A make-up air fan is actually a fan that is supposed to supply fresh air from your outside environment into your inside environment. These are also called supply fans or make-up air units. The real purpose of any make-up air fan is that it replaces the amount of air that is nearly equal to the air you are eliminating from inside of your commercial kitchen, restaurant, or any food truck. When you add a makeup air unit for your kitchen, it adds replacement air for what’s being drawn out of the kitchen by your exhaust hoods. Without it, you get back drafting, poor temperature control, negative air pressure, and air quality problems. Poor ventilation can also contribute to the spread of disease. Using a make-up air supply is usually required and stated by the law, but there can be many reasons for you to install a make-up air system.
What is a makeup air unit?
A make-up air unit is a ventilation system designed to replace air that is removed by exhaust systems, particularly in commercial spaces like kitchens. It introduces fresh, conditioned air to balance indoor air pressure, improving air quality, temperature control, and overall ventilation efficiency in the workspace.
What is the purpose of a makeup air unit?
Let’s explore the reasons why Commercial Kitchen Make up Air Systems are important.
Make-up air system keeps your ventilation exhaust hood fan performing optimally
In case you do not replace the air with the air that you eliminate, your vent hood would not be able to work at the best of its capabilities. Also, in that case, if you do not own a make-up air fan in your commercial kitchen, there are high chances that it will put extra stress on your up blast exhaust fan and it may also create a situation where the exhaust fan is no longer able to pull as many CFMs as it is designed to.
Make-up air system will keep your kitchen cleaner
In case you may notice that your exhaust fan and vent hoods are not able to perform their duties effectively and effectively, then you must have this makeup air system installed at your commercial kitchens without the proper makeup air system there will be a lot of grease and oil build-up in your kitchen. And for sure nobody would ever want to spend a lot of time cleaning up a dirty kitchen, particularly when all you have to do is to install a makeup air system where required.
Make-up air system would always keep the noise down
All the commercial kitchens that do not have proper make-up air fans installed in them will have vent hood fans that would be working even harder in order to release the contaminated air into the outside environment. Without a make-up air system installed in your commercial kitchens, the fans will perform their best to suck up the air from even a little crack and opening that is there around windows or even that are there under the doors. In this case, it can really get a lot noisy. For your better understanding, imagine a vacuum sucking air freely. And now, imagine the exact same vacuum with something partially covering it or blocking it, keeping it blocked from sucking in the air it needs. You must have imagined that as well that it would be a lot noisy.
Make-Up Air Unit would help prevent dangerous gases and carbon monoxide leaks
Your Commercial Kitchen Make up Air Systems can help in preventing the buildup of dangerous gases in your kitchen. These gases usually occur when the air pressure is not balanced, this creates a negative pressure inside your whole commercial kitchen. When anything like this happens, apart from vents and chimneys exhausting smoke, flames, and dangerous vapors out of the kitchen, the exact opposite can happen, and they may as an alternative be pulled or back drafted into your kitchen.
Make-up air system helps keep your HVAC system running efficiently
Similar as your ventilation hood exhaust, having a make-up air unit can help in keeping the air pressure balanced and can also help your HVAC system in order to run smoothly and at its best possible performance. Deprived of balanced air pressure in your kitchen, your HVAC system has to work a lot harder to do its job efficiently. This will make it ineffective, and it will also cause added deterioration.
Make-Up Air Units helps in reducing energy bills
If you have an imbalanced ventilation system, your heating and cooling conditions will also be chucked out of balance altogether. In case you try to fix these problems that are created by lack of make-up air with your existing HVAC and kitchen ventilation, you will only be left with costing yourself a lot more money than you should have paid at first.
From every spot no matter if it is hot or cold to congested dining areas from smoky kitchens to unnecessary condensation, all these problems that you could spend a lot of dollars on trying to fix by modifying your HVAC settings when all you really need is a simple make-up air system.
Make-Up Air unit will help minimise smoke, nasty odors, and musty air
One of the major benefits of installing a make-up air system in order to have balanced air pressure for your restaurant’s kitchen or any commercial kitchen is that it may help in minimizing the existence of any traces of smoke, odors, and stuffy stale air. This is because it prevents both the vent hood exhaust and the HVAC from working at ideal levels.
Make-Up Air system will help prevent common problems connected with unbalanced, negative air pressure
Out of many problems that can be solved with a Commercial Kitchen Make up Air Systems, some of the more common problems you can avoid if you install a make-up air system are triggered by negative air pressure. In this case, it may cause doors to slam shut when are least expected as well as make doors and windows get stuck closed and be very tough to open. Not only entrance doors or windows but it also includes refrigerator doors, bathroom doors, and even the main door to your restaurant. This may also cause pockets of cold or hot air, strong drafts, and a whole host of problems that can affect your air quality.
Make-Up Air Units Help in preventing moisture and condensation buildup
As discussed earlier, negative air pressure can affect the power of your vent hood to exhaust contaminants, but for your information, not only exhaust and vent hood but it also affects the vent hood’s capability to eliminate moisture from your kitchen. When there is a lot of moisture and unnecessary heat in your kitchen, it can immediately cause your kitchen to become unbearable if all your workers are present there. This may as well end up causing other more serious problems such as mold and mildew growth.
Make-up Air fans are typically required by law
Even if all the abovementioned reasons were not enough to let you know the importance of having a make-up air fan installed in your commercial kitchen, you cannot ignore this one at any cost. Having a proper make-up air fan will keep every one including you, your staff, and all your customers feeling safer and more comfortable, you will never have to put in a lot of energy, and you will never have to fork over money to pay fines for any associated building or fire code violations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, installing a commercial kitchen make-up air system is essential for maintaining a healthy, safe, and efficient work environment. By addressing issues such as poor ventilation, temperature control, and air quality, these systems ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, improve employee comfort, and enhance the overall performance of kitchen equipment. From reducing energy costs to preventing backdrafts and unpleasant odors, the benefits of a make-up air system make it a valuable investment for any commercial kitchen. Prioritizing air balance not only protects your kitchen but also supports the long-term success of your business.
Make-up Air Unit for Commercial Kitchen FAQs
What are commercial kitchen makeup air requirements?
Commercial kitchen make-up air requirements ensure proper ventilation by supplying fresh air to replace what is exhausted. The system must balance air pressure, meet local building and fire codes, and provide adequate airflow to prevent backdrafts and maintain indoor air quality. Typically, the make-up air volume should match the exhaust volume to ensure efficient kitchen operation and safety compliance.
How does a make up air unit work?
A make-up air unit works by supplying fresh, conditioned air into a building to replace the air that is exhausted, particularly in commercial kitchens. It ensures balanced air pressure, preventing issues like drafts, odors, and equipment inefficiency. The system conditions the incoming air—heating or cooling it as needed—to maintain a comfortable environment and support proper ventilation and exhaust systems.
