The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Grease Traps: How They Work and Why They're Essential

Grease traps are also called grease interceptors, and they are indispensable tools in commercial cooking places and restaurants. In fact, it is a requirement to install one and if you do not have it, your business is not compliant.

But even before you can contract a grease trap company to install one, first, it is good to know what this is. Secondly, it is good to know how it works. That way, you have an idea how everything in the restaurant works.

A grease trap is a FOG (Fats, Oils, Greases) catcher. Its work is to arrest the grease from the kitchen sinks before it enters the wastewater disposal system.

The grease interceptors are usually installed in commercial kitchens, restaurants, schools, hospitals, and other eating places where lots of oils and greases are produced. Depending on the size, some traps can be installed indoors and others outdoors.

If you have a small food business, you will probably use an indoor grease interceptor, installed under the kitchen sinks. If you are a big, fast food joint, you will need one installed outside your kitchen.

The FOG traps assist in the reduction of blockages, overflows, and pollution of the environment by FOGs from entering into the sewer lines.

Unveiling how a FOG interceptor works

As a restaurant manager, it is vital to understand how grease traps work.That way, you can know when they are functioning efficiently or otherwise.

These traps function on the principle of gravity separation. When wastewater from kitchen sinks, dishwashers, and other fixtures enters the trap, it slows down and cools.

That enables the less dense FOGs to float to the surface while the food particles and debris denser than water sink to the tank base.

The now grease-free water in the middle layer then drains out of the trap and into the sewerage system.

If you realize that grease is leaking from the trap to the sewerage system, something is wrong, and it should be repaired immediately.

Generally, the FOG interceptor prevents grease from getting into the sewerage system.

The main parts of a grease trap, and what they do

The grease trap is not just a tank, but it is a complex device that separates the grease from the water. For this to happen, all the parts have to be working correctly, all the time. Here are the main parts of the FOG tank:

Inlet pipe: It is the pipe that brings the wastewater into the grease trap. This can be cold, hot or lukewarm water from the kitchen sinks, which is mixed with grease and food material.

Flow control device: This device controls the rate of flow of water and allows the water to drip at a slow rate so that there can be maximum separation.

Baffles: These are internal barriers in the grease trap that assist in halting the speed of water flow and assist in the general separation of grease and water in the trap.

Outlet pipe: This is a pipe through which the now “treated” water passes to be discharged from the trap and into the sewage system.

Grease collection area: Every grease trap has a collection area where FOGs settle, awaiting pumping from the grease collection company.

Solids collection area: The part of the grease trap system that holds the denser and heavier debris and food particles.

Different types of grease traps

Not every type of FOG tank in the market is good for you. Some are best for small restaurants, and some for the big ones.

Generally, there are three main types of kitchen grease traps – automatic grease-removing units (AGRUs) and fixed-capacity grease traps.

Automatic grease removal units (AGRUs): These are more advanced systems that have mechanical parts that help to discharge the build-up greases. AGRUs are easier to maintain, and one does not have to often clean the tanks physically.

Passive grease traps: These are the most popular traps and are normally fitted below the wash stands or in floor gullies.

They use gravity separation and require constant cleaning, which has to be done by hand. These traps are best for the small restaurants because of their limited capacity and they require to be cleaned more often than the bigger ones.

Grease interceptors – These are big, and they are installed outside the kitchen premises. They are best suited to big restaurants. They require regular pumping to remove the accumulated grease.

Why do you need to install a grease trap?

There is compliance, economical, ecological and other reasons for installing the FOG tank. Here are more details regarding this:

It prevents sewer blockages

If allowed to form and grow, FOGs will become thick and coagulate at the base of sewer pipes, blocking them.

Such blockages can create backups, overflows, and serious troubles for the plumbing systems. Thus, FOG traps perform the act of preventing these many inconveniences that emanate from the interference of grease within the sewer lines.

Protecting the environment

When grease finds its way into the sewage system, it is likely to be discharged into natural water sources. It causes direct pollution to the water, creates a barrier that prevents oxygen from getting in, and this affects marine life.

Grease is best disposed of through the grease traps. So, these traps play a crucial role in preventing the adverse impact of FOGs on the environment.

Compliance with regulations

There are local, state and federal laws that require the installation and operation of grease traps in the kitchens of commercial buildings and food businesses.

This also means that the FOG traps have to meet certain standards. Since you cannot possibly know all these, just contract a grease trap company.The professionals will ensure that your business stays compliant.  

Failure to adhere to the local requirements leads to penalties, fines, and in extreme cases, your business can face closure.

A FOG trap makes your business more efficient

Having a running FOG tank makes your business more efficient, cleaner and easier to maintain.

Cleaning the grease trap helps avoid blockage of the commercial kitchen’s plumbing system and for the proper flow of grease, oil, and fat.

This means that there is a free flow of service without many interruptions thus cutting the cost of frequent maintenance. Reduced downtime and maintenance costs go a long way in ensuring the customers are satisfied.

Remember, installing the best grease tank is just the beginning. You also need to ensure that it is pumped and cleaned in time.

The local authorities require that the FOG tank be maintained in good time, which is usually once in every 90 days.

Best ways to enhance grease trap maintenance

Grease traps should be well maintained to enable them to perform the intended function and efficiently. If taken good care of, they will serve their intended purpose for a long time.

Here are some things that you need to do to make sure everything runs well:

Regular cleaning

FOGs and solids should not accumulate in grease traps. They should be cleaned out in good time. How often the trap is cleaned will depend on the size and the amount of grease likely to collect in it. A typical cleaning schedule ranges from weekly (for small traps) to monthly, to once in 90 days.

Proper disposal of the old grease

The accumulated grease and solids should be disposed of properly. Choose a good company that puts environmental responsibility at the core of its business. You can ask questions regarding how they recycle and dump grease.

Inspection and monitoring

Regular checks help to detect any problems with the grease trap. Common problems include clogs or damage to some, or all of the components.

Supervising the efficiency of the trap can also reveal whether the frequency at which the trap is cleaned requires changing.

Kitchen staff training

Ensure that members of staff who work in the kitchen are well informed about the need to maintain the kitchen's grease trap. They should also know a few ways of preventing FOGs from entering the sewer system.

This includes good practices such as scraping plates with paper towels before washing them, using steel screens/strainers, and preventing the pouring down of grease in the drains.

Record keeping

Ensure that you keep good grease trap pumping records. These logs should include the cleaning schedule, amount of grease scraped off, any mechanical checks carried out or any mechanical work done.

This documentation can be used to meet specific requirements of the regulatory bodies and to resolve various problems. Keep these records handy as the local authority’s inspectors might need to see them from time to time.

Call us today for all of your grease trap needs

You need to partner with a reputable company to offer you a reliable grease trap service regularly.

Don’t look any further. We are standing by to assist you, do the dirty work for you so that you can concentrate on your core business – that of feeding your customers.

Must Read: 5 Ways to Save Money With a Professional Grease Trap Cleaning