6 Reasons you should Choose Shepherd Filters for Kitchens

Shepherd filters can greatly help to keep kitchen exhaust systems clean. They can keep the exhausts and ducts clean at restaurants and cafes, reducing your efforts for cleaning. Shepherd filters come with several remarkable benefits, some of which are listed below:

Protection from Fire

Shepherd filters trap the grease prior to it entering your exhaust system, lowering the build-up of grease and risk of fire. Wool is a fire-retardant, environmentally biodegradable, and natural material. In case alternative filters are used in a kitchen, grease will reach the duct, hood, and exhaust, and an extensive exhaust cleaning would be needed in the whole canopy for reducing fire risk.

Savings on Money

Since the canopy filters prevent up to 98% of airborne grease from reaching the hood exhaust system of the kitchen, labour costs for cleaning are substantially reduced and kitchen exhaust fans will perform as originally specified.

Water Savings

The amount of water and chemicals used is greatly reduced by reducing the frequency of hood and filter cleaning.

Sustainability

Cleaner rooftop fans, hood, HVAC, kitchen exhaust system, and other types of rooftop equipment help you save energy.  This leads to more efficient equipment operation and lower maintenance. Besides, wool is renewable.

Environmental Friendly

Shepherd filters are prepared with 100% wool. The filter material is carbon-neutral, which will be breaking down in landfill.

Ease of installation

Besides these advantages, Shepherd filters also offer ease of installation. So, it’s smart to go for these filters and facilitate a cleaner kitchen

Buying Air Filter for HVAC System

We offer a wide range of filters to suit almost every application.

  • Pre-Filtration

Class G1-G5 (EN779:2002). These include air filters such as paint arrester media, filter media pads, beverage board pleated panel filters and deep bed filters.

  • Medium Filtration

Class F5-F9 (EN779:2002). Thes include products such as beverage board pleated panel filters, deep bed filters (both synthetic and glass fibre) and mini pleated filters in synthetic and mircoglass media.

  • Fine or High Efficiency Filtration

Class H10 –H14 (EN1822). These include a variety of HEPA filters with a diverse range of framing options.

  • Carbon & Chemical filters

Includes a comprehensive range of carbon and molecular filtration products to combat odour, corrosive & toxic gases and other gaseous pollutants.

How to Choose a Trusted Commercial Cleaning Service

It takes a lot to run a business – going to meetings, creating plans, handling conflicts, and implementing projects – the last thing on you want is risking the safety of everyone in office due to poor facilities. However, maintaining a hygienic office is just as important in keeping your business afloat. Studies have reported that a clean office increases employees’ productivity, attracts more customers to your company, and generally leads to a healthier work environment.

We understand that finding a good team to keep your office from going haywire can sometimes be difficult. Which is why it might be easier to outsource help instead. Doing so could bring a lot of benefits to your business since it saves costs and helps with the efficiency of your operations. Which cleaning company should you trust? How do you choose a trusted commercial cleaning service for your company?

This article answers the question with a couple of tips and reminders that can help you choose the right commercial cleaning services for you. These are the things that you should look out for, criteria that you should set to filter out the average ones from the good ones.

1. Choose a Reputable Company

Having an external cleaning company come to your office is a big risk. There are many confidential files that are particularly vulnerable to being seen or stolen by a competitive party. Most cleaning companies will come in after work hours when employees have already gone, which means that they will work with little to no supervision.

With the right commercial cleaning services, you get the peace of mind that everything will be kept confidential. Check for factors like how long they have been in the industry, how many accounts they handle, and how many companies have recommended them.

2. Consider Their Workforce Quality

One of the factors that distinguishes excellent cleaning companies from mediocre ones is their hiring and screening process. A company that cares about its reputation starts by making sure that they have only the best people on board.

Do they conduct background checks on their pool of candidates? Do they screen thoroughly, or do they just gloss over the resumes?

Another thing you should consider is if they hold training sessions or seminars even after their employment. This is to ensure that they are keeping their employees on the loop about the latest trends in the industry. From cleaning to safety, to professionalism, the employees should be oriented about the know-hows of cleaning in all kinds of properties.

3. Wide Range of Service Offered

Another factor worth considering in choosing a commercial cleaning provider for your office is the range of the services that they can offer. Do your research and find out each company’s bread and butter to make sure you maximise their services.

Some commercial cleaning services are highly specialised. Power Up Enterprises, for example, is a company that offers excellent kitchen exhaust purification systems making them one of the best in commercial kitchen cleaning Sydney. They also have UV Solutions, Shepherd Filters, and Air Filters (HVAC).

