in mind if you’re considering an external blower:
Performance
The purpose of any external blower is to flush out any hot gases while cooking is occurring and then bring in clean air from outside the kitchen. At the same time, most external blowers tend to consume more electricity than internal blowers. However, when it comes to performance, they are noticeably quieter than internal ones.
Ultimately, external blowers are far more effective than internal blowers because they don’t recycle used air but constantly bring in fresh air from the outside. External blowers are specifically for heavy-duty commercial cooking, where many hot gases and odors appear.
Placement and Installation
External blowers can be quite complex and take some time to be functional. It is a good idea to have all installations done by a professional. Most external blowers and range hoods function by being connected by a network of conduits, which require careful placement in the ceiling or walls of the commercial kitchen.
If a professional installs your external blower for your range hood, you can rest easy knowing everything is done correctly and up to the proper code.
Cleaning
Lastly, cleaning out your external blower as often as possible is essential, with tons of grease, gases, and food particles being pulled out of the kitchen and into the blower. It is wise to regularly clean your unit, which helps to ensure the safety of everyone in the kitchen.
A standard method for cleaning out any external blower is to start by removing the filter and then scrubbing out all the grease and debris off the surface of the blower. After that, soak it in warm water with a cleaning detergent to break down any stuck-on grime.
You can clean it in the dishwasher after letting it soak for about 40 minutes. Once that is complete, wipe it down with a clean, dry cloth, and install it back onto the external blower. Scheduling consistent times to clean the external blower, will ensure the safety of everyone in the kitchen.
What are the Benefits of an External Blower?
An external blower for a range hood is a perfect match for any busy commercial kitchen. With tons of dishes being cooked and going out, an external blower can ensure fresh air is constantly coming in, and greasy air from the stove is going out. Below are three main benefits why an external blower is an excellent asset for any commercial kitchen environment.
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Quiet
Overall, external blowers are much quieter, as their installation occurs on the exterior of the building. In contrast, internal blowers (more common for residential buildings) tend to be much noisier, which is the last thing you need in a loud commercial kitchen. Ultimately, it is no wonder why external blowers for a range hood are a favorite for commercial kitchens everywhere.
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Cost-Effective
External blowers are expensive compared to internal ones. However, it is important to remember that external blowers are for heavy-duty environments and commercial kitchens, where excessive gases, grease, and odors are typically present.
External blowers can exchange air for long periods. In the end, a kitchen with a great blower will be able to serve more customers efficiently, keep all staff safe, and reap back the costs sooner.
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Safety
An external blower helps to ensure commercial kitchens stay a safe place to work, no matter how busy. With an external blower installed, it gives peace of knowing that whether it is the weekday lunch rush or the holiday season, any gases, grease, and odors leave the kitchen and fresh, clean air comes in from outside.
Connect with Us to Learn More!
With a wide range of available products and many range hood parts, Telco is the place to go if you’re looking for the latest external blowers for commercial kitchens. Check out our food industry equipment motors or learn about our exciting line of available external blower products! As a one-stop solution, Telco is about making life easier for our customers when it comes time to purchase.
