Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

FilterShine USA is a professional commercial kitchen grease filter exchange service that helps restaurants and commercial kitchen foodservice facilities improve safety, ventilation, labor & utility costs, employee turnover and regulatory compliance by removing and thoroughly cleaning exhaust hood filters on a scheduled basis.

A Grease Filter Exchange (GFE) is a scheduled service where trained technicians remove your grease-laden commercial kitchen hood filters and replace them with clean, professionally restored filters. The greasy filters are cleaned off-site and inspected to deliver consistently high performance. 

FilterShine’s GFE eliminates the burden on kitchen staff, avoids messy in-house filter cleaning, and ensures complete cleaning inside and outside the filters — something manual scrubbing often fails to achieve. This reduces labor costs, improves safety, lowers employee turnover, reduces cleaning chemical, water usage and utility costs while improving exhaust system efficiency. 

Grease filter exchange frequency varies based on cooking volume and kitchen demands. Most commercial kitchens choose weekly, bi-weekly, or every 4 weeks of service to maintain proper airflow and minimize fire risk. 

• GFE (Grease Filter Exchange): Focuses on the removable hood filters that trap grease before it enters the exhaust system. 

• KEC (Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning): Targets deep cleaning of the hood, ductwork, and exhaust fan inside the system. 

Both services work together to reduce fire hazards and keep kitchens compliant and efficient.

Regular GFE helps your kitchen by:

• Enhancing airflow and ventilation efficiency

• Reducing fire hazards and safety risks

• Lowering operational costs for labor, chemicals, and energy

• Supporting EPA and FOG (Fats, Oils & Grease) compliance

• Extending the life of your ventilation system 

Clean, properly fitting filters are an essential part of fire safety requirements and building codes (like NFPA 96). Routine exchanges help reduce grease buildup — one of the primary causes of kitchen fires — and support compliance with health and fire safety standards. 

Yes. FilterShine’s off-site cleaning process significantly reduces the amount of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) discharged into drains and sewer systems, helping facilities avoid violations and fines associated with improper disposal. 

No. FilterShine provides two dedicated sets of commercial hood filters for each location, rotating them on schedule to ensure every kitchen always has clean filters installed without needing to purchase replacements repeatedly. 

Common signs include:

• Heavy grease buildup on filters

• Poor airflow or increased smoke

• Strong lingering kitchen odors

• Grease dripping from filters, overflowing grease troughs/drains/catch cups, and dripping down walls onto the floors or cooking equipment.

If these appear, it’s likely time for a professional filter exchange. 

FilterShine serves a wide range of commercial kitchens, including:

• Restaurants and bars

• Hospitals and medical facilities

• Schools and universities

• Hotels and resorts

• Cafeterias and institutional foodservice operations 

FilterShine operates nationwide with local service routes and locations across the United States, ensuring convenient scheduled service for commercial kitchen operators coast-to-coast. 

Yes. Clean filters improve ventilation airflow, reduce strain on exhaust fans, help maintain cooler kitchen temperatures, reduces HVAC operating/utility costs, and contribute to a healthier, more efficient kitchen environment. 

Yes. Off-site cleaning prevents grease from entering your drains and local waterways, supporting eco-friendly disposal practices and minimizing environmental impact. 

Depending on the franchise and region, FilterShine may offer complementary solutions like kitchen exhaust cleaning, rooftop grease containment, and specialized maintenance services to further enhance kitchen safety and compliance. 

To request a service quote or schedule your grease filter exchange, contact FilterShine online or call 866-977-4463. Service plans are customized based on kitchen size, cooking volume, and recommended frequency.