West Sussex · Grease filter exchange
Grease Filter Exchange in Merston
Grease filter exchange for commercial sites in Merston and across West Sussex. BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite member, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease.
- Weak extraction at the canopy
- A canopy that drips grease
- Grease left in baffles after washing
Keeping the system healthy
Aftercare is simple, and it makes the next visit easier:
- Do not let the full clean slip because filters are changed
- Clear anything stored on or near the canopy
- Keep the extract on whenever the range is in use
- Report a dripping canopy early
There’s no waiting: the canopy is ready as soon as the clean set is fitted. We take the greasy filters with us for cleaning.
Clean filters plus regular full cleans keep the system in good health. Setting both up on a schedule means neither slips.
How we handle grease filter exchange in Merston
Whether your canopy has baffle or mesh filters, they load up with grease. Once they’re clogged, airflow drops and the fan has to work harder. Regular exchange keeps the air moving. The work covers baffle filters, island canopies and school and hospital kitchens, and common reasons people get in touch are filter washing that keeps being missed and a canopy that drips grease.
Work in a small place like Merston starts with a call to agree access and timings, and the clean itself is the same full TR19® job as in any town: canopy to discharge, then a TR19® certificate and a photo report.
The paperwork matters as much as the work. You get a written report with photos after each visit, covering the work done, any areas we couldn’t access and a recommended next date. Keep it with your fire safety records so it’s to hand when an insurer or inspector asks.
- Where
- Merston (PO20)
- Wider area
- West Sussex
- Records
- Written report with photos
- Quote
- Fixed quote, typically within a working day
- Working hours
- When your site is closed, plus a 24/7 line
- Telephone
- 0345 646 2711
- Updated
- 30 October 2026
Places near Merston
Also in Merston
When it’s something else
We won’t sell you work that doesn’t address the problem, so these are the things it will not cover:
- A noisy or failed extract fan
- Grease already built up in the ductwork, which needs a full TR19 clean
- An extract that was undersized from the start
If you’re not sure, just ring 0345 646 2711 or email us and we will give you a straight answer before you book.
What we work on in Merston
- Wall canopies
- School and hospital kitchens
- Island canopies
- Baffle filters
- Mesh filters
- Restaurants and pubs
Staff cleaning versus specialist work
Some jobs should never be done in-house: entering ducts, working on fans, testing dampers and taking grease readings need training, the right equipment and safe access. That is our job.
Your own staff can handle the daily basics: wiping down canopy surfaces, cleaning filters and keeping a simple log. What they cannot safely do is clean inside the ductwork, the fan or the risers, which is where we come in.
What we’re called out for in Merston
Wherever you are, Merston included, filter washing is the job that gets skipped when the kitchen is busy. A missed wash or two is all it takes for a filter bank to clog.
These are the problems we see most often:
- Gaps where filters have been removed
- Blocked baffle filters
- Grease left in baffles after washing
- Staff short of time to wash filters
Where a hall near Church of St Giles, or anywhere in Merston, hosts lunch clubs or events, its extract gathers grease just as a café’s does.
Comparing quotes
- What paperwork you get at the end
- Whether the work can be done while the site is closed
- Exactly which parts of the system are covered
- If the quote is a fixed price or an estimate
What affects the cost of grease filter exchange
Some jobs are bigger than they look, and some smaller. The main factors:
- Whether several sites go on one quote
- A single visit or a regular plan
- The condition of the system
- Parking and loading at the site
Whatever the type of site, the quote works the same way: how much there is, how we reach it, what state it’s in and when we can work. Call for a fixed quote and we will go through it with you.
What to send for a quote
Before you ask for a quote, gather:
- Close-ups of filters, grilles, hatches or access panels
- Anything you’ve noticed, such as smells, noise, drips or poor airflow
- Your opening hours and when the area is out of use
- Where the plant sits or the system leaves the building, such as a roof or outside wall
To get a fixed quote, call 0345 646 2711, or send details by email with the site type, your trading hours and a short description of the system. A few pictures and your last certificate or report help a lot. You will usually have a quote within one working day.
