ESP unit and ecology unit cleaning: cells, pre-filters and carbon filters
Some kitchens have an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) unit, often called an ecology unit or ecology system, fitted to the exhaust system to capture smoke and fine grease particles. Many also have pre-filters and carbon filters for odour control. HoodEx cleans the collector cells, housing and pre-filters of ESP and ecology units, and can restore the activated carbon granules in their carbon filters, for restaurants, hotels and cloud kitchens across the UAE.
- We inspect before we quote
- Report with before and after photos
- Day and night shifts
Your kitchen exhaust system, in one picture
Smoke and grease rise from the cooking line into the hood, pass through the filters, travel up the duct and leave through the fan. Some kitchens also have an ESP or ecology unit in the path. HoodEx cleans that whole path, and the highlighted part is what this page covers.
- 1
Hood. The first line of capture above the cook line.
- 2
Filters. Baffle filters that trap grease before it reaches the duct.
- 3
Exhaust Duct. The hidden network carrying air — and grease — out of the building.
- 4
ESP Unit. Electrostatic precipitators used in select kitchen setups.This page
- 5
Exhaust Fan. The motor that pulls contaminated air out of the kitchen.
What's included
- Collector cells cleaned
- ESP or ecology unit housing cleaned
- Pre-filters cleaned, where fitted
- Carbon filters, where fitted: restoration of the activated carbon granules
- Cleaning carried out as part of the complete system where an ESP is fitted
Every cleaning ends with a company-attested report that includes before and after photos and recommendations, plus a cleaning certificate showing the cleaning date and the next due date. Our cleaning follows the NFPA 96 standard, and the certificate states it.
Signs it needs cleaning
- A visible grease film on the collector plates
- Cleaning is overdue under the unit manufacturer's recommended interval
- Odour or smoke at the exhaust discharge that was not there before
- Cooking odours getting past the carbon filter
How we do it
Fine grease particles collect on the charged plates over time. Cleaning the cells and housing helps keep particulate-capture performance close to its intended level.
Not every kitchen has an ESP or ecology unit. If yours does, it is cleaned together with the hood, filters, duct and fan as part of the complete system service, or on its own if you prefer.
Some customers call this ecology unit cleaning. It is the same work: cleaning the cells and housing of the unit that treats the exhaust air before it leaves the building.
Many ecology units also have pre-filters and carbon filters. We clean the pre-filters, and we can restore the activated carbon granules in the carbon filters. At the inspection we check each filter and tell you what can be restored and what should be replaced.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ESP unit?
An electrostatic precipitator uses charged plates to capture fine grease particles from the exhaust air. It is fitted in some commercial kitchen exhaust systems.
What is an ecology unit?
An ecology unit is a kitchen exhaust treatment unit that cleans smoke and grease particles from the air before it is released outside. Many are built around an electrostatic precipitator (ESP), which is why the two names are often used for the same equipment.
Do you clean ecology units?
Yes. We clean the collector cells, housing and pre-filters of ESP and ecology units, and we can restore the activated carbon granules in their carbon filters. We do it on its own or as part of the complete exhaust system service. If you are not sure what is fitted in your kitchen, we can tell you when we inspect the system.
What does the carbon filter do, and can it be restored?
Many ecology units use a carbon filter to reduce cooking odours in the exhaust air. Over time the carbon fills up and odours start to get through. We can restore the activated carbon granules; at the inspection we check the filter and tell you what can be restored and what should be replaced.
How often should an ESP or ecology unit be cleaned?
Follow the unit manufacturer's recommended interval. Kitchens with fryers and grills load the plates faster, so check the interval against how you cook. We can advise after inspecting the unit.
What is ecology filter cleaning?
The filters in an ecology unit are the pre-filters and, in many units, a carbon filter. We clean the pre-filters and can restore the activated carbon granules. At the inspection we check each filter and tell you what can be restored and what should be replaced.
Do you do restaurant ecology unit cleaning?
Yes. We clean ecology units for restaurants, hotels and cloud kitchens across the UAE. Ecology unit, ecology system and ESP unit are names often used for the same kind of equipment.
Does every kitchen have an ESP unit?
No. Many kitchens do not. If you are unsure whether yours does, we can tell you when we inspect the system.
Is ESP cleaning included in the complete system service?
Yes, where an ESP unit is fitted, it is cleaned as part of the complete exhaust system service.
More questions? See our full FAQ.
Helpful guides
How the carbon filters in a kitchen ecology unit control odour, the signs they are saturated, and when restoring the carbon is an option instead of replacing.
What an ecology (ESP) unit does in a kitchen exhaust, what is inside it, when it needs cleaning, and how carbon filters are restored.
Safety precautions for kitchen hood and duct cleaning: power isolation, fire suppression, chemicals, work at height and how to prepare your kitchen.
Where we do this
ESP unit cleaning UAE-wide: ecology unit cleaning for restaurants and hotels in all seven emirates and Al Ain. Our ESP & ecology unit cleaning team works in every emirate, with day and night shifts.
Book esp & ecology unit cleaning.
Not sure what your system needs? We inspect it first and recommend only what's needed.