Greater London · Ductwork cleaning
Swiss Cottage ductwork cleaning
Ductwork cleaning for Swiss Cottage and the surrounding area: diagnosis first, then a fixed quote, the work and a report with photos. Call for a fixed quote.
- An insurer asking for TR19 evidence
- Grease seeping out of the duct seams
- Heavy grease at the base of a riser
About our ductwork cleaning in Swiss Cottage
Many ducts were installed with too few access doors. TR19 calls for any section we couldn’t reach to be recorded, and we can fit new access panels so it’s cleaned next time. It’s better to know than to assume. Common call-outs are for duct runs with no cleaning record and a rancid smell from the extract duct, on bends and junctions, attenuators and multi-storey ducts.
Across London, many commercial kitchens are squeezed into basements and narrow back-of-house spaces, with extract ducts that can climb several floors to discharge at roof level. For a kitchen in Swiss Cottage, that usually means a longer system to clean and more access panels to plan around.
For insurers and inspectors, the record counts. So every job comes with a written report and photos, and grease extract cleans come with a TR19® certificate issued through the BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite portal.
- Place
- Swiss Cottage (NW3, NW8, NW6)
- Wider area
- Greater London
- Records
- Certificate and photo report
- Price
- A fixed price before any work starts
- Hours
- After hours by arrangement; emergencies any time
- Phone
- 0345 646 2711
- Last updated
- 30 October 2026
What ductwork cleaning can’t fix
An honest diagnosis matters more to us than a booking, so here’s what ductwork cleaning will not do:
- Duct sealed behind fixed ceilings or walls
- A worn-out fan that needs replacing
- A damper stuck open in the duct
Not sure which it is? You can call us on 0345 646 2711 or email us and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
What the work covers
- Access panels
- Multi-storey ducts
- Vertical risers
- Attenuators
- Horizontal duct runs
- Bends and junctions
Managing agents and facilities teams in Swiss Cottage
We also work for facilities teams across offices, schools and healthcare across Greater London. Work can be phased by floor, building or site around the people who use them.
From a single site to a large estate, the standard is the same: diagnosis, a fixed price, work booked around your hours and a written report with pictures.
Why it’s worth doing now in Swiss Cottage
Dealing with the ductwork in Swiss Cottage now beats dealing with it after a problem. The work takes anything from a few hours to several visits, depending on the length of duct, and we work evenings, overnight and weekends. Shared walls, risers and roofs mean a problem at one London site seldom stays put.
You will not find a price list here, because the cost depends on the site in front of us. For a fixed quote, call us on 0345 646 2711 or email us, and we will explain what it covers.
Why us?
- A BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease
- A written report with pictures after each visit
- A single point of contact for sites across the South East and London
- Ventilation hygiene specialists since 2009
Take a look at what affects the cost and how to check a contractor.
Common problems we fix in Swiss Cottage
A greasy duct is a fire path, in Swiss Cottage as anywhere. Burning grease can carry fire through the ductwork to other rooms or floors, which is why the responsible person needs it under control.
These are the problems we see most often:
- Proof of duct cleaning for the insurer
- Fat dripping from the ductwork
- Duct runs that cannot be reached
- Readings above 200 microns from a grease thickness test
Kitchens that cook twelve hours or more a day, as some healthcare kitchens do, fall into BESA’s three-monthly minimum; Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth is the nearest hospital to Swiss Cottage, about 0.7 miles south.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether the work can be done while the site is closed
- Whether inaccessible sections are listed on the report
- What’s included in the scope, part by part
- How VAT is shown on the quote
How it works
Each visit runs to the same pattern: protect the area, make the system safe, carry out the ductwork cleaning, clear away and hand over the paperwork. The visit itself takes anything from a few hours to several visits, depending on the length of duct. Managed blocks in London often need contractors booked in ahead, and we are happy to deal with the agent directly for a site in Swiss Cottage.
- Diagnosis: a survey of the duct’s route, size and access.
- A fixed quote follows, based on what we found.
- Each section is cleaned in turn through its access panel.
- Bends, risers and the base of each riser get extra attention.
- The duct is signed off with readings, pictures and a next clean date.
Preparing for the visit
- Tell us the best time to work, such as after service or at a weekend
- Move anything stored near the system
- Find the previous report, if there is one
Ask for a quote
Photos are the quickest way to a quote: the system from a couple of angles, plus any access panels or hatches. Tell us what kind of site it is and when it’s open, and we can price many jobs without a visit.
