Reading · Grease filter exchange
Fords Farm grease filter exchange
Grease filter exchange in Fords Farm, surveyed first and signed off with a written report and photos. Ask us for a fixed quote.
- Filter washing that keeps being missed
- A canopy running with filters missing
- Smoke and heat lingering under the hood
About our grease filter exchange in Fords Farm
Across Fords Farm, our filter exchange suits restaurants, pubs, cafés, schools, care homes and other kitchens, from a single canopy to several. Visits can be timed around your service so nobody has to stop cooking. If you have filters so greasy the air can barely pass and grease left in baffles after washing, we can help.
In a smaller place like Fords Farm, the kitchens with extract systems are more likely to be a pub, a café, a takeaway or a school or care home kitchen than a big restaurant. A kitchen that cooks fewer hours still builds up grease, so the interval is set by hours of use and grease readings.
The paperwork matters as much as the work. You get a written report with photos after every visit, listing what was done, anything we couldn’t reach and when the next visit is due. File it in your maintenance log so it’s ready for an insurer, fire officer or EHO.
- Where
- Fords Farm (RG30, RG31)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Paperwork
- Report and pictures after the visit
- Quotes
- Fixed quote, normally within a working day
- When we work
- Out of hours as standard, 24/7 emergency line
- Call
- 0345 646 2711
- Checked
- 30 October 2026
How the visit works
On the day, we arrive at the time agreed with you, often in the evening, overnight or at the weekend so the site keeps working. Anything that needs to be off for the work is switched off and left to cool first, and floors and nearby surfaces are sheeted. On site, it takes anything from a few minutes to an hour or so, depending on the number of filters. We plan the journey to Fords Farm and bring what the job is likely to need.
- We look at the canopies and the condition of the filters.
- Any damaged or missing filters are noted.
- We exchange the dirty filters for a clean set.
- We check the filters are seated and the canopy is ready to use.
- Anything that needs attention, such as a greasy plenum, is pointed out.
How to prepare
- Tell us the best time to work, such as after service or at a weekend
- Dig out any earlier paperwork for the system
- Allow time for equipment near the work to be turned off and cool down
Get a fixed quote
To get a fixed quote, call us on 0345 646 2711 or send us an email with the site type, your trading hours and a short description of the system. A few photos and your last certificate or report help a lot. We normally come back within one working day.
Advice
Kitchen extracts in Fords Farm
The FSA’s food hygiene register shows about 26 cafés, restaurants and staff canteens and about 16 takeaways in Fords Farm and the streets around it, up to about 1.5 miles out. Clogged filters slow the airflow, and busy kitchens like these clog them fast. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service covers Fords Farm. In most workplaces, including commercial kitchens, it’s the fire and rescue authority that enforces the Fire Safety Order. Kitchens in Fords Farm get their food hygiene inspections from Reading council. An officer looking round a kitchen will see the canopy, and grease there is hard to miss. Keeping each certificate and photo report on file helps show the extract is looked after.
Healthcare kitchens, like those at hospitals such as Battle Hospital (about 1.7 miles north-east), often cook for long hours, which puts them in BESA’s heavier-use bands. If you run catering at a historic house or estate in the area (Mapledurham House is about 3.1 miles north), event kitchens in older buildings often have awkward duct runs that need planning.
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. Wherever you are in the RG30 postcode area, we can take on grease filter exchange. Across Reading, we cover 34 places, and Fords Farm is one of them.
Work in RG30 and RG31 follows the same survey, fixed quote and written report as everywhere else we cover. You will find streets such as Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road, and we cover them all for grease filter exchange. Neighbouring places we cover for grease filter exchange include Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). We also work in nearby towns such as Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Local landmarks in Fords Farm
Typical jobs here are in premises near Prospect School, Elvian School and The Cunning Man pub. For rail, the closest station is Reading Green Park station, roughly 1.4 miles south-east of the centre. Nearby you’ll also find Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
What happens if it’s left?
Once filters are saturated, more grease gets past them. The ductwork then loads up faster and grease readings can rise between cleans. When a site near Fords Farm shuts unexpectedly, the people who rely on it notice at once.