Unlike some companies that only cater to specific industries like construction clean-ups and such, Power Up has a broad range of niche that covers both government and commercial properties.

Part of your research should include looking into the work they have done with other companies in the past. Look for reviews and insights about their work quality, ethics, and procedures. It is also helpful to read reviews from a company or a facility that is similar to yours. Are they at par with your own company’s standards?

4. Choose a Company with Sustainable Solutions

Lastly, make sure that you choose a commercial cleaning company that has high-quality, sustainable solutions to facilitate cleaner work environments without compromising the health of our planet. Even though we are already at the top of our game, this should not be an excuse to neglect our responsibilities in preserving the environment.

If your company places eco-friendliness at its core, then you should also choose a commercial cleaning services provider that adheres to that principle. You’ll know that they are the right one when they use energy-saving equipment, microfiber tools, and practice safe waste disposal.

Work with Power Up Enterprises Today!

Power Up Enterprises is one of the leading commercial cleaning services providers in Australia today. What distinguishes us from the rest of the cleaning companies in the country is our devotion to providing quality, sustainable solutions in every project that we get involved in.

Our goal is to provide products and services that meet, and even go beyond, customer expectations by facilitating cleaner, more hygienic, and better work environments. Get started on your journey with us today. Feel free to contact us through 0406 756 292 or send an email to stuart.bruce@powerupenterprises.com.au and get a free quote.

Why Install a Kitchen Exhaust Filtration System?

Grease and oil build-up starts in the metal kitchen grease filters before going through the hoods and ducts all the way to the roof. Usually, the greasy steam is trapped in the range hoods and ventilation units. These deposits cause foul smells, high maintenance costs, unhygienic food preparation environment, and even serious fire hazard. 

Before anything goes wrong, you need to install a kitchen exhaust filtration system. Aside from getting the grease before it has the chance to enter the rest of the kitchen exhaust systems, installing these systems comes with a number of benefits.  

Read on to find out why you need to have these systems installed in your kitchen. 

Fire Prevention 

Have you seen a kitchen on fire? It may be caused by grease build-up. 

When you leave your kitchen’s ventilation system dirty, the grease vapour from cooking collects in the ductwork and exhaust hood. Due to high temperatures, the grease buildup ignites and causes fire to spread throughout the ventilation system. 

Of course, you can easily empty grease containers and practice proper disposal techniques, but those are surely not enough. To keep you completely safe, you must consider hiring commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning services in Sydney. If you pair it with a filtration system that can collect 98% of grease, you will be able to prevent a fire from destroying what you worked hard to build. 

Better Air Flow and Reduced Electric Bill 

Have you ever wondered why your electric bill has gotten unbelievably high? Take a look at your kitchen equipment. Do you see grease trapped in ducts? If you do not properly maintain your system, it has to work harder than usual to get the job done. This results in excessive consumption of electricity. 

When you install a kitchen exhaust system in Sydney, you will no longer notice any trapped grease or oils building up. The entire system will have a better airflow, leading to a more efficient kitchen space and a dramatically lower power bill. 

Improved Indoor Air Quality 

Perhaps the most important reason why you should install a kitchen exhaust filtration system is that it improves the air quality in your kitchen. These systems are specially designed to remove odours, smoke, grease, and other pollutants released into the air while cooking. They assist in reducing particle load. 

Kitchens dump a lot of indoor air contaminants into your space. Without a filtration system, you will find yourselves breathing its aftermath. This can cause possible eye, nose, and throat irritations. 

On top of that, studies have shown that using the stove without turning on the filtration system can result in elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the kitchen. That’s why you must install kitchen exhaust systems in Sydney to help you prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. You can improve the efficiency of the system even more by cooking on the back burner.  

Comfortability 

Cooking generates a lot of heat, which makes the kitchen quite uncomfortable. If you have advanced filtration systems in your kitchen, excess heat and steam will be removed and the effects of unpleasant odours and stuffiness will be reduced. They help create a clean, comfortable kitchen environment . 

The absence of  an overheated cooking area and foul smells will definitely give you the freedom to be creative in your cooking style without any worry. You will be more eager to dive into your favourite recipes while your family enjoys the small pleasures in life. 

Increased Property Value 

Thinking of selling your property? 

In today’s real estate market, buyers expect to see filtration systems in every kitchen. If you don’t have one, you’re certainly not improving the resale value of your property. People have come to expect these systems. So, if you haven’t installed one yet, it may deter people from buying your property. 

Moreover, venting about your current systems that need an upgrade does not help in adding value to your property. Instead, you are delaying your success. 

