---
title: What You Need to Know About Retrofitting DCKV Systems
description: What do you need to know about DCKV retrofitting? Is there anything you need to do to prepare for the installation? Find the most important information you need to know about getting a DCKV system retrofit into your existing commercial kitchen hoods.
image: https://blog.melinkcorp.com/hubfs/a-restaurant-ga8beb9468_1280.jpg
---
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# What You Need to Know About Retrofitting DCKV Systems
Green Link
 [Wes Frame](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/author/wes-frame)
5/25/22 5:39 PM
[DCKV](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/topic/dckv)
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Demand control kitchen ventilation systems (DCKV) like [Melink’s Intelli-Hood®](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/) can be retrofit into nearly any existing kitchen exhaust hood. Intelli-Hood® is UL listed for any manufacturer’s hood, so no matter when your kitchen was built or what type of kitchen hood you have, it’s nearly certain that our DCKV system can be retrofitted into it.
What do you need to know about DCKV retrofitting? Is there anything you need to do to prepare for the installation? Find the most important information you need to know about getting a DCKV system retrofit into your existing commercial kitchen hoods.
**Make Sure Your Ventilation System is in Good Working Order**
A DCKV system is only as effective as the ventilation system it controls. DCKV determines when exhaust fans vent air out of a cooking space, not how well they do it. If you have underlying issues with your exhaust fan or the balance/general operation of your building’s ventilation system, those will need to be resolved before the DCKV system is retrofitted.
Melink provides comprehensive [testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB)](https://melinkcorp.com/services/test-adjust-and-balance/) of ventilation systems as well as [HVAC monitoring](https://melinkcorp.com/hvac-monitor/) for your building. We can help determine if your system is ready for a DCKV retrofit and assist in ironing out any issues before installation.
Some issues that can impact the effectiveness of DCKV retrofits include:
- Imbalanced HVAC systems
- Kitchen hoods that do not effectively capture smoke and effluent
- Issues heating or cooling your makeup air
- Low total exhaust air flow rates from kitchen hoods
- Excessive noise coming from kitchen exhaust hoods
### **Prepare for Potential Closure**
One unavoidable fact about DCKV retrofitting is the inevitable closure of your commercial kitchen. Outfitting an existing system with a DCKV system can take multiple days, depending on the size and complexity of the installation. Careful planning is required to limit the impact on your sales and day-to-day operations. Installations can be done during off hours, if your facility is closed on weekends. Otherwise, you will need to work the installation into your business schedule. If you operate a restaurant, it may be necessary to close completely. If your commercial kitchen is a part of a larger facility (e.g. an office building, university, etc.), you should be able to keep the facility open while the work is completed on the kitchen hoods.
Do not fret about potential closures and lost business, installing a DCKV system is well worth the money. The savings achieved over the life of the system will not only more than pay for the system itself, they will also cover the loss in business and then some. Installing a DCKV system in your commercial kitchen will immediately create a [positive cash-flow](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/using-commercial-rebates-to-generate-positive-cashflow-on-dckv-projects) for your business. Among their many other benefits.
### **Have questions about retrofitting a DCKV system into your commercial kitchen? We have the answers. Get in touch with Melink today to talk about your project. **
#### About [Wes Frame](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/author/wes-frame)
Wes Frame is a Sales/Application Engineer at Melink. He has been with Melink since 2007. Wes is passionate about creating more sustainable environments through technology.
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