Advice
Nearby places to Swiss Cottage
Other services in Swiss Cottage
Between visits
So the system stays in good health:
- Consider fitting panels where the report shows gaps
- Keep access panels clear of stored items
- Make sure filters are seated properly
- Report any grease dripping from duct joints
When the duct is cleaned as part of a full TR19® Grease clean, a TR19 certificate is issued through the BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite portal. It shows when and where the clean was done and by whom.
Watch for warning signs between cleans: grease leaking from duct joints, smells, or a fan that sounds rough. Testing will show whether any section has reached 500 microns.
Your questions about ductwork cleaning in Swiss Cottage
Can you clean school kitchen extracts in Swiss Cottage during the holidays?
Yes, holiday work suits schools best. Food Standards Agency records list about 70 schools, colleges and universities with registered kitchens within about a mile and a half of Swiss Cottage. Send us your term dates when you give us a ring on 0345 646 2711, or email photos, and we will fit the work in.
Which fire authority looks after Swiss Cottage?
That’s London Fire Brigade. A recent cleaning certificate and a note of the next clean date show that grease in the extract is being managed.
Do you offer maintenance contracts?
Yes. Scheduled maintenance plans are part of what we do, with visits at the interval your system needs. Each report recommends when the next visit should be.
Where does the waste go?
It’s contained and taken away. Grease, debris and waste water are collected as the work goes on, so it does not spread.
What is TR19?
TR19® is the BESA specification for keeping ventilation systems clean. Since 2019, TR19® Grease has been a standalone specification for grease in kitchen extract systems, while TR19® Air covers other supply and extract ductwork.
How do you clean inside the ductwork?
Each section is cleaned through its own panel. Heavy grease comes out by hand, and what’s left is degreased, with readings taken before and after.
What if parts of the system cannot be reached?
The report shows them clearly. In ductwork, new access panels are often the answer, and we can fit those.
What happens if there are not enough access panels?
Every reachable section is cleaned and the rest recorded. Extra panels can be installed, and we can do that for you.
Kitchen extracts in Swiss Cottage
Food Standards Agency records include about 74 pubs, bars and clubs and about 22 hotels and B&Bs in and around Swiss Cottage, up to about a mile and a half out. Breakfasts, bar meals and functions all put grease into the extract wherever they’re cooked. In London, kitchens are normally cleaned overnight, when the kitchen is closed and loading is easier. It’s Camden council that sends environmental health officers to food businesses in Swiss Cottage. A greasy canopy or dripping filters are the sort of thing an inspection can pick up. Our report lists what was cleaned and when, which is useful to have ready.
If you look after a school kitchen, at a school such as The UCL Academy or anywhere near Swiss Cottage, the holidays are the usual time for a TR19® clean. A hall kitchen that only cooks for events, whether near Church of All Souls or elsewhere in Swiss Cottage, still needs its extract cleaned, just less often.
Swiss Cottage is about 1 mile south of Hampstead, in Greater London. Wherever you are in the NW3 postcode area, we can take on ductwork cleaning. Swiss Cottage is one of 764 places in Greater London where we work for commercial clients.
Our technicians cover all of the NW3, NW8 and NW6 postcode area for ductwork cleaning and the roads nearby. Ductwork cleaning is available to premises on Avenue Road, Acacia Road and Harben Road and nearby roads. Close by, we work in South Hampstead (1 mile north), St John's Wood (1 mile south), Haverstock (1 mile east), Belsize Park (1 mile east) and Primrose Hill (1 mile east). We also work in nearby towns such as London (4 miles south-east), Kensington (3 miles south-west), St Pancras (3 miles south-east), Shoreditch (4 miles east), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east) and Hoxton (4 miles east).
Local landmarks in Swiss Cottage
In Swiss Cottage, that means kitchens and buildings near Cafe Med pub, Holy Trinity CofE Primary School and Primrose Hill and the streets around them. Also close by are Cecil Sharp House (1.1 miles east) and St. Mary's Town and Country School (within half a mile north-east). There’s a railway station in Swiss Cottage itself: South Hampstead station. Nearby you’ll also find Montfichet's Tower (3.7 miles south-east) and Isokon Gallery (0.8 miles north-east). For a walk, there’s The Long Water and Primrose Hill.
What staff can safely do
Keep a record of what your team does. A simple log of filter washes, wipe-downs and checks helps show that the system is managed between specialist visits, next to our reports.
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 they do not reach the grease that builds up further in. Reaching it takes a specialist with the right equipment.