A grease trap is a containment system that keeps fats, oils and grease (FOG) from reaching the municipal sewer system. Grease traps are found in restaurants, hotels, schools and commercial kitchens. Other terms for grease traps include grease pits, oil tanks, fat tanks, grease interceptors, kitchen tanks and FOG tanks.
What do Grease Traps do?
The main purpose of a grease trap is to capture and prevent FOG from reaching the main sewer lines of the city or county. Why? Because FOG hardens when it cools and forms fatty deposits on the sides of sewer lines that can create massive drain line clogs and sewer main breaks. In fact, failing to use and maintain a grease trap and allowing FOG to flow into the sewer main comes with hefty fines and other legal repercussions. So, maintaining your grease trap is an essential part of any business who is required to have one.
Aside from causing damage to sewer mains, FOG can be very harmful to the drains of your immediate establishment. Hardened FOG can cause major sewer backups and also creates a foul odor that can permeate your restaurant or kitchen. The clogs caused by FOG can render your business inoperable and cause you to have to close down to deal with emergency sewer line services. It’s extremely important to keep your grease trap pumped and maintained on a regular basis. Depending on the amount of business a restaurant has, they should have their grease trap pumped every one to three months.
How do Grease Traps Work?
There are different types of grease traps and they work a little differently however, the general way they work is pretty similar. Water and debris goes down the sink into a grease trap where FOG rises to the top, sand and other solid grit sink to the bottom and the water sits in the middle. The water is drained out and the FOG is strained out and moves through an outlet pipe into a holding tank. A system of strainers help skim the FOG out of the water to ensure they don’t reach the sewer lines and instead are funneled over to the holding tank. This holding tank eventually becomes full and needs to be pumped out and the waste disposed of properly. When the tank is pumped, it’s important that the different components of the grease trap system are cleaned and maintained to keep the grease trap working like it’s supposed to. FOG can collect on the grease trap components and cause build up that prevents the grease trap from operating as optimally as possible.
Grease Trap Pumping and Repair
Williamson’s Rooter & Plumbing are your grease trap experts. We’ll pump your tank and dispose of the contents in a sustainable way and we’ll also ensure that the components of your grease trap are cleaned and well maintained to ensure your trap is working like it should. If your grease trap is ever not working properly, we can help with that too. Our technicians can repair and replace grease traps and components when necessary to keep your system working as it should and help you avoid fines and penalties from FOG getting into the sewer main. One call and we can handle all of your grease trap service needs!