If you own or manage a cooking establishment, you should have a grease trap in your kitchen that catches fats, oils, and greases that go down your drain. A crucial part of maintaining this device is to have regular grease trap cleaning done by a professional to avoid backups and other problems. Below are several frequently asked questions and answers about cleaning grease traps to help you better understand this crucial component. 

What to Know About Grease Trap Cleaning

How are grease traps cleaned?

Cleaning should take place at a time when your kitchen is closed. When the grease trap and drain service professional arrives, they’ll remove the grease trap’s lid and record the amount of fats, oil, and grease in it.

After dipping out the water, they’ll remove the sludge, either with scooping tools or a vacuum-like device. The trap will be scraped and scrubbed, the water poured back in, and the lid reattached. The professional will handle the disposal of the grease removed from the device.

How often should my grease trap be cleaned?

How often the trap needs to be cleaned depends on the size of the trap and the level of demand on it, such as how often water is run through it and how much grease your establishment produces. 

Smaller traps or busy establishments may need monthly cleanings. Some cities may also require monthly grease trap cleaning by law. Even if not, your trap should be cleaned at least every 6 weeks to prevent problems.

How can I tell if it’s getting full?

There are several signs your grease trap is getting full. The most obvious is if you look into it and see that grease is beginning to solidify near the top. Your sink may also begin acting like it has a clogged drain due to the restricted water flow through the trap. A bad odor might be present, too.

What are the benefits of having it cleaned?

Regular trap cleaning prevents grease from backing up in your drains. It also ensures the trap is able to do its job. Grease traps are essential because they keep fats, oils, and grease from getting into your plumbing and your city’s wastewater system, where it creates problems.

If it’s not regularly cleaned, water and grease will struggle to move through the trap, creating a mess and allowing harmful particles through the trap.

 

Do you need professional grease trap cleaning? American Rooter in Watertown, CT, has over 40 years of experience in plumbing, grease trap, and clogged drain services. They’re a family-owned company with a team of 20 professionals, and they serve all of Rhode Island and Connecticut with comprehensive services like water jetting, pipe inspections, sewer and drain installations and servicing, and septic cleaning and inspections. Learn more about their services online and call (888) 863-4638 to get a free estimate.