Keeping Your Grease Trap Clean
What Are Grease Traps?
As their name implies, grease traps are designed specifically to trap fats, oil and grease (FOG) before they enter the public sewer line. Left unchecked, FOG will solidify and stick to the insides of pipes, trapping small pieces of food debris and other items. Over time, this solid mass will continue to grow until it clogs the lines and causes a backup. The easiest way to solve this problem is to use a grease trap and prevent FOG from ever entering the sewer system.
How Do Grease Traps Work?
Everything you dump down the drain in a commercial kitchen ends up going through the grease trap. A properly maintained grease trap slows down all discharged liquids long enough to separate the water from the FOG, and prevents unwanted buildup in the municipal sewer line. FOG floats to the top of the grease trap, food particles drop to the bottom and discharged water flows through to the sewer system. Over time, and through regular use, FOG and food particles accumulate in the trap and need to be cleaned out.
Does My Commercial Kitchen Need A Grease Trap?
Yes. All commercial kitchens produce FOG, and therefore require their grease traps to be cleaned out frequently. The professionals at LES are happy to help review your kitchen habits and assist in developing best practices to reduce the impact to your grease trap. For example, the more food waste you can dispose of into the trash (and not down the drain), the less FOG you will introduce into your grease trap. By taking better care of it, you can lengthen the life of your grease trap, saving yourself money in the long run.
How Often Does My Grease Trap Need To Be Cleaned?
Proper maintenance and routine cleaning is crucial to keeping drains flowing smoothly, and to preventing costly back-ups and major problems from occurring at your restaurant. The process of cleaning the grease trap depends on the quantity and frequency of what goes down the drain. Depending on your individual configuration, cleaning schedules can range anywhere from weekly to quarterly. Be sure to hire a reputable company like LES to properly dispose of grease trap waste at a licensed facility. Foodservice facility managers, owners or operators are typically required to document their grease trap management efforts, including cleaning, repair and disposal methods.
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