If you want to sell your property and you don’t have an exhaust filtration system in your kitchen, then you may want to consider looking for companies that could install one before you start putting up the lease sign. 

Make Smart Choices by Installing the Best Exhaust Filtration System in Your Kitchen! 

Taking into consideration all the previously mentioned facts, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t install a kitchen exhaust filtration system. It comes with several benefits that protect you and your family’s health and provide a comfortable environment. If you consider the invaluable perks of having filtration systems in your kitchen, consult with our contractors today. 

At Power Up Enterprises, we tailor sustainable solutions to suit your requirements. We also offer commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning services in Sydney to help you maintain your systems and keep them efficiently working.  

Contact us and we’ll respond to your needs in a flash. To learn more about the importance of installing kitchen exhaust purification systems, feel free to head on over our website. 

Top Priority During Covid-19: Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic hit the globe, consumers and businesses alike have faced unprecedented challenges that changed their lives forever. Businesses, in particular, have to make sacrifices just to stay afloat. Malls have closed, restaurants switched to contactless services, and many other adjustments had to be made just to survive the impact 

Many businesses also had to close. Restaurants have completely abandoned the idea of getting their commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning, and other sites have left their establishments to the remnants of the coronavirus crisis. The challenges that came into the lives of many businesses do not end here.  

The coronavirus has ushered in a new normal in our lives. In this article, we’d like to share our recommendations on the number one thing that you should prioritise during this crisis: commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning. We hope you’ll find value in this content, especially if you are operating a restaurant or an establishment that uses commercial kitchen exhaust. Trust us, it is more important than you’d think.  

Challenges in the Time of Covid-19  

As previously mentioned, countless challenges emerged due to global coronavirus pandemic. Individual people and families were hard hit. Another sector that had to take the brunt of the impact was the local businesses that either had to give up their people or completely shut down. More businesses have filed for bankruptcy ever since the crisis started.  

If your business is fortunate enough to still be generating income, then the last thing you need is another crisis that can potentially grind your business to a halt. One thing that you can control right now is making sure that your equipment and machines are properly maintained, specifically commercial kitchen exhausts. Here are the dangers of not doing so:  

Dangers of Neglecting Commercial Kitchen Exhausts 

Damaged Equipment and Machines 

The main reason why you should stay current with your commercial kitchen cleaning is to prevent grease and oil from damaging your equipment and machines. Left uncleaned for extended periods of time, the commercial kitchen exhaust fan will start to wear and tear as deposits build up on the blades. Instead of lasting for 15 or 20 years (as is the average lifespan of these exhausts,) they are likely to break down on you prematurely.  

Fire and Public Safety Hazard 

Additionally, uncleaned commercial kitchen exhausts are definite fire hazards. Though most commercial cooking stations come with fire suppression equipment nowadays, most exhaust systems that lead up to the fan on the roof are not. This is where most of the problem starts. The risk is even more amplified with improperly cleaned exhaust system equipment.  

Unhygienic Environment 

One of the main things that the coronavirus has taught us ithe importance of being clean. Regular sterilization and disinfection will save you a lot of hassle in the future. But aside from the extra headache, you’ll also keep the deadly virus at bay. The same goes for commercial kitchen exhausts since this is the point of contact between your establishment and the surface.  

How You Can Cope:  

Fortunately, not all hope is lost. There is a way to curb these dangers. Just like any crisis, you can prevent any further damage by taking strategic steps into managing your risks. Here are some tips that might help you: 

Prioritise Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning 

If you plan to be back in operation soon, then you better start calling up reliable cleaners to conduct a thorough commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning. Even if you’re not currently operating right now, having your equipment cleaned is still a good idea to prevent the dangers listed above. 

Hire Professionals to Get the Job Done 

So, you have decided that you will have your commercial kitchen exhaust cleaned, what do you do next? Another thing that you should consider before you hop on to the phone and call the nearest commercial cleaners in your area is to do some research first. Make sure that the people you hire are the best out there. Check their history, read reviews about their services, and gauge their customer services from the get-go 

For certified Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Services, work with Power Up Enterprises today! 

Power Up Enterprises is a pioneer in providing high-quality, sustainable solutions to facilitate cleaner, healthier, and more hygienic environments. Especially during this time of Covid-19, there is a high need to maintain a clean environment. Keep your business, employees, and customers safe by making sure that your workplace is clean.  

Our services are available to both commercial and government properties that need commercial cleaning. Aside from commercial kitchen exhausts, we also specialise in cleaning other commercial equipment. Whether you need a routine clean-up or an intensive one, we have got you covered! 

Feel free to contact us today. 

Sterilization and Disinfection: What’s the Difference?