We don’t list prices on the website, because the cost depends on the site in front of us. For a fixed quote, ring 0345 646 2711 or use the quote form, and we will talk you through it.
Why us?
- CHAS, SafeContractor and ISO 9001
- Ventilation hygiene specialists since 2009
- Out-of-hours work and a 24/7 emergency line
- Photo reports with every job
Take a look at what affects the cost or our accreditations and certificates.
Places near Fords Farm
Also in Fords Farm
When to call us in Fords Farm
Every fry, grill and sauté sends grease-laden vapour upwards. Much of it is trapped by the filters, and day by day they load up and airflow falls away.
Look out for any of the following:
- A canopy that drips grease
- Filters left unwashed on busy weeks
- Filters that leave gaps in the canopy
- Gaps where filters have been removed
School kitchens, at schools like Kennet Valley Primary School for example, are typically cleaned in the holidays so no lunches are lost.
Questions to ask before you book
- When they can work, and whether that is outside your opening hours
- Whether VAT is included
- What’s included in the scope, part by part
- Proof of accreditation you can verify
What affects the cost of grease filter exchange
We do not publish a price list, because no two systems are the same. What we look at:
- Travel, parking and unloading
- Whether several sites go on one quote
- How big the system is
- A single visit or a regular plan
One small site or a whole estate, we price it on the same basis: what needs doing, how we get to it and when. You will have a fixed price before any work starts.
What to send for a quote
We can often survey from photos. The most useful are:
- The times we could work without disrupting the site
- Any previous report or certificate
- Any symptoms, from odd noises to smells or leaks
- Where the plant sits or the system leaves the building, such as a roof or outside wall
We don’t publish a price list, because every site is different. Instead, we look at your site first, from pictures or a survey, then send a fixed quote. To start, call us on 0345 646 2711, or email photos.
Your questions about grease filter exchange in Fords Farm
Can you clean school kitchen extracts in Fords Farm during the holidays?
Yes, out-of-term visits are normal for schools. Around Fords Farm, the Food Standards Agency lists about 9 schools and colleges with registered kitchens within a mile and a half or so. Tell us your holiday dates and we’ll book the visit for when the site is empty.
Do you work at weekends in Fords Farm?
Yes, out-of-hours work is a big part of what we do. The work in Fords Farm can fit around your hours. Just call 0345 646 2711 or use the quote form with your opening times and we will plan around them.
Is there a cleaning option for the filters we have?
Yes, filters can be cleaned on a schedule as well as exchanged. We will explain the options when you get in touch.
What if some of our filters are damaged?
We check every filter at each visit. We tell you about any that are damaged, because gaps let grease into the plenum.
Is there a survey before the work?
Yes. Every job is surveyed first, either from pictures and details you send or on a site visit. A fixed quote follows.
Does the report say when we need you again?
Yes. The report recommends when the next visit should be, based on use and what we found.
What happens to the dirty filters?
We do. Used filters go with us to be cleaned and the clean set stays in the canopy.
What types of filter do you exchange?
We exchange baffle and mesh filters. At the start, we note what your canopies use so every set we bring fits.
Multi-site and managed buildings
Landlords, managing agents and facilities managers book us, not only the businesses that use the systems. Shared systems, like a riser serving several units, need a clear agreement on who books the work, and we are happy to quote for all of it.
When the building owner and the occupier are different, the lease normally sets out who maintains what. We can quote either party, and the report can go to both.
Keeping the system healthy
Good habits slow the build-up between visits. A few tips:
- Do not let the full clean slip because filters are changed
- Keep the canopy clear for exchange visits
- Keep every filter in place during service
- Watch for grease drips between visits
The canopy looks cleaner and the air moves better right away. Always run the extract during cooking so the filters do their job.
If filters are already dripping, they’re overdue. A clean set straight away cuts the grease in the canopy, and it’s worth checking the plenum too.
What staff can safely do
Keep a record of what your team does. A simple log of filter washes, wipe-downs and checks shows an inspector that the system is looked after between visits, next to our reports.
In-house cleaning and specialist cleaning do different jobs. A daily filter wipe and a weekly filter wash keep grease down at the front of the system, but they don’t reach the grease that builds up further in. That part needs specialist access and equipment.