It is truly amazing how many KEC companies quote jobs without actually looking inside the systems and detailing clearly to the system owner what is required to cleans the system properly. Quality starts with the initial survey or bid process. The person performing the initial survey needs to go to the job site and visually look at the entire job and systems. Without a proper survey, any quote is baseless and the crews are already set up for failure. Numerous times I see companies failing out clean systems to even the minimum standards (NFPA96, IKECA ANSI 10, and/ or the IFC). The excuse is almost always 1) the other company did not get it clean and there is old grease in the system that we did not remove as the other guys didn't remove it either 2) there is not enough access so we cleaned only the accessible areas, or 3) the customer did not tell is the system was that long or went there. I even saw a company that knows better demanding previous pictures from the previous cleaning company from their customer when they were clearly caught shortcut ting the job. The best part of that story was that the pictures existed and the areas is question were spotless the previous cleaning. There went that excuse "up the grease chute". What the vendor was informed was they they took the system as is. They were told it is their own fault by not thoroughly inspecting the system beforehand as required. What is require is that once you take on a KEC contract, you inherit the system as is and any preexisting conditions needing repair, access plates required, or extra cleanup needed must be spelled out BEFORE starting the job initially. Far too many KEC vendors quote jobs blindly hoping their customer keep up and emulate their the lack of vision. They hope to get into "pissing contests" or other devious confusion so they don't have to do their job and actually clean the complete exhaust system thoroughly to the minimum standards. The old saying is that in confusion lies profit and that profit is often times not the end customer of the KEC Vendor. The confusion lines their pockets with the customer "holding the grease". All of the excuses above are strictly lame excuses not to do the job properly. From the KEC vendor side, make sure you start your proper job with a complete survey each and every time with a clear quote including all items and pricing needed to complete the job properly. From the restaurant side, make sure all KEC quote are thorough and clearly stated with all costs and requirements. Do not allow them to clean with lame waivers like "accessible areas cleaned". That is the old get out of jail free card to KEC vendors not to actually clean anything past the hood. Accept only complete quotes and hold them to the standard demanding accountability and clear evidence that the entire system was properly clean to bare metal. If they quote over the phone, run away fast! If they quote only looking at the hood and not looking inside the system or above the ceilings, RUN AWAY FAST! Please do not ever let the vendors get into blaming others or being confusing. Once the excuses start, they will never end except with the vendor getting your money for a job not done.
Originally published June 8, 2014 on Tales of the Greaser.