Stamford Garden Centre contacted us after their kitchen staff reported excessive heat while working. Kitchens naturally get warm, but in this case the temperature was far beyond what would normally be expected, and it was beginning to affect staff comfort and productivity.
During Canopy UK’s site survey, we identified two major issues with the existing extraction setup:
1. Undersized Fan & Poor External Ducting Layout
The fan installed was too small for the size of the canopy and the cooking equipment beneath it. Outside, the cowl had been fitted far too close to the fan outlet. This caused the discharged air to hit the cowl and bounce back towards the fan, creating resistance and significantly reducing airflow.
2. Electric Oven With No Ventilation
An electric oven was operating with no ventilation above it at all. This was the biggest contributor to the excessive heat in the kitchen.
Our Solution
Fan & Ducting Upgrade
We removed the old fan and ducting and replaced them with one of our Canopy UK fan boxes fitted with a 450mm plate fan. This immediately increased airflow and reduced resistance, improving overall extraction performance.
Our fan boxes are designed for easy installation and straightforward maintenance, thanks to their robust construction and practical layout.
Quick Vent Canopy Installation
To resolve the oven heat issue, we installed a new Quick Vent canopy system over the oven, venting directly through the back wall. This provided proper ventilation and removed the trapped heat that had been building up in the kitchen.
The Result
Was the customer happy? Yes. More importantly, the chefs noticed a clear improvement and are now working in a much cooler, more comfortable environment.
This was a great team effort—from the surveyor to the fabrication department and the installation team. The restaurant only needed to close the kitchen for one day and still managed to serve coffee and cakes front‑of‑house throughout the work.
Q&A Section
Q: Why was the kitchen getting so hot?
A: The main causes were an undersized extraction fan, poor external ducting layout, and an electric oven with no ventilation above it. Together, these created excessive heat buildup.
Q: Can a kitchen fan being too small really cause overheating?
A: Yes. If the fan cannot move enough air for the size of the canopy and equipment, heat, steam, and fumes remain trapped in the kitchen.
Q: What was wrong with the external cowl?
A: It was installed too close to the fan outlet. This caused the extracted air to hit the cowl and bounce back, reducing airflow and increasing resistance.
Q: Why was the oven such a big problem?
A: Without ventilation above it, the oven released heat directly into the kitchen. This was the single largest contributor to the temperature rise.
Q: How did Canopy UK fix the airflow issue?
A: We replaced the old fan and ducting with a Canopy UK fan box containing a 450mm S&P plate fan, designed for higher airflow and lower resistance.
Q: What is a Quick Vent canopy system?
A: It’s a compact, efficient ventilation canopy designed for appliances like ovens, providing targeted extraction where full-size canopies aren’t required.
Q: Did the kitchen need to close during the work?
A: Only for one day. The front-of-house remained open and continued serving coffee and cakes.
Q: Are the chefs happier now?
A: Yes. They reported a noticeable drop in temperature and a much more comfortable working environment.
Q: Can Canopy UK solve similar overheating problems in other kitchens?
A: Absolutely. We specialise in diagnosing airflow issues, upgrading extraction systems, and improving kitchen working conditions.