Merston: your questions answered
Can a school canteen extract in Merston be done out of term time?
Yes. The holidays are the usual time for school work. Around Merston, the Food Standards Agency lists about 3 schools and colleges with registered kitchens within a mile and a half or so. Send us your term dates when you call us on 0345 646 2711 or send us an email, and we will fit the work in.
Which fire service covers Merston?
Merston is in the area of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. If a fire safety officer visits a commercial kitchen, they may ask about the fire risk assessment and how the extract is kept clean.
What’s the right interval for changing filters?
It depends on how much and what the kitchen cooks. Heavy cooking means more frequent changes than lighter ones. We agree the interval with you.
What happens if you cannot reach some of it?
The report shows them clearly. In ductwork, new access panels are often the answer, and we can fit those.
What does grease filter exchange cost?
The cost depends on your filters and the schedule. We will send you a fixed quote once we know your canopies.
What accreditations do you have?
BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite membership, cleaning to BESA TR19® Grease, plus CHAS, SafeContractor and ISO 9001. We’ve been trading since 2009 and we are fully insured.
Can you come out in an emergency?
Yes, day and night, every day of the year. Our office is open from 8am to 6pm on weekdays, and the emergency line covers the rest.
Do you cover Merston?
Yes. We work in Merston and across West Sussex, within our South East and London area. For a fixed quote, give us a ring on 0345 646 2711 or use the quote form.
What happens on the day
Everything the job needs comes with us, from protective sheeting to tools and access equipment. All we need from you is clear access and the right equipment switched off. The visit takes less than an hour in most kitchens. If you can send photos, we can arrive in Merston knowing what to expect.
- First, we check the canopies and the filters in them.
- We note any filters that are bent, damaged or missing.
- Greasy filters are swapped for clean ones.
- The filters are checked for fit before we go.
- Anything that needs attention, such as a greasy plenum, is pointed out.
Getting ready for the visit
- Dig out any earlier paperwork for the system
- Make sure someone can let us in and lock up afterwards
- Let us know about permits to work or site inductions
Get a fixed quote
Want a quote for grease filter exchange? Please call 0345 646 2711, or email photos and tell us about the site. We’ll explain what we’d do and send a fixed quote before anything is booked.
Related advice
What the work involves, part by part
Busy restaurant and pub kitchens
When service is non-stop, filters get forgotten. An exchange service takes it off the rota.
Mesh filters
Layers of mesh catch grease droplets. They clog quickly in a busy kitchen and need frequent attention.
Grease filter exchange in Merston: the local picture
There are about 7 restaurants, cafés and canteens within roughly a mile and a half of the centre of Merston, according to the Food Standards Agency’s register. Each canopy among them has filters that load with grease and need swapping or cleaning. In Merston, food businesses are inspected by environmental health officers from Chichester council. A greasy canopy or dripping filters are the sort of thing an inspection can pick up. Keeping each certificate and photo report on file helps show the extract is looked after. Merston is covered by West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Fire and rescue authorities enforce the Fire Safety Order in most non-domestic premises, and in a kitchen that fire risk includes the grease in the extract.
Bursars and site managers at schools such as North Mundham Primary School tend to book extract cleaning for when the kitchen is empty. Healthcare kitchens, like those at hospitals such as St Richard's Hospital (about 2.3 miles north-west), often cook for long hours, which puts them in BESA’s heavier-use bands.
Merston is about 3 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. Anywhere in PO20, we can take on grease filter exchange. 371 places in West Sussex are on our list, large and small. For sites nearby, see our Portsmouth page (15 miles or so).
We cover every part of the PO20 postcode area for grease filter exchange and the roads nearby. If your site is just outside Merston, we cover Runcton (1 mile south-west), Colworth (1 mile east), Oving (1 mile north), North Mundham (1 mile west) and Lagness (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
Near you in Merston
Locally, jobs take us to businesses close to Chichester High School For Girls. For rail, the closest station is Chichester station, roughly 2.3 miles west of the centre. Nearby you will also find The Chichester City Museum (2.3 miles north-west) and St Richard's Hospital (2.3 miles north-west).