Grease traps must be cleaned regularly to prevent leaks, clogs, and FOGs from entering the sewer system. The general rule is to clean the grease trap when it reaches around 25% full of FOGs or oil.
Start by removing the lid or access cover. Then use a plastic scraper to remove solid waste and put it in a trash bin. Next, use a commercial wet/dry vacuum to remove water and FOGs if possible.
Vacuuming
Grease trap cleaning can seem like a daunting task for those not trained in it. Expert grease trap cleaning service providers know how to get the job done correctly and safely, minimizing downtime and saving you money in the long run.
To ensure your establishment’s greasy waste management system functions properly, you need to schedule regular grease trap maintenance. Keeping up with your grease trap cleaning prevents clogs and offensive odors. It also sidesteps fines for violating sanitation and environmental regulations.
A dirty grease trap isn’t just an unpleasant sight; it’s also a health hazard for employees and customers, as it can emit toxic gases. Regular grease trap cleaning eliminates noxious odor build-up and reduces the risk of clogs and backup, making for a cleaner-smelling, safer kitchen.
As wastewater flows through a grease trap, fats, oils, and grease (FOG) cool and solidify, separating from the water. This prevents wastewater from flowing into the sewer and causing clogs in drain lines. A grease trap must be emptied and cleaned regularly to avoid overflow, which can result in FOG spilling into major waterways or infiltration fields.
There are several different ways to clean a grease trap, including using a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to suck up larger pieces of waste. After removing the grease from your trap, drain and flush it with room-temperature water and soap. Scrub the sides, lid, and different components of your trip with a steel pot scrubber, and then rinse them with water.
Scrubbing
While a grease trap’s function may seem simple, clogging and foul odors often result when these devices are not maintained properly. Regular cleaning is necessary to ensure a smooth-running kitchen while meeting regulatory requirements and avoiding costly fines.
Grease trap maintenance is a complex process that involves proficiency in hands-on cleanup, adept management of waste disposal, and unwavering dedication to a routine cleaning schedule. Mastering the art of grease trap maintenance requires careful planning and attention to detail, and can be best accomplished by partnering with experienced professionals.
Before beginning the grease trap cleaning process, turn off all power and gas supply to the appliance. Next, remove the lid and begin scrubbing the sides of the trap and its different components with room-temperature water and soap. Use a steel pot scrubber, as well, to loosen up stuck-on greasy buildup. Once you’ve removed as much of the FOG layer as possible, empty the contents into a bin and dispose of it appropriately.
It’s also a good idea to set up a system to reduce the amount of food waste that enters your traps, such as a separate bin for used cooking oil instead of using the garbage disposal. You can also partner with a local service that will collect and recycle waste grease into biofuel, saving you the time and expense of handling it yourself.
Flush with Hot Water
Grease traps (and interceptors) separate fats, oils, and grease from wastewater before it enters the sewage system. They protect against serious clogs and prevent oil and FOG from damaging the environment. However, if these traps aren’t regularly cleaned, they can become sources of bad odors and plumbing nightmares.
Grease interceptors and traps need to be emptied when they reach a quarter of their capacity. This is because the more grease fills a trap, the less effectively it works. In addition, a full trap can lead to clogged drains and sinks.
To begin, remove the grease trap lid. During this step, it’s a good idea to take photos or draw a diagram of the grease trap’s different parts so that you know where each part belongs once you replace it.
Next, scoop out the waste that has accumulated inside the trap into heavy-duty trash bags for disposal. It’s also important to note how much waste there is in the trap, as this information should be recorded for your records.
Now that you’ve removed the waste, flush the trap with hot water. It’s best to use soapy, but not boiling, water to help dissolve and flush away any remaining grease build-up. Once you’ve finished, check to see that the water is flowing smoothly. If it is, you can close the trap and re-install the baffles.
Chemical Treatment
Most restaurants and commercial kitchens need to install a grease trap — also known as a FOG interceptor or a grease recovery device. The purpose of a FOG trap is to stop fats, oils and grease (FOG) from entering the sewer system, where it can cause costly drain blockages. A FOG trap prevents these substances from clogging pipes, while allowing them to flow into wastewater treatment plants, where they can be broken down safely.
Several cleaning techniques can be used to clean a grease trap, including vacuuming, scrubbing and flushing with hot water. But none of these methods can completely remove the built-up grease — they only remove loose or dissolved grease, not the hardened residue that causes clogs and unpleasant odors. These problems can occur even if a business regularly has its trap pumped out.
Many cities have bans on additives and cleaners for grease traps because these products are not biodegradable and can pollute local water sources. They can also interfere with the function of a grease trap, making it difficult to identify and remove FOG buildup. Chemical treatments for grease traps are a better choice than cleaning additives. These products contain a mixture of bacterial and emulsifying agents. Bacterial products help control the buildup of grease by digesting it, while emulsifiers liquefy grease to easily remove it from drain lines and the trap. These products can extend the time between pump-outs and reduce costly emergency service calls.