Hood cleaning photo checklist

Build the before-and-after shot list before the job starts.

Generate a practical photo checklist for kitchen exhaust cleaning jobs: before photos, during-service proof, after photos, caption examples, access notes, and deficiency-photo guidance.

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Before After
Fan bowl after cleaning Caption + deficiency note ready
Free photo tool

Build your before/after shot list

Select the job type, system components, hood and fan count, and access issues. The checklist updates with the photo proof your report should include.

System components present
Access issues to document
Generated photo checklist

Routine cleaning shot list

2 hoods2 fans56 shot prompts1 access notes

Before-photo list

  • Wide before photo of hood 1
  • Wide before photo of hood 2
  • Wide before photo of fan 1
  • Wide before photo of fan 2
  • Hood exterior label or system identifier
  • Hood interior before service
  • Grease trough before service
  • Filters installed before removal
  • Filter condition after removal
  • Plenum before cleaning
  • Filter track and plenum corners before cleaning
  • Duct access point before opening
  • Visible duct interior before cleaning
  • Access panel location
  • Access panel opened before service
  • Fan exterior and hinge condition
  • Fan bowl before cleaning
  • Fan blades before cleaning
  • Grease containment before service
  • Roof surface around fan before service

During-photo list

  • Hood protected and staged for cleaning
  • Heavy buildup removed from hood corners or seams
  • Filters removed and staged
  • Filters in cleaning process
  • Plenum opened during cleaning
  • Filter track being cleaned
  • Duct access open during cleaning
  • Tooling or scraping evidence inside accessible duct
  • Panel open during inspection or cleaning
  • Panel gasket or seal condition
  • Fan tilted or opened safely
  • Fan bowl during cleaning
  • Grease containment serviced or replaced
  • Rooftop protection or cleanup in progress
  • Pair each major before photo with a matching after photo from the same angle.
  • Capture at least one wide system photo so the customer can match close-ups to the hood or fan served.

After-photo list

  • Matching after photo of hood 1
  • Matching after photo of hood 2
  • Matching after photo of fan 1
  • Matching after photo of fan 2
  • Hood interior after service
  • Hood exterior wiped down
  • Grease trough after service
  • Filters cleaned
  • Filters reinstalled in hood
  • Plenum after cleaning
  • Filter track after cleaning
  • Visible duct interior after cleaning
  • Duct access closed and sealed
  • Access panel closed and sealed
  • Panel location photo for future service
  • Fan blades after cleaning
  • Fan bowl after cleaning
  • Fan returned to operating position
  • Grease containment after service
  • Roof area around fan after cleanup

Deficiency-photo guidance

  • Unusual corrosion, damage, loose seams, or heavy grease remaining in inaccessible hood areas
  • Damaged, missing, incorrectly sized, or heavily saturated filters
  • Plenum areas blocked by construction, equipment, or fixed obstructions
  • Missing access panels, unreachable duct runs, damaged access doors, or heavy buildup past safe reach
  • Panels that are missing, unsealed, unsafe, damaged, or not located where service requires access
  • Fan hinge issues, wiring tension, damaged fan blades, loose belts, or unsafe roof conditions
  • Overflowing grease containment, roof staining, runoff, or damaged roof surface around the fan
  • Photograph the duct section or fan connection where access is missing and note the recommended correction.
  • Photograph the exact location, then write who was notified and what action is recommended.

Caption examples

  • Before: heavy grease accumulation visible at [component/location] before cleaning.
  • During: [component/location] opened and actively cleaned by technician.
  • After: [component/location] cleaned and documented after service.
  • Deficiency: [issue] observed at [location]. Recommended action: [action].
  • Access note: [area] could not be reached because [reason]. Customer notified before departure.

Turn this photo set into a hood cleaning report.

HoodCleaningReport turns before/after photos, deficiency notes, inaccessible areas, customer signoff, and PDF delivery into one inspection-ready record.

Create the photo report
Photo workflow

Use the same angles before and after cleaning.

The strongest photo record is easy for a customer, AHJ, insurer, or fire marshal to follow. Capture the whole system first, then move component by component so each close-up has context and each after photo can be matched to a before photo.

  • Take wide photos before close-ups so the location is obvious later.
  • Match hood, plenum, duct, fan, and rooftop angles whenever possible.
  • Photograph access limitations before leaving the site.
  • Keep deficiency photos attached to written notes and recommended actions.
Documentation note

What photos do not replace

This free checklist is a documentation aid. It does not replace the NFPA 96 standard, a complete service report, customer signoff, or your local AHJ's documentation expectations.

Verify current requirements, customer contract language, and local authority expectations before relying on any photo record.

Next steps

Turn photo proof into a customer-ready report.

Hub All free hood cleaning tools

Use report, checklist, frequency, and certificate tools with the photo checklist.

 Guide Before-and-after hood cleaning photos

See what to capture across hoods, ducts, fans, rooftops, and deficiencies.

 Tool Hood cleaning report template generator

Turn the completed photo set into report sections and customer handoff fields.

 Sample Review a sample report PDF

See how before-and-after photos fit into a signed service record.

 Software Hood cleaning report software

Turn the CompanyCam photo set into branded PDFs, deficiency records, and Vault links.

 Product Create the photo report

Add CompanyCam photos, deficiencies, signoff, PDF delivery, and retained customer records.