Best Make-Up Air Heater Options for Commercial Kitchens

Make-up air heaters restore tempered air into kitchens and mechanical rooms to replace exhausted air. Below is a quick comparison of five practical products and components commonly used for make-up air systems, safety, filtration, and integrated kitchen hood solutions.

Product	Use Case	Key Feature
Broan MD8TU 8″ Universal Make-Up Air Damper	Air intake control for make-up air units	Universal 8″ damper assembly
Fireye Flame Safety Control Kit for Make Up Air Unit Heater	Flame safety and control for gas-fired MUA heaters	M4RT1 flame safety control + accessories
Commercial Kitchen Make Up Air Metal Mesh Filters (Two Pack)	Intake filtration for supply fans and heaters	Aluminum frame, 20″ x 25″ x 2″
HOODMART 12′ Kitchen Hood System With Makeup Air	Complete hood system with supply fan and MUA components	Exhaust + supply fans, integrated supply plenum
Hydronic Radiant Heat Control Panel 3-Zone	Hydronic heating integration for building HVAC or zoned heating	Preassembled 3-zone control panel with pumps

Broan MD8TU 8″ Universal Make-Up Air Damper

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Application: This 8″ universal damper is designed to control incoming make-up air for commercial exhaust systems. A damper provides controlled airflow and helps maintain pressure balance between conditioned and exhausted air.

Key Considerations: The unit is a mechanical air damper intended for integration into ductwork. It is typically used with motorized actuators or tied into rooftop unit controls for proportional make-up air delivery. The simple design supports installation where a robust, standardized damper opening is required.

Compatibility: Intended as a universal component for a variety of MUA configurations. Confirm flange dimensions and actuator requirements before installation. Proper selection influences airflow control accuracy and building pressure stability.

Fireye Flame Safety Control Kit For Make Up Air Unit Heater

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Application: This Fireye M4RT1 flame safety control kit is built for gas-fired make-up air unit heaters where flame monitoring and safety interlocks are required by code or manufacturer guidance.

Included Components: The kit includes the M4RT1 flame safety control module, a 10 ft GTO cable, flame rod, and connector. It replicates wiring and connection logic of M series controllers, with pre-set purge and flame verification timings.

Performance And Safety: The control provides pre-purgePTFI (post-ignition fuel prove) timing, and a single recycle attempt after flame loss. These features are standard safety behaviors that reduce risk and support code compliance when retrofitting or replacing burner controls.

Commercial Kitchen Make Up Air Metal Mesh Filters Two Pack

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Application: These aluminum framed metal mesh filters are sized for supply fan and heater intakes commonly found in commercial kitchens and make-up air units.

Construction And Filtration: The filters use a rigid aluminum frame and media designed to capture larger dirt and dust particles, grease carryover, and airborne debris before reaching fans or heating coils. The two-pack with 20″ x 25″ x 2″ size fits many standard filter racks.

Maintenance Impact: Regular filter replacement or cleaning is essential to maintain airflow, heater efficiency, and to prevent coil or burner fouling. Using the correct filter size and pleat/mesh density improves system life and reduces service intervals.

HOODMART 12′ Kitchen Hood System With Economy Makeup Air

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Application: This integrated hood system includes exhaust and low-profile supply fans designed to work together to manage grease, heat, and makeup air in a commercial kitchen environment.

System Composition: The package lists a 48″ x 12′ hood, an exhaust fan (3000 CFM), a supply fan (2,400 CFM), an internal perforated supply plenum, grease baffle filters, lights, and mounting hardware. The supply fan and plenum are the core make-up air components that introduce tempered or balanced air.

Performance Notes: Integrated systems simplify coordination between exhaust and makeup air volumes. The supply fan capacity and plenum design affect how well the hood maintains kitchen pressure and staff comfort. Heavy-duty stainless construction addresses durability in commercial settings.

Hydronic Radiant Heat Control Panel 3-Zone For System Heating

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Application: While not a direct make-up air heater, a preassembled hydronic control panel provides a method to integrate hot water heating into building HVAC or to supply tempered air coils used for makeup air heating.

Features And Integration: The panel includes pumps, expansion tank, air separator, and manifold connections for up to three zones. It is suitable for radiant floors or supply water heating loops, and it can be connected to boilers or water heaters to provide preheated air via coils in an air handling unit.

Benefits: Hydronic heating offers even, efficient heat delivery and can be paired with MUA systems that require preheated supply air. Preassembled panels reduce installation complexity and centralize controls for multiple zones.

Buying Guide: Choosing The Right Make-Up Air Heater Components

Make-up air systems vary by building size, cooking load, local code, and integration with HVAC. Below are key purchase considerations to ensure proper selection and long-term performance.

1. System Type And Heating Method

• Direct Gas-Fired Make-Up Air: Efficient for large volumes; requires flame safety controls, proper combustion air, and ventilation clearances.
• Indirect/Heat Exchanger: Warm air produced by a heat exchanger or coil tied to a boiler or hydronic panel reduces combustion in the occupied space.
• Electric Heating: Simple to install for smaller loads; check electrical capacity and runtime costs.

2. Safety And Code Compliance

• Select controllers and safety kits (like flame safety controls) that meet local mechanical and fire codes.
• Ensure devices include pre-purge and proven flame detection logic where gas burners are used.
• Work with licensed HVAC or mechanical contractors for gas-fired systems and combustion air design.

3. Airflow Capacity And Balance

• Match supply CFM to exhaust CFM to avoid negative pressure. Integrated hood systems can simplify this balance.
• Damper control and motorized actuators help tune make-up air delivery under varying exhaust loads.
• Include variable speed controls for fans where possible to improve efficiency and comfort.

4. Filtration And Grease Management

• Use appropriately rated intake filters to protect coils, blowers, and burners from grease and particulate loading.
• Metal mesh filters are common for coarse capture; consider pre-filters and regular maintenance schedules.
• Confirm filter size and frame construction to ensure a secure fit and reliable sealing in filter racks.

5. Integration And Controls

• Coordinate control strategies between exhaust hoods and supply fans to maintain balanced pressures.
• Consider interlocks that modulate make-up air with hood exhaust and cooking appliance operation.
• Preassembled control panels and packaged hood systems can reduce field wiring and commissioning time.

6. Heating Source Selection

• Boiler/ Hydronic Coil: Suitable for facilities with existing hydronic infrastructure; often quieter and energy-efficient.
• Direct-Fired Heaters: High capacity and compact, ideal for very cold climates or large exhaust rates; requires combustion air and stack routing.
• Electric Coils: Good for smaller spaces or where gas is not available; check lead times and electrical service impacts.

7. Durability And Material Choices

• Choose stainless or heavy-gauge steel for hoods and exposed duct sections to resist corrosion in commercial kitchens.
• For filters and dampers, aluminum and corrosion-resistant frames extend life in humid and greasy environments.

8. Maintenance And Serviceability

• Plan for filter access, coil cleaning, and burner inspection. Easy access reduces downtime and prolongs component life.
• Use standardized control modules and replacement parts to simplify future service and minimize inventory needs.

9. Energy Efficiency And Comfort

• Heat recovery or tempering reduces load by reclaiming energy from exhaust air where applicable.
• Variable fan speeds, proportional dampers, and intelligent controls maintain comfort while lowering operating costs.

10. Professional Sizing And Commissioning

• Always have system sizing verified by an HVAC professional. Proper CFM matching, duct sizing, and burner tuning are critical.
• Commissioning ensures interlocks, safeties, and airflow balances operate as designed under real kitchen loads.