Home kitchens are cooking more than ever, and that means the exhaust duct behind your range hood is collecting a surprising amount of grease. Left unchecked, this film becomes a fire hazard, a breeding ground for odors, and a hidden drain on your HVAC efficiency. CountBricks—Fort Worth’s leading AI-powered estimating and takeoff platform—helps homeowners and residential contractors tackle the job with clarity, speed, and cost control.
In Fort Worth’s climate, summer heat accelerates grease vapor build-up. New home builds and remodels with gourmet ranges generate even more particulate. Local codes are tightening around ventilation performance, making clean ducts a critical inspection item. CountBricks clients report three core benefits when they schedule routine cleaning:
• Reduced fire risk and lower insurance premiums
• Healthier indoor air quality and fewer lingering cooking smells
• Longer blower motor life and energy savings of up to 20 %
On CountBricks.com/services you’ll find a pre-built task bundle that covers every stage:
1. Jobsite prep and appliance protection
2. Access panel removal or temporary cut-in
3. Mechanical scraping of heavy deposits
4. Food-safe degreasing wash and rinse
5. Fan housing wipe-down and filter replacement
6. System reassembly, polish, and final airflow test
Because CountBricks connects in real time to local labor rates and material suppliers, our users see current pricing without scouring spreadsheets. For a standard 12-foot residential duct run in Fort Worth, recent estimates break down as follows:
• Labor – $2.10 – $2.60 per linear foot, based on a two-technician crew
• Consumables – $35 – $55 for degreaser, wipes, and filter media
• Access panel replacement (if required) – $28 each
Run an instant scenario in the CountBricks dashboard to see margin, tax, and markup calculations auto-populate your quote.
Fort Worth’s proud do-it-yourself culture is strong, yet grease duct cleaning crosses into specialty territory. CountBricks data shows that homeowners who attempt the task without proper tools spend nearly the same on equipment rentals as they would on a pro service—and they rarely hit the NFPA-96 cleanliness benchmark. By contrast, licensed contractors using CountBricks estimates complete an average job in 2.6 hours with 98 % first-pass code approval.
• Voice-to-Estimate: Speak the duct length and condition; your phone produces a line-item quote in seconds
• Automated Invoicing: Convert the approved quote into an invoice that syncs with QuickBooks
• AI Blueprint Takeoffs: Overlay duct routes on renovation plans and calculate CFM requirements instantly
• Branded Proposals: Export a ready-to-sign PDF with before/after photo placeholders
1. Shut off power to the hood fan and lay protective film over cooktops
2. Create an access point at the first 90-degree elbow for visual confirmation
3. Deploy rotary brush attachments paired with wet vacuum capture
4. Apply biodegradable, food-grade degreaser through low-pressure sprayer
5. Rinse with 140 °F water until runoff tests below 50 mg grease per liter
6. Seal access panel using UL-listed gasket tape and document with timestamped photos in CountBricks mobile app
Fort Worth residential codes reference IFC Section 505, which mandates clean exhaust ducts capable of maintaining designed airflow. Inspectors now use handheld anemometers; if your CFM reading is below spec, they’ll flag the duct—even if the hood looks clean. CountBricks checklists incorporate these thresholds so contractors can verify compliance before scheduling inspection.
• Light home cooking (≤1 hour a day): Clean every 18 months
• Average family use (1-3 hours a day): Clean annually
• High-volume or outdoor grilling stations: Clean every 6-9 months
The CountBricks client portal sends automated reminders based on service dates, ensuring you never miss a cycle.
When the Patel family renovated their Riverbend kitchen, their contractor used CountBricks for full-project estimating. Mid-way, they discovered a decade of grease buildup. Minutes after measuring the duct, the contractor generated a supplemental quote, won approval on site, and scheduled a cleaning crew—all within the CountBricks ecosystem. Post-cleaning airflow improved by 27 %, saving the Patels an estimated $112 annually on energy costs.
Homeowners can explore grease duct cleaning packages at CountBricks.com/services. Contractors ready to simplify estimating can book a live product demo at CountBricks.com/consultation. Keep your Fort Worth kitchen safe, efficient, and inspection-ready—CountBricks has every detail covered.
Many Fort Worth homeowners are adding restaurant-style ranges to their custom homes. The best time to control future grease problems is during design. CountBricks integrates HVAC design data into our estimating engine, allowing builders to specify ducts that resist buildup and simplify cleaning.
• Use smooth-wall, 26-gauge galvanized or stainless steel to minimize adhesion
• Limit 90-degree elbows; every turn reduces airflow and traps vapor
• Size the duct one inch larger than the minimum to lower static pressure
• Install hinged access panels every 10 feet for inspection and service
1. Input your hood CFM into CountBricks AI, and it recommends duct diameters that meet both IFC and manufacturer specs
2. Receive an instant material takeoff—duct lengths, elbows, dampers—ready for supplier ordering
3. Generate side-by-side cost comparisons of galvanized vs. stainless to match budget and maintenance goals
The Smith Build Group consulted CountBricks when sizing a 1,200 CFM island hood. Our AI flagged that the architect’s 6-inch duct would exceed recommended velocity, increasing grease condensation. Up-sizing to 8 inches added just $92 in material but is projected to cut annual cleaning time in half. The homeowners now have a quieter fan, lower long-term maintenance costs, and a duct that meets inspection on the first visit.
• Photograph internal duct surfaces after installation and upload to CountBricks; clean “baseline” images help prove future grease removal success
• Bundle a three-year cleaning plan into your project proposal; CountBricks auto-schedules reminders and invoices, locking in recurring revenue
• Leverage CountBricks.com/portfolio to showcase before-and-after images, reinforcing your expertise with prospective clients
Design smart today to clean less tomorrow. Whether you’re building a new residence or retrofitting an older Fort Worth home, CountBricks is your partner for safe, efficient, and profitable grease duct solutions.
