A Simple Guide to How Grease Traps Work
Whether you operate a restaurant, cafeteria, or any establishment that serves food, you most likely need a durable, reliable grease trap.
It’s the unsung hero of the food industry, ensuring that the greasy waste generated by frying chicken nuggets, fries, and other foods is collected and safely disposed of so that it doesn’t clog your plumbing system.
Ultimately, water and oil don’t mix, and grease traps help keep them separate. At Superior Drainage, we can clean your grease trap so that it performs this critical function without fail.
What is a Grease Trap?
Most people in the food industry know they have grease traps in their facilities. But that doesn’t mean everyone knows how they work or how to keep them clean and operational. This quick guide should clear up any confusion about these vital systems.
The Basics of How Grease Traps Function
There are two types of grease traps, and whether you have a manual or automatic system, the function of the grease trap is to collect the grease that rises to the top of your water flow before it enters the drain. As water flows into the trap, the flow is slowed, allowing the solids to sink to the bottom. At the same time, grease, oil, and fat rise to the top where it’s trapped. This allows the wastewater in the middle to flow into the drain and then the sewage system.
Manual grease traps are also referred to as traditional passive systems. These are the most common solutions adopted by restaurants and food service facilities. These systems operate the same as automatic systems but require manual cleaning by a properly trained and equipped professional. With automatic systems, the grease is automatically removed based on an established schedule based on your needs and the frequency at which the system fills up.
The Importance of Regularly Cleaning Your Grease Trap
When you operate a commercial kitchen, there is no such thing as forgetting to clean the grease trap. Not only will it not impress the health inspector, it can cause significant damage to your system and disrupt your operations.
If the system is not regularly cleaned, it can easily clog and diminish the trap’s effectiveness. In a best-case scenario, it will cause fat, oil, and grease (FOG) to back up into your plumbing and create a nasty mess that requires a hefty cleanup.
In the worst case, it can cause FOG and other debris to flow into the sewage system, violating health codes and building regulations, leading to fines and hefty remediation bills.
Moreover, regularly cleaning the grease trap can reduce odors from decomposing grease and food debris. It also ensures the system’s effectiveness and efficiency, which adds up to cost savings, pest reduction, and regulatory compliance.
In short, keeping your grease trap clean keeps it functional and helps protect your business’s bottom line.
Schedule Grease Trap Cleaning in Akron Today
The team at Superior Drainage can keep your grease trap clean and operational. We have the specialized tools and training that allow us to service your grease trap and keep it in prime condition so that you can focus on serving your customers.
For more than 25 years, we have served clients throughout Akron and Northeast Ohio. We guarantee your satisfaction with our commercial plumbing services, offering upfront pricing, expertise, and dedication to delivering the superior solutions you deserve!
Contact Superior Drainage to schedule grease trap cleaning in Akron, OH, today!
