Kitchen & Exhaust Systems
Makeup Air and Exhaust Fan Service in Dallas
A commercial kitchen exhaust hood pulling more air out of the building than the makeup air unit can replace turns into doors that will not close, backdrafting appliances, and a dining room that never cools down. We service kitchen makeup air units and exhaust fans as a matched pair, since a fault in one almost always shows up as a symptom in the other.
- Same-day and next-day service calls
- Chiller plants up to 500 tons
- All major brands
What's covered
Kitchen makeup air unit repair
Servicing the dedicated units that replace air pulled out by kitchen exhaust hoods, including burners, blowers, and controls.
Exhaust fan repair
Diagnosing and repairing roof-mounted and inline exhaust fans that ventilate kitchens, restrooms, and mechanical spaces.
Pressure balance correction
Measuring building and kitchen pressure to confirm makeup air volume actually matches what the exhaust system is removing.
Belt and bearing service
Replacing worn belts and bearings on fan assemblies before they fail and shut down ventilation entirely.
Hood interlock and control checks
Verifying that makeup air and exhaust fans are properly interlocked so one does not run without the other.
Common symptoms
Facilities usually call about one or more of the following before a tech is ever dispatched.
- Kitchen exterior doors difficult to open or close during service hours
- Grease-laden air noticeably escaping the hood into the kitchen
- Pilot lights on kitchen equipment blowing out unexpectedly
- Exhaust fan making grinding or squealing noise from the roof
- Dining room feels warm even when the HVAC system is running
- Makeup air unit blowing cold or unconditioned air into the kitchen
How the visit works
- 1 Pressure reading
We measure pressure differential between the kitchen and adjacent spaces to confirm whether the imbalance is a makeup air or exhaust issue.
- 2 Fan and unit inspection
Both the exhaust fan and makeup air unit are inspected together, checking belts, bearings, burners, and control wiring.
- 3 Repair and interlock check
Failed components are replaced, and we confirm the interlock between exhaust and makeup air is functioning as designed.
- 4 Balance verification
A final pressure reading confirms the kitchen is no longer running negative enough to affect doors, pilots, or comfort.
Equipment we service
Our techs carry diagnostic tools for equipment across manufacturers rather than specializing in one brand. Equipment we service includes:
Related services
Ductwork & ventilation
Air handling equipment can be running perfectly and a building can still feel stuffy or uneven if the duct system moving that air is leaking, undersized, or out of balance.
Repair & DiagnosticsCommercial HVAC repair
Facility managers call us when a unit stops cooling, stops heating, or trips a breaker and nobody on staff can tell why.
Maintenance AgreementsPreventive maintenance
Most commercial breakdowns trace back to something a scheduled visit would have caught: a clogged drain pan, a slipping belt, a coil packed with debris.
Available across Dallas and Fort Worth
This service runs on the same routes as the rest of our work, across the following areas.
Common questions
Why are the kitchen doors hard to open during service?
That usually means the exhaust hood is pulling more air out than the makeup air unit is replacing, creating negative pressure that pulls the door shut.
Can a bad exhaust fan affect equipment pilot lights?
Yes, when makeup air cannot keep up with exhaust, negative pressure can pull enough draft through gas appliances to blow out a pilot.
Do makeup air units need regular service like other HVAC equipment?
Yes, belts, bearings, and burners wear the same way they do in any equipment, and kitchens tend to run these units hard for long hours.
What if the exhaust fan runs but the kitchen still feels stuffy?
That can point to a makeup air unit that is not delivering enough volume, or ductwork restricting airflow to the space, both of which we can diagnose on site.
Tell us about the equipment and the symptom, and we will get a technician scheduled.