West Sussex · Ductwork cleaning
Ductwork cleaning in Hickstead, West Sussex
Professional ductwork cleaning in and around Hickstead, timed so the site keeps working and finished with a written report and photos.
- An insurer asking for TR19 evidence
- Readings above 200 microns from a grease thickness test
- Grease pooling at the foot of the riser
Ductwork cleaning for kitchens and businesses in Hickstead
Each extract duct we take on in Hickstead goes through the full routine: readings at set points, heavy grease scraped out by hand, then degreasing to suit the deposit. Readings are taken again afterwards and pictures go into your report. If you have sections of duct with no access panels and an insurer asking for TR19 evidence, we can put it right, from horizontal duct runs, attenuators and access panels onwards.
Somewhere as small as Hickstead, commercial kitchens are few: perhaps a pub, a school or care home kitchen, or a hall used for events. Each still has a canopy and duct that collect grease, whatever the size of the place.
Nothing is signed off by word of mouth: a dated report with photos of the work, and for TR19® Grease cleans, a certificate issued through the BESCA VHE portal. It shows what was done and what, if anything, couldn’t be reached.
- Where
- Hickstead (RH17, BN6)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Records
- Certificate and photo report
- Quotes
- A fixed quote up front
- Working hours
- Nights, weekends or holidays to suit you
- Phone
- 0345 646 2711
- Last updated
- 30 October 2026
What we do, step by step
The visit has three parts: getting the area ready, doing the work and signing it off. Getting ready means protecting surfaces and switching off what needs to be off, while signing off means the written report and photos. Most of the time goes on the work itself, which takes anything from a few hours to several visits, depending on the length of duct. Seeing the system in pictures first means the trip to Hickstead can be planned properly.
- First the duct route is traced and every access point noted.
- Grease readings are taken at set points along the duct.
- Access panels are opened and heavy deposits scraped out by hand.
- Horizontal runs and risers are then degreased by the method that suits the deposit.
- Readings and pictures are repeated and any section we couldn’t reach is recorded.
Getting ready for the visit
- Let us know about parking and loading
- Let us know how we reach the system, including roofs, risers and plant rooms
- Find the previous report, if there is one
How to get a quote
Every quote begins with a look at the system, from your pictures and details or, where that is not enough, a survey on site. Then we send a fixed price so you know the cost before we start.
Related advice
Your questions about ductwork cleaning in Hickstead
Who would carry out a food hygiene inspection at a kitchen in Hickstead?
That is Mid Sussex council, whose environmental health officers carry out food hygiene inspections in Hickstead. Ratings are published by the Food Standards Agency, so a clean extract and good records are worth keeping up.
Who enforces fire safety at workplaces in Hickstead?
Hickstead is in the area of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Records of extract cleaning are a sensible thing to have ready if a fire safety officer carries out an audit.
How much notice do you need?
That depends on the slot you want and the size of the job. Mention your preferred dates with your enquiry, and if it’s an emergency, call us any time.
What happens to the waste?
It’s contained and taken away. We collect grease, debris and waste water as we go, so it doesn’t spread.
What do you need from me for a quote?
Only a few details: where it is, what kind of site, when it’s open and the access. Photos and any previous paperwork make it quicker. After that, simply call 0345 646 2711 or use the quote form.
Can you look after several sites?
Yes. One number covers all your sites across London and the South East, and visits can be set on a regular cycle.
How do you keep the site clean during the work?
We cover floors and nearby surfaces with sheeting before any work starts, and waste is contained as we go. At the end, the area is cleaned down.
Can extra access doors be added to the duct?
Yes, we do. The survey or clean shows where sections couldn’t be reached, and fitting them means future cleans are more complete.
Do you need ductwork cleaning in Hickstead?
A vertical riser can run up several floors. Grease collects on the riser walls and gathers at the bottom, where it can pool. Panels along the riser make proper cleaning possible.
Most sites get in touch when they notice one of these:
- Years of grease along the duct floor
- A duct clean needed for an insurer
- Grease seeping out of the duct seams
- Thick deposits at the bottom of a vertical duct
For schools such as Twineham CofE Primary School, kitchen extract cleaning is typically booked for the holidays, when the canteen is closed.
