Medway · Ductwork cleaning
Ductwork cleaning in Hale, Medway
We cover Hale for ductwork cleaning. Out-of-hours visits, a fixed quote and a written report with pictures as standard.
- A rancid smell from the extract duct
- Fat dripping from the ductwork
- High readings at a recent grease test
How we handle ductwork cleaning in Hale
Every duct has its own route. A few metres to an outside wall, or a riser up through the building to a roof fan. The survey traces the route, so we know where to get in and how long it will take. Typical jobs include a grease test showing the duct is overdue and duct runs with no cleaning record, on horizontal duct runs, bends and junctions and vertical risers.
In a village or hamlet like Hale, the kitchens that need extract cleaning are usually a pub, a school, a care home or a hall kitchen, wherever there is one. Every one of them still needs its extract kept clear of grease.
We have been trading since 2009, and we’re a BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease. We also hold CHAS, SafeContractor and ISO 9001, and we’re fully insured.
- Location
- Hale (ME5)
- Wider area
- Medway
- Paperwork
- Certificate plus before-and-after pictures
- Quote
- A fixed quote up front
- Hours
- When your site is closed, plus a 24/7 line
- Telephone
- 0345 646 2711
- Last updated
- 30 October 2026
What the work involves, part by part
Vertical risers
Risers carry the extract up through the building to the roof. Grease collects on the walls and at the foot of the riser, which is one of the points we test.
Horizontal duct runs
Horizontal runs carry the extract along ceilings and through voids. Grease drops out of the slowing air along them, so each section is cleaned through its access panels.
Common problems we fix in Hale
Many ducts don’t have enough access panels. Stretches with no way in may never have been touched, and grease there keeps thickening unseen.
Clients typically contact us after spotting one of these:
- High readings at a recent grease test
- Thick crusts of old grease along the duct
- A rancid smell from the extract duct
- Thick deposits at the bottom of a vertical duct
Bursars and site managers at schools such as Kingfisher Community Primary School tend to book extract cleaning for when the kitchen is empty.
Questions to ask before you book
- What happens if part of the system cannot be accessed
- Proof of insurance
- If they look at the system before pricing
- When the next visit should be, and why
Staff cleaning versus specialist work
Some jobs should never be done in-house: opening up ductwork, cleaning fans, drop testing fire dampers and measuring grease need training, the right equipment and safe access. That is our job.
Good housekeeping makes our visits easier, not unnecessary. Clean filters and tidy surfaces slow the build-up, but hidden parts of the system still need specialist attention.
Between visits
Results last longer with the right care. Here’s what we suggest:
- Keep the fan on while anything is cooking
- Consider fitting panels where the report shows gaps
- Keep your cleaning records together
- Report any grease dripping from duct joints
Every panel we open is refitted when we finish, and the surrounding area is left clean. Waste grease and water are taken away.
The less grease gets past the canopy, the cleaner the duct stays. Keep the filters clean, well fitted and in place whenever you cook.
How the visit works
When we arrive, we check the system against the survey or the pictures you sent. Anything unexpected is raised with you before we go further. From there, it takes from a few hours to more than one visit, depending on duct length and access. We agree a date with you, plan the drive to Hale and turn up when the site is quiet.
- First the duct route is traced and every access point noted.
- We measure grease thickness at set points before cleaning.
- We open the panels and scrape out the heaviest grease.
- The duct is degreased with the method that suits the grease, from degreasers to hot water or steam.
- We test again, take pictures and note any part that couldn’t be reached.
Getting ready for the visit
- Find the previous report, if there is one
- Tell us about site rules, permits or sign-in
- Tell us where we can park and unload
Ask for a quote
Quotes are quick. Call or email with a few details and you will usually have a fixed price within one working day. If we need to see the system first, we book a survey around your hours.