To the layman, the terms sterilization and disinfection might mean the same thing. You might have even thought of the same thing for some time now until you ran into this article. Don’t worry, you are not the only one that fell victim into this misconception.

At face value, sterilization and disinfection do sound like they are pertaining to the same thing—to get rid of germs! To some extent, that might be true but there are distinct differences that separates the two. In this article, we are going to tackle all those differences in details so the next time you get services that offer either sterilization or disinfection, you will know exactly what they are up to!

Why does it Matter?

But before we go into the nitty gritty, you might be asking if knowing the difference really matters. We are currently facing a global crisis brought upon by the coronavirus (COVID-19). With this crisis at bay, we need to make sure our homes and workplaces are protected from this invisible threat.

Knowing the difference between sterilization and disinfection is important to know how you can eliminate the virus from surfaces and the air that you are breathing. Arming yourself with the right information is the first step to ensuring that you and all the people you care about are well-protected. This is why we highly encourage everyone to get themselves familiar with the differences.

Definition of Sterilization and Disinfection

First off, both disinfection and sterilization are decontamination processes that aim to eliminate microorganisms. The major distinctions lie in four major categories namely their clinical definition, methods, types, and application.

Sterilization

Sterilization refers to killing and eliminating all microbes, whether it is harmful or otherwise (since there are also microbes that keep our guts healthy). This process is also highly effective at eliminating the spores that are present on the surface, in liquids, in medication, or in compounds such as biological culture media.

Disinfection

On the other hand, disinfection refers to the process of eliminating the most harmful microorganisms (not including their spores) from surfaces or objects. It targets vegetative microorganisms but is not strong enough to penetrate through their spores. These spores are one-celled microorganisms that can reproduce without sexual fusion as in fungi or bacteria.

Methods

In the next distinguishing category, you will see the varying methods by which both processes are done. You will notice how disinfection methods rely on chemical-based materials while sterilization relies more on the physical breakdown of the microorganisms to work.

Sterilization

The main methods of sterilization are physical, chemical, and physiochemical. Physical method, as the name suggests, use physical elements to break down the microorganisms. This method has several types which will be discussed later. Chemical method uses liquid and gaseous chemicals, while physiochemical is a combination of both methods.

Disinfection

Disinfection relies heavily on chemicals to eradicate microorganisms. These include phenolic disinfectants, heavy metals, halogens, bleach, alcohols, hydrogen peroxide, detergents, heating and pasteurization.

By reading this extensive list, you might notice how all these are reported to be not safe for human ingestion, that is why you should wear protective equipment when you are disinfecting on a large scale.

Types

Each method has its own type. Whether you are going to disinfect or sterilize, there are many types that you should know about to know which one is most appropriate for the surface and situation you are dealing with.

Sterilization

Physical types eliminate microbes by applying heat to targeted areas as in a hot air oven or by various methods of filtration. Radiation sterilization is another type that is useful for controlling microorganisms and are commonly utilized in clinical settings.

In some cases where large surfaces have to be covered, chemical sterilization comes handy. The only caveat to this last method is that it can be pricey and risks for surface damage are apparent.

Disinfection

Disinfectants can come in various forms like air disinfectants, liquid alcohols, and many others. There are countless disinfectants available in the market today. You just have to find the one that works for you to be able to clean surfaces in a quick and easy way.

Application

So, if sterilization is strong enough to penetrate through spores, why not just sterilize everything? Depending on your situation, you might be needing one more than the other. There are also restrictions like surface size and types that will most likely limit you to choosing only one decontaminating option. Here’s a quick application guide for sterilization and disinfection.

Sterilization

Sterilization is commonly used for food, medicine, and surgical instruments. We ingest food, while medical professionals need surgical instruments for internal operations. As such, sterile objects are required to prevent foreign microorganisms and spores from festering in our body.

Disinfection

Disinfection, on the other hand, is mostly used to decontaminate surfaces and air. Since disinfection involves chemical compounds that are harmful to the body, it is only practical to use this process on surfaces or objects that don’t have to ingested or inserted in the body.

Disinfection is also more practical since it covers a large surface while eliminating germs and bacteria faster than sterilization.

Which one should you choose?

Different situations will call for different methods of decontamination. There are guidelines set by the Australian Health Authority if you want to dive deeper into this topic. When you browse through the internet, you will easily find information and guides on how to decontaminate your own home or office.

However, we understand how important time is for you which is why we recommend working with a professional when it comes to these matters.

Choose to work with experts today!

If you are still unsure about how you want to go about decontaminating your home or office, contact Power Up Enterprises today. We provide high-quality sustainable solutions to facilitate cleaner, healthier, and more hygienic environments.

