Grease Trap Perth (grease interceptors) are important restaurant safety and health devices. They reduce the amount of fats, oils, and greases (FOG) that enter the sewer system, leading to clogs and sewer overflows.
Choosing the right preventative maintenance chemicals for your grease trap is key to maximum performance. Chemicals can lower upfront costs, eliminate the need for pump-outs, and be handled by kitchen staff.
As any restaurant owner or manager knows, cleaning grease traps is a big job. It takes time away from other important tasks like focusing on food and customer service. But it’s a vital task to prevent clogs and overflows that can cause costly backups in your kitchen, as well as in the city sewer system.
The goal of a grease trap is to separate fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from wastewater that flows down drains in your kitchen. It does this by having baffle walls that allow the FOG to float while solids sink, keeping them separated. The wastewater then passes through the outlet pipe into your city’s sewer waste system.
Whether your restaurant has a traditional passive system or a more modern grease interceptor, the basic operating design is the same. The difference is in how you pump out the grease and how often.
Most restaurants need a commercial-grade grease trap with an internal pump, as the odor produced by trapped FOG is unappetizing and can affect staff and customers. The size of your trap and production capacity will help you determine which type is right for your business. The most common grease traps are gravity-drain models that sit underneath kitchen sinks or on the floor in an accessible outdoor area. Some are large tanks with manhole covers on the parking lot, usually used for larger restaurants that need to store the grease away from their kitchens.
How Does a Grease Trap Work?
The primary function of a grease trap, also known as a grease interceptor or GRU (grease recovery unit), is to prevent untoward kitchen matter from infiltrating municipal sewage systems. FOGs, such as animal fats and vegetable oils, can wreak havoc on shared plumbing systems by clogging sewer lines and causing wastewater to back up into businesses and residences.
Whether passive/manual, automatic or gravity, a grease trap works by cooling and separating warm wastewater into different layers – solids at the bottom, water in the middle and FOGs at the top. FOGs are lighter in density than water and float on the top of a grease trap, allowing them to be separated from wastewater and discharged into the sanitary sewer line.
Grease traps are available in a wide range of sizes based on production capacity and space considerations. Some can be installed indoors, while others are designed to sit unobtrusively outside.
Regardless of size or location, all grease traps must be professionally pumped out and cleaned on a regular basis to ensure optimal performance. A reputable grease trap service provider can craft a maintenance schedule compliant with local regulations that best fits your business. It’s a good idea to educate your entire team on how to avoid contaminating your trap by keeping drain covers in sinks closed, scraping food into trash cans instead of into sinks and not pouring cooking oil or grease down any drains.
What Can Cause a Grease Trap to Get Clogged?
A clogged grease trap is more than just an inconvenience. It’s also a health and safety risk. Grease is highly flammable and can quickly spread fire throughout your establishment, causing significant damage and potentially devastating injuries or even deaths. Plus, a full trap is more likely to trigger a sink, floor drain or dishwasher backup, further limiting the functionality of your business and resulting in costly downtime.
Every drain in your kitchen runs through your grease trap, including garbage disposals and floor drains. If any of these drains or the trap itself become clogged, it’s important to call a plumbing company right away. They’ll be able to unclog the grease trap and repair any damaged pipes.
One of the most common reasons for a grease trap to get clogged is due to long-term buildup of food waste. This is why it’s important to schedule regular cleaning and pumping services.
When food scraps go down your drains, they first enter the grease trap and cool down. This allows the FOGs in the liquid to harden and rise to the surface while heavier solid waste particles and debris sink to the bottom of the trap. This creates a separation between the waste and clean water that can then flow down your pipelines to the municipal sewer system.
What Can Cause a Grease Trap to Overflow?
A grease trap that overflows can introduce a repulsive sewer smell into places it doesn’t belong and leave staff, customers and visitors exposed to potential health hazards. However, overflows can be prevented by implementing best practices and following health and safety protocols.
One of the first signs that your grease trap is nearing capacity is water pooling in and around the trap. This is a sign that the fats, oils and grease (FOG) are beginning to solidify and restrict drainage, creating a backup within the trap.
A reputable grease trap service provider should be familiar with local FOG regulations and can work with you to establish a regular pumping schedule that is compliant with your city’s requirements. Additionally, keeping detailed maintenance records can help you demonstrate compliance in the event of a regulatory inspection, potentially averting fines.
Aside from establishing a scheduled servicing routine, educate your kitchen staff on how to properly use drains and the grease trap system in order to prevent overflows. This includes teaching them to properly scrape food waste into the trash and not down the drain or into the grease trap. It’s also important to monitor FOGS levels and arrange for servicing when the levels begin to climb. This can help to avoid overflowing and reduce the need for emergency services. If you do encounter an overflow, act quickly and follow your emergency response plan to contain the spill and sanitize the area.