Read more
When something else is needed
It’s worth knowing the limits before booking:
- A damper stuck open in the duct
- Leaking duct joints that need repair
- Duct sealed behind fixed ceilings or walls
If in doubt, phone us on 0345 646 2711 or email us and we’ll say what we think.
What the work covers
- Attenuators
- Access panels
- Multi-storey ducts
- Vertical risers
- Horizontal duct runs
- Bends and junctions
Hale: your questions answered
Do you do school kitchen extract cleaning in Hale in the summer holidays?
Yes, and it’s the easiest time to do it. There are about 25 schools, colleges and universities on the FSA’s food hygiene register within about 1.5 miles of Hale. You can phone us on 0345 646 2711 or drop us a line with the dates the site is empty.
Who enforces fire safety at workplaces in Hale?
It’s Kent Fire and Rescue Service, which covers Hale. A recent cleaning certificate and a note of the next clean date show that grease in the extract is being managed.
What if part of the duct can’t be reached?
Ductwork needs access to be cleaned. We record those sections on the report and can fit access panels.
Can you set up regular visits?
Yes, of course. Send details of the systems and how they’re used and we’ll propose a schedule with a fixed quote.
Do I get a certificate for ductwork cleaning?
You get a photo report with before and after pictures, and a full TR19 clean also comes with a certificate issued through the BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite portal. File them with the fire risk assessment.
Can you come out in an emergency?
Yes, day and night, every day of the year. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with the emergency line covering every other hour.
Are you accredited?
CHAS, SafeContractor, ISO 9001 and BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite membership, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease. We have been trading since 2009 and we’re fully insured.
Which sectors do you work in?
Any commercial site with kitchens or ventilation, from a single café to a large school. We work with hotels, schools, care homes, offices, retail and leisure sites.
Managing agents and facilities teams in Hale
For anyone managing more than one site, we can schedule visits across all of them on one quote. Every building has its own written report, so each one has its own record.
The Fire Safety Order 2005 puts the duty to manage fire risk on the responsible person, which may be the employer, owner, landlord, FM or managing agent. With shared responsibility, good records help everyone.
More services for Hale
Grease, kitchens and Hale
Sea air reaches Hale, which sits within about 3 miles of the coast. Corrosion on the fan housing and cowl is worth a look at every clean, alongside the grease. According to Food Standards Agency records, there are about 12 pubs and bars in Hale and the streets around it, up to about 1.5 miles out. Where they serve hot food, their kitchen extracts need cleaning to TR19® like any restaurant’s. It’s Medway council that sends environmental health officers to food businesses in Hale. They look at how clean the premises and equipment are, and the kitchen extract is part of that. Our report lists what was cleaned and when, which is useful to have ready.
Church and community hall kitchens, near Christ Church or anywhere around Hale, are easy to forget, but their extracts collect grease like any other. If you run catering at a historic house or estate in the area (Restoration House is about 2.7 miles north-west), event kitchens in older buildings often have awkward duct runs that need planning.
Hale is about 1 mile south-west of Gillingham, in Medway. We carry out ductwork cleaning for businesses, landlords and public buildings in Hale and the rest of Medway. Our Medway coverage runs to 68 places, and Hale is one of them. We also work in Maidstone, about 7 miles from Hale.
Every address in ME5 is covered for ductwork cleaning, from the main roads to the quietest streets. Neighbouring places we cover for ductwork cleaning include Darland (1 mile south-east), Capstone (1 mile south-east), Luton (1 mile north-west), Gillingham (1 mile north-east) and Chatham (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Rochester (3 miles north-west), Strood (4 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north), Rochester Riverside (3 miles north-west), Peters Village (4 miles west) and Frindsbury (3 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Hale
We work in commercial kitchens and buildings around The Star pub, Chatham Grammar School for Girls and Darland Banks and the streets around them. The closest station to Hale is Gillingham (Kent) station, about 1.6 miles north. A little further out are Rochester Castle (2.9 miles north-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (1.9 miles north-west). The countryside around Hale includes Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.