What are they?
Grease traps and interceptors are used primarily in kitchens and restaurants. They remove and retain the grease that builds up over time in wastewater. The use of grease traps is standard per health and safety codes in most commercial food preparation applications.
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How do they work?
Grease traps or interceptors are required by municipalities to stop fat, oil and grease (FOG) from entering the city’s sanitary sewer system. Grease traps are created to fit the sinks they are connected to, and remove between 25 and 85% of the grease that builds up in the wastewater.
A typical “Passive Grease Trap” is commonly placed inside and under the sink or drain in a commercial kitchen. Most passive grease traps hold 20 to 50 gallons of wastewater. Typically, heavy sludge builds up on the bottom of the tank, pushing wastewater through the outlet to the sanitary sewer line. Lighter grease and oil floats on top and is stopped from entering the outlet by baffles. Baffles are used to separate the grease and oils and are easily removable for cleaning. After all the material is pumped from the trap, any grease buildup should be scraped from the sides of the tank. Hot water (from the sinks) should be used for cleaning the outlet, inlet and inside of the tank.
A typical “Pre-cast Concrete Trap” is commonly placed outside of the restaurant and can range from 500 to 3,000 gallons. Heavy sludge builds up in the bottom of the tank while fats and oils float to the top and form a small scum/grease layer. Wastewater is pushed out to the sanitary sewer from the sludge buildup. After all of the material (FOG) is pumped out of the trap, the grease buildup should be cleaned from the inside of the tank by power washing. Ace recommends having this done yearly or semi-annually depending on the amount of usage.
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When should I have my Grease Trap cleaned?
Every business has a different cleaning schedule as it depends on the amount of usage as well as the size of your trap. The experienced professionals at Ace service our grease trap customers weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually etc…. We can customize a schedule to meet the needs of your business.
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