What we do

New kitchen buildouts and tenant improvements. We work from architect and MEP drawings to install the full exhaust and make-up air package on new restaurant construction. Coordination with the general contractor, kitchen equipment supplier, electrical, plumbing, and fire suppression contractor is part of the job — we're used to being the trade that ties the rest of them together over a cooking line.

Retrofits and upgrades. Swapping underperforming hoods, resizing make-up air when a kitchen gets expanded, adding demand control ventilation to cut utility bills, bringing older kitchens up to current NFPA 96 standards.

Service and repair. Exhaust fan motor replacement, make-up air unit repair, control and damper troubleshooting, grease duct repair above the hood, rooftop exhaust fan service, VFD service on variable speed exhaust and make-up air fans, network integration and BAS tie-ins, safety sensors and alarm system troubleshooting.

Hoods and exhaust

What we install, retrofit, and service:

• Type I hoods — for cooking with grease: fryers, griddles, broilers, woks, ranges
• Type II hoods — for heat and steam without grease: dishwashers, ovens, steamers
• Custom fabricated hoods for non-standard kitchen layouts
• Major manufacturers including CaptiveAire and Accurex

Our install scope includes the hood, grease duct, welded joints where required, supports and hangers, rooftop curbs, exhaust fans, and the control wiring that ties it all together.

Make-up air

A kitchen exhaust system without proper make-up air is a comfort problem, an energy problem, and eventually an equipment problem. We size, install, and service make-up air units — MAUs — direct-fired, indirect-fired, and tempered — to match the kitchen's exhaust CFM and keep the cooking line balanced.

What we handle:

• New MAU installation sized to hood exhaust requirements
• Direct-fired and indirect-fired heaters
• Evaporative cooling sections for summer-heavy climates
• Balancing and controls commissioning
• Retrofit replacement for failed MAUs

Exhaust fans and rooftop equipment

Upblast and utility exhaust fans, grease containment systems, roof curbs, hinged curbs for maintenance access, and variable speed controls to match the hood's operating schedule. We service what we install and what we didn't install.

Specialty work we coordinate with

Hood cleaning and grease duct cleaning is a specialty trade. NFPA 96 requires periodic cleaning of grease-laden hoods, ducts, and exhaust fans by a certified kitchen exhaust cleaning contractor. We don't perform grease cleaning — if you need a reputable KEC contractor in your area, we can point you to one.

Kitchen facilities we've worked in

• Full-service restaurants — from small neighborhood spots to high-volume destination kitchens
• Quick-service and fast food — national brand franchises and independents
• Hotels and banquet kitchens — high-volume production kitchens with multiple hood systems
• Schools and institutional cafeterias — K-12 and higher education
• Healthcare kitchens — hospitals and extended care facilities
• Cafes and commercial food service — coffee, bakery, commissary kitchens

Typical project scope

Full kitchen ventilation buildouts typically run $100,000 to $400,000 depending on hood count, make-up air sizing, and complexity of rooftop exhaust and ductwork. We also handle smaller retrofit jobs and service contracts as standalone work.

Coverage area

Full commercial kitchen services throughout San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, Orange, and San Bernardino counties.