Commercial Restaurant Odor Control in Calabasas

Why restaurant odors persist—and how we fix them

Kitchen odors are rarely a single-filter problem. They stem from a chain of issues: insufficient primary grease capture, overloaded filters, undersized or dirty ESP cells, exhausted carbon beds, unbalanced make‑up air, leaky ducts, and poor discharge velocities that let plumes drop onto roofs or drift to neighbors. Our engineered approach addresses the entire chain—source capture, transport, treatment, and rooftop discharge—so smells are captured, treated, and exhausted as designed.

• Source capture: high-efficiency baffle and cartridge filtration matched to hood duty
• Particulate control: electrostatic precipitators sized to actual CFM and grease load
• Gas-phase polishing: activated carbon or blended media for aldehydes and VOCs
• Optional UV‑C stages to break down grease aerosols upstream of carbon
• Balanced make‑up air to stabilize pressure and boost hood capture
• Optimized stack height and velocity to disperse treated exhaust

Our end‑to‑end process

1. On‑site assessment. We survey hoods, fans, ducts, rooftops, building pressure, and local complaint history. We log airflow and temperature, and inspect ESPs, carbon, and safeties.

2. Engineering & design. We model capture velocities, make‑up air, fan curves, and discharge. You receive a stamped plan set or a build sheet with performance targets and maintenance intervals.

3. Installation & retrofit. Low‑downtime upgrades: VFDs, sealed ductwork, replacement ESP cells, expanded carbon beds, UV‑C modules, make‑up air tuning, and stack modifications.

4. Commissioning. We verify CFM, static pressure, capture performance, amp draw, and leak integrity. You get a commissioning report and a service schedule.

Technologies we deploy—matched to your kitchen

• High‑capture hoods and multi‑stage filtration for heavy‑duty fry, grill, and wok lines
• Electrostatic precipitators (ESP) with automated wash options
• Activated carbon and specialty media for odor polishing
• UV‑C assist upstream to reduce grease load on downstream media
• Demand‑controlled kitchen ventilation (DCKV) with VFDs
• Dedicated outdoor air and make‑up air units for stable pressure
• Rooftop discharge redesign for better plume rise and dispersion

Every selection is application‑driven. We size equipment to your real duty cycle, hours, cuisine, and neighborhood sensitivity so the system performs on Friday night rush, not just at design day.

Balanced make‑up air and building pressure

Odor complaints often track back to pressure problems. If the kitchen is too negative, hoods underperform and smells leak to dining areas and outdoors. We balance supply and exhaust, seal leakage paths, and stabilize pressure across kitchens, dining rooms, and corridors. The result: stronger capture at the hood, fewer drafts, and quieter, more efficient operation.

Compliance and best practices

We design to current codes and industry standards including hood capture fundamentals and NFPA 96 for ventilation and grease control. We coordinate with local jurisdictions in Calabasas and Los Angeles County and align odor mitigation with air quality expectations to help minimize neighbor impact. Hardware selections are made to meet recognized listings for grease ducts and exhaust fans where applicable.

Who we serve

• Full‑service restaurants, quick‑serve, and cafés
• Ghost kitchens and food halls
• Hotels and event venues
• Supermarket kitchens and specialty bakeries

From Old Town Calabasas to The Commons and the 101 corridor, we understand mixed‑use constraints, roof access limits, and sensitive residential adjacency.

Why #1 AC Guys

• 80+ years of engineering heritage from a fourth‑generation family business
• Factory‑trained at Fujitsu (Japan), Mitsubishi Elektrik (Thailand), Midea (China), Gree (China), and Hier (China)
• Expertise in large, complex commercial projects and tight timelines
• Clear performance targets and documented commissioning
• 24/7 service and proactive maintenance programs
• Local to Los Angeles County; also serving Orange County, Ventura County, and Western Riverside County

Service programs that keep odors down

Set‑and‑forget doesn’t work for odor control. We offer scheduled ESP cell cleaning, carbon media replacement, VFD verification, sensor recalibration, and hood/duct inspections. This keeps capture performance high and operating costs predictable.

• Quarterly or monthly filter and carbon exchanges based on load
• ESP bath cleaning and dielectric checks
• Airflow validation and pressure balancing
• Documented reports for your records and insurers

Get your free Calabasas odor audit

If odors, smoke, or neighbor complaints are hurting your brand, we can help. Book a no‑obligation on‑site audit in Calabasas. We will pinpoint the cause, outline a right‑sized plan, and provide a clear path to measurable odor reduction with minimal downtime.

#1 AC Guys—healthy air for healthy living, delivered by engineers who solve the toughest commercial challenges.