Protect yourself and your family from the dangers of bacteria, germs, and coronavirus. You deserve to be guarded wherever you are. With our sterilization and disinfection services, you are assured with an environment you can safely live in.

Contact us today and join us in the fight against coronaviruses and other threats to public health!

Understanding How UVGI Works

For quite some time, plenty of hospitals have been using UVGI or otherwise known as Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in inactivating TB (tuberculosis). Experts have maximised the use of this disinfection method. Many infected individuals have seen an increase in help from UV light purification. Today, it has found renewed application in other aspects, including air purifiers.

Now, what is this disinfection method? How does this work? In this article, we have outlined what you need to know about UVGI.

What Is Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI)?

An effective method of disinfection, UVGI uses short-wavelength ultraviolet light (UV-C) to inactivate or kill microorganisms and pathogens. The UV light with sufficiently short wavelengths is used to disinfect surfaces, air, and water. It has been widely recommended or used by many agencies and companies for the isolation of disease and bio-defence systems for buildings.

The effectiveness of Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation depends on the length of time a microorganism is exposed to UV and the intensity and wavelength of the UV radiation.

If you want to get the most of the effectiveness of UVGI, it is important to understand the difference between sterilization, disinfection, and decontamination. Often, these terms are incorrectly used. So, it is ideal to know their differences to avoid confusion and any potential legal ramifications.

Sterilisation

First, sterilisation describes a process that destroys and carries out all forms of microbial life through physical or chemical methods.

Disinfection

Second, disinfection is a process that involves the elimination of many or all pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate objects.

Decontamination

Third, decontamination describes a process that makes an object or area safe. It involves removing, neutralising, or destroying any harmful substance. Basically, it is the outcome of the processes of sterilisation and disinfection.

Essentially, disinfection and sterilisation make sure that medical and surgical equipment do not transmit infectious pathogens to patients. Since the sterilisation of all patient-care instruments is not necessary, it is important for healthcare policies to identify, primarily based on the items’ intended use, whether cleaning, disinfection, or sterilisation is indicated.

How Does UVGI Work?

Now that you have an idea what Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation is, the next thing you need to know is how it works.

UVGI is a specific method of sterilisation that uses UV lighting to kill germs. Since time immemorial, UV disinfection lighting is known to kill bacteria. There was even a time when it was popular in hospitals because of its ability to kill tuberculosis. When antibiotics came to light, the concern for disinfecting everything lessened. However, antibiotic-resistant infections (not to mention viruses) surface today. As a result, the interest in Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation has been renewed.

Application of UVGI in Air Handling Units (AHU)

Generally, the cooling coils present in air handling units are the heat exchangers where heat and mass transfer take place. These coils are constructed of closely spaced aluminium fins, which are attached to rows of copper tubes, that increase the airside surface area, and ultimately, the heat transfer.

In addition to humidity and moisture being constantly present, this phenomenon promotes microbial growth and leads to the formation of Biofilms. If biofilms and closely spaced fins combine, they make cooling coils very susceptible to airside fouling. If the biofilm blows off into the airstream, it causes a deteriorated and harmful Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in the entire buildings.

Situations like these lead to chillers operating under non-optimum conditions while using more energy than usual.

Application of UVGI in Ducting System

Nowadays, airborne transmission of diseases through HVAC systems is much more prevalent than previously encountered. Airborne contamination comes from various sources. It mainly circulates through the HVAC system. In-duct ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems treat moving airstreams in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems by inactivating airborne microorganisms found within.

A great deal of hospital-acquired infections has cost healthcare providers huge sums of money per annum. Even if robust cleaning regimes have been adopted, the spread of Tuberculosis, Meningitis, MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Chickenpox, Influenza (H1N1 and avian), Aspergillus, Pseudomonas, and even COVID-19 continue to grow. These infections affect more than 10% of patients. Some cases are even fatal.

If you think that this UV disinfection lighting technology should be used by more hospitals, especially with the current coronavirus pandemic, then you are right.

Wrapping Up

Certainly, UVGI helps reduce respiratory infections when applied in crowded spaces. This disinfection method also works in preventing spaces containing the ultraviolet equipment from getting infected.

While studies of the health benefits of applying UVGI systems have inconsistent results, there have been a few successful studies of UVGI in HVAC systems outside of health care facilities. With the evidence of potential health benefits, the Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation warrants further research.

If you want to benefit from UVGI light, call Power Up Enterprises! We are one of the country’s leading provider of premium quality products. When you choose to purchase from us, you can trust that you can get the right sustainable solution for your HVAC system. Contact us today!