What your quote should include
- Whether they’re fully insured
- Which accreditations they hold, and whether you can check them
- How VAT is shown on the quote
- Whether they recommend a next date
What your team can do, and what needs us
Staff cleaning and specialist work aren’t the same thing. A daily filter wipe and a weekly filter wash keep grease down at the front of the system, but grease that has passed the filters is out of reach. That part needs specialist access and equipment.
Staff cleaning doesn’t replace a specialist visit; it supports it. Regular in-house cleaning slows the build-up, but hidden parts of the system still need specialist attention.
Keeping the system healthy
Once we’ve finished, these simple steps help:
- Book the next clean before the recommended date
- Keep your cleaning records together
- Never cook with a filter missing
- Get panels fitted where the duct couldn’t be cleaned
The report names every part of the duct that couldn’t be reached and why. You can then decide whether to have access panels fitted.
Extra access panels mean more of the duct gets cleaned each time. Grease you can reach is grease that gets removed.
Places near Hickstead
More services for Hickstead
Kitchen extracts in Hickstead
Food Standards Agency data counts about 3 restaurants, cafés and canteens within roughly a mile and a half of the centre of Hickstead. Behind every canopy among them is a run of ductwork that collects grease out of sight. Hickstead sits within the area of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. The Fire Safety Order puts the duty on whoever runs a kitchen to control its fire risk, and a greasy duct is fuel. Environmental health officers from Mid Sussex council inspect food businesses in Hickstead. The cleanliness of the kitchen and its equipment, extraction included, is part of what they check. Before-and-after photos from each clean are a simple way to show the extract is in hand.
Older buildings often hide long, awkward duct runs, and if you run a kitchen at a historic venue in the area (Ockenden Manor is about 3.4 miles north-east), access may need planning. Healthcare kitchens, like those at hospitals such as The Dene Hospital (about 1.3 miles east), often cook for long hours, which puts them in BESA’s heavier-use bands.
Hickstead is about 3 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. For ductwork cleaning in and around Hickstead, it’s easy to get a fixed quote: please phone us on 0345 646 2711 or use the quote form. We work across South East England and London, Hickstead included. Hickstead is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we work for commercial clients. There’s also a page for Brighton, about 10 miles away.
We cover every part of RH17 and BN6 for ductwork cleaning and the streets around it. Other places close to Hickstead include Goddards Green (1 mile east), Sayers Common (1 mile south), Abbotsford (2 miles east), Ansty (2 miles north-east) and Hurstpierpoint (2 miles south). We also work in nearby towns such as Crawley (10 miles north), Horsham (9 miles north-west), Worthing (13 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (3 miles east) and East Grinstead (14 miles north-east).
What’s near Hickstead
Typical jobs here are in premises near St Paul's Catholic College. For rail, the closest station is Burgess Hill station, about 3.1 miles east. Nearby you’ll also find The Dene Hospital (1.3 miles east) and Clayton Castle (4.6 miles south-east). For a walk, there’s Wolstonbury Hill and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
Different parts, different methods
Bends and transitions
Grease tends to pile up at elbows. It’s scraped out and degreased, and readings are taken there before and after.
Attenuators and discharge
The discharge is where the duct ends and air leaves the building. Grease can collect there and stain the area around it, so it’s cleaned as far as safe access allows.
For landlords and multi-site operators
The Fire Safety Order 2005 puts the duty to manage fire risk on the responsible person, and that can be the employer, the owner, a landlord, a facilities manager or a managing agent. Where responsibility is shared, records matter even more.
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 records stay tidy.
Why it’s worth doing now in Hickstead
TR19® is not law, but the duty to manage fire risk is. The Fire Safety Order 2005 makes the responsible person assess and reduce fire risk, and grease in the duct is part of that. Systems in rural buildings are often out of sight and out of mind.
No two sites are the same, so each one gets its own fixed quote. The size of the job, how we reach it, its condition and the working hours all play a part.
Why choose Duct Doctor in Hickstead
- Fully insured
- Fixed quotes from a survey or pictures
- Ventilation hygiene specialists since 2009
- Photo reports with every job
Read our cost guide and how to check a contractor.