A kitchen extract clean happens out of hours, mostly inside ductwork you’ll never see. You’re relying on the contractor to do the whole job, record it honestly and give you paperwork that stands up if an insurer or fire officer asks. That makes choosing the right firm more important than with most maintenance work.
This checklist covers the things worth checking: scheme membership, certificates and photo reports, insurance, health and safety accreditations, and how the firm deals with parts of the system it can’t reach. It applies whether you run one kitchen or manage a whole estate.
Check scheme membership yourself
BESA writes the TR19® specification but doesn’t certify cleaning firms. Membership of an independently audited scheme is the clearest sign a contractor works to it. BESA describes the BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite scheme as the UK’s largest independently audited scheme for kitchen extract cleaning, and it now runs as the Vent Hygiene Register.
Don’t take a logo on a van as proof. Use BESA’s Find a VHR contractor search to check the firm is listed. Be wary of anyone who claims to be certified by BESA, because BESA doesn’t certify firms.
Ask to see a sample certificate and report
A good contractor will happily show you an example. If they can’t or won’t, that tells you something. Look for:
- the date, location and technician;
- a clear list of what was cleaned;
- grease readings before and after;
- before and after photos of each part of the system;
- a list of anything not cleaned, and why;
- the recommended next clean date.
Our guide to what a TR19 certificate should show explains each item.
Make sure they clean the whole system
Some firms clean the canopy and filters and call it done. TR19 Grease expects the whole system to be cleaned: canopy, plenum, ductwork, risers, fan and discharge. Ask the contractor to describe how they’ll reach each part and what they’ll do about sections without access.
The answer should be specific. “We’ll get what we can” isn’t enough. A good contractor will talk you through the route of the duct, where the panels are and how the fan and discharge will be reached, including any work at height on the roof. Read canopy-only vs full clean for why this matters.
Ask how they handle inaccessible sections
Most systems have at least one section that can’t be reached on the first visit. A good contractor will record it on the report, explain why and recommend new access panels. A poor one will leave it off the paperwork, which leaves you exposed.
Ask whether the firm can fit access panels itself. Panels should be the right type for kitchen extract ductwork and properly fitted, so they don’t leak grease or air. It saves arranging a second contractor and means the next clean can reach further.
Need it done? Duct Doctor cleans and tests kitchen extract and ventilation systems across London and the South East, with a certificate and photo report after every clean. Get a fixed quote.
Insurance and accreditations
Ask for proof of the contractor’s insurance and check it’s current. For many sites, health and safety accreditations also matter. Schemes such as CHAS and SafeContractor check a firm’s health and safety management, and ISO 9001 covers quality management. Some clients, especially larger organisations, require them before a contractor can work on site. If your site has its own contractor approval process, ask early, because paperwork can take longer than the clean.
Also ask for risk assessments and method statements for your job. These are sometimes called RAMS. They should cover isolating equipment, working at height, chemicals and waste removal.
Survey before quote
Be cautious of a firm that gives a firm price without seeing anything. Without a survey, nobody knows how long the duct is, how much grease is inside or where the access panels are. A sensible contractor surveys first, from photos and details or a site visit, and then gives a fixed quote with a clear scope. That protects you from surprise extras and makes quotes easier to compare.
See our guide to pre-clean surveys for what a good survey covers.
Working around your kitchen
Ask when the firm can work and how long the job will take. Kitchens should be cleaned while closed, with equipment off and cool. Check how the firm will protect the kitchen, contain waste grease and water, and leave the area ready for the next service.
It’s also worth asking about emergency help. If a fan fails or a fire officer raises a concern, can they come out at short notice?
Finally, ask what happens after the clean. Who sends the certificate and report, and how quickly? Will they remind you when the next clean is due? A firm that books the next visit with you before it leaves makes it much harder for a clean to slip.
Questions to ask before you book
- Are you listed on the Vent Hygiene Register?
- Will you clean the whole system, canopy to discharge?
- Will you take grease readings before and after?
- What does your certificate and photo report include?
- How will you record sections you can’t reach?
- Can you fit access panels?
- Can you test fire dampers and clean the extract fan at the same visit?
- Are you insured, and which health and safety accreditations do you hold?
- When can you work, and what’s included in the fixed price?
How Duct Doctor measures up
Duct Doctor has been trading since 2009. We’re a BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease, and we hold CHAS, SafeContractor and ISO 9001. We’re fully insured. Every job is surveyed first, quoted at a fixed price, cleaned out of hours and signed off with a TR19® certificate and a photo report. We cover London and the South East.
See our accreditations or get in touch.
Quick answers
How do I check a contractor is on the Vent Hygiene Register?
Use BESA’s Find a VHR contractor search on its website. Don’t rely on a logo alone.
Can a cleaning firm be certified by BESA?
No. BESA writes the TR19 specification but doesn’t certify cleaning firms. Look for membership of the Vent Hygiene Register instead.
What should a TR19 report include?
Date, location, technician, what was cleaned, grease readings, before and after photos, inaccessible sections and the next clean date.
Do CHAS and SafeContractor matter?
They show a firm’s health and safety management has been checked, and many larger clients require one or both.
Should I accept a quote without a survey?
It’s better not to. A survey from photos or a visit means the scope and fixed price are based on your actual system.
Related services
- Kitchen extract cleaning
- Ventilation duct cleaning
- TR19 inspections and grease testing
- Fire damper testing
More advice
- TR19 Certificates: What They Should Show
- Canopy-Only Cleaning vs a Full TR19 Clean
- What Affects the Cost of Kitchen Extract Cleaning?
- Pre-Clean Surveys: What to Expect
- All advice
This guide is general information. It isn’t legal or insurance advice: check your own policy wording and lease, and speak to a qualified adviser about your fire risk assessment.