Busy commercial kitchens often struggle with excess heat and humidity, creating a hot, sweaty work environment for staff. One of the contributing factors to excess heat and humidity is dishwasher steam. Without proper ventilation, the steam condenses on ceilings, can drip onto floors and can create a breeding ground for mould and bacteria. Pairing an extraction hood with Passthrough dishwashers is a great way to reduce humidity and prevent excess heat that can create an unpleasant working environment for staff.
What is an Extraction Hood and How does it Work?
An extraction hood is a ventilation unit installed above kitchen equipment that produce a large amount of heat, steam, smoke, grease and odours. They are often installed over equipment such as fryers, grills, dishwashers and more. A steam canopy is what is typically installed over a dishwasher to capture steam, heat, and other airborne contaminants generated during wash cycles. Since dishwashers usually use hot water to clean dishes, the steam and heat rise, and enter the hood, where the filters trap airborne particles to neutralise foul smells and reduce the amount of steam produced.
For example, the Pro.equip Steam Canopy has steam capture guttering to exhaust the smoke and control humidity in the kitchen. Plus, it meets health code standards for commercial kitchens as per AS1668.
Benefits for Staff
Pairing a steam canopy with your passthrough dishwasher is a great way to maintain staff comfort by removing any excess heat and humidity to help keep the kitchen work environment and a pleasant temperature. Extraction hoods or steam canopies can also help prevent mould growth and condensation, which could lead to sickness and compromise your ingredients. Because the heat is captured by the exhaust fan, the amount of water that pools on the ceiling is significantly reduced. This helps to reduce slip hazards since it prevents water dripping from the ceiling. It is also important to be aware that steam and heat can damage ceiling panels and electrical wires over time.
Compliance with Food Safety Standards
Under HACCP businesses are required to control air moisture in commercial kitchens, specifically in relation to preventing microbial growth and condensation which can lead to food contamination. Failure to comply with HACCP standards can lead to fines and penalties along with damage to reputation. Using an extraction hood is a great way to ensure you're compliant with HACCP requirements around humidity, condensation and controlling air temperature.
Understanding Passthrough Dishwashers
A Passthrough dishwasher is an advanced piece of equipment designed for high-volume dishwashing tasks. Racks containing dirty dishes are loaded in on one side and moved under the dishwasher. Spray arms will gush a high-pressure solution of hot water and detergent to break down grease and remove food debris and clean dishes. Normally, wash times range from 60 to 120 seconds, depending on the model or load size. The dishwasher then runs its cycle and once finished, you retrieve the cleaned dishes on the other side. The Pro.equip Passthrough Dishwasher PT63 is a great passthrough dishwasher to consider as it offers a double-flow wash pump and has four wash cycle options to ensure squeaky-clean dishes after every wash.
Creating a better kitchen
When running a restaurant, commercial kitchen, or catering service, it is important to make sure you're not only ticking compliance boxes but also your staff, reputation and bottom line. By pairing a passthrough dishwasher with a dedicated extraction hood you can help improve efficiency and cleanliness and maintain a comfortable work environment for your staff, and help prevent excess contamination of ingredients. Additionally, these are great investments, as they will reduce labour costs, protect your equipment, and maintain a healthy work environment.