In the bustling world of food service, the kitchen is the heart of the operation. Behind the scenes, the grease trap plays a pivotal role in commercial kitchens by capturing fats, oils, and grease (FOG) before they enter the wastewater system. In this blog post, we emphasise the importance of regular grease trap maintenance with a story of a recent kitchen nightmare.
How Does a Grease Trap Work?
In a commercial kitchen wastewater containing FOG is generated during cooking and dish washing processes. Grease traps are located where wastewater flows, including underneath sinks, near dishwashers, or in floor drains.
The grease trap mechanism is simple; as wastewater flows into the unit, the grease rises to the surface while solids settle at the bottom. The clear water then exits the trap, minimising the risk of clogged pipes and sewer backups.
A Kitchen Nightmare
Recently, the Walsh Waste team was called to a local restaurant with a neglected grease trap which had not been cleaned for several years. On a busy evening for the restaurant, this manifested in disruptive system blockages and unpleasant plumbing issues, undoubtedly a nightmare scenerio.
After an urgent call to Walsh Waste the following morning, one of our jetvac team members promptly visited the side, tediously cleared the hardened grease and eventually unblocked the system. Had this issue gone on any longer, the grease trap would have been damaged, leading to costly repairs and disruption to the restaurant’s operations.
Grease Trap Maintenance with Walsh Waste
Grease traps require regular maintenance to remain efficient and compliant with EPA guidelines. Depending on the size and use of the grease trap, it should typically be cleaned every 3 to 6 months. This is where professional grease trap services come into play.
At Walsh Waste, we have experienced technicians that possess the expertise and equipment to empty and clean grease traps efficiently. We can put our customers on a maintenance schedule that suits their needs, to ensure grease traps are sufficiently maintained and nightmares such as the above are avoided. Contact our dedicated team to enquire about our grease trap services.
Click here to learn more about our grease trap service and request a quote