Welcome to our Ask the Pro series, where our Product Managers answer frequently asked questions about our equipment. This edition features Avtec’s Jefferson Kenney. There are also Ask the Pro articles about Groen, Power Soak and Randell.
The questions are:
How often should I clean the Avtec hood canopy?
Jefferson Kenney: Well, here’s what we tell people: that they need to clean it at least once a week. It can vary depending on your cooking method and your food, so do it once a week, and if you find out that that’s too often, maybe every other week.
How often should I clean the hood filters?
JK: The filters are the same as the hood. You need to wash them at least once a week. Even if you think that they’re not getting dirty, when grease gets baked on there, always being in the airstream and the hot air, it really cakes on and is hard to take off. So do those at least once a week, if not more.
How often should I clean the grease cup?
JK: Start looking at it once a week, but the grease cups in the EcoArch hood have a weep hole to let you know when they’re starting to get full, as well as the TAKU hoods. If you have any of the other hoods and models, the grease will start to leak out around the cup, so you certainly want to do it before it gets full. Keep an eye on that at least once a week.
If side skirts are included, are they installed?
JK: When side skirts are part of a hood – especially with EcoArch since they’re always shipped with it – they’re sent loose. They have acorn nuts and pan head screws to put them on, but the holes are pre-drilled and it just takes a couple people to put them in. It’s pretty easy.
How often should I clean the sensor on the EcoAzur system?
JK: The sensors for the EcoAzur need to be cleaned probably about once a week. You can see them hanging down from the hood with the blue lights twinkling. If that starts to get a little bit dull, wipe it off. You can do it with just a dry paper towel.
What does it mean when the optic sensor is blinking?
JK: If the optic sensor is blinking, it means that there is some kind of a protrusion in the way. Did somebody roll in a tall piece of equipment or twist one of the optic sensors inside the hood? If so, twist it back and the system will reset itself.
What happens when you pass your hand in front of the optic sensor?
JK: When you pass your hand in front of the optic sensor, depending on how quickly you do it, it might blink, but it will kick the fans up on high. The optic sensor in an EcoAzur system is what defaults to 100%. So if it sees smoke or grease or a hand, it will send it up to 100% and you’ll hear the fans ramp up.
Where is the touch pad located on the EcoAzur system?
JK: The touch pad on the hood I’m standing in front of is mounted on the face of it. That’s one of the more popular locations, but it can be shipped loose and put on the wall. It’s something you’ll want to check out when you get to the site.
