You may not think about your restaurant’s plumbing when the pipes and drains are working properly. However, a serious maintenance issue can bring the kitchen to a grinding halt. Here’s how to keep your system functional and your establishment running smoothly.

How to Care for Your Restaurant’s Plumbing

1. Clean the Grease Traps

The grease traps catch the discarded fats and oils before they enter the pipes and create a clog. If not cleaned routinely, these traps will slow down your drains and emit an unappetizing odor.

Have them cleaned every month if you produce a lot of grease, or every other month if the traps are relatively empty when you clean them monthly. Grease traps are usually located under the ground right outside the building or in the basement.

2. Install a Drain Cover

A drain cover is a simple and small expense that can prevent a lot of clogs. These small basket strainers are placed over each drain in the sink and will catch larger debris such as food chunks so that they don’t get stuck in the pipes.

As the cover catches debris, it will need to be emptied in the trash regularly. Teach your cooks and dishwashers to do this to keep each sink draining efficiently.

3. Scrape Plates

Have your dishwashers scrape the plates and put all other food scraps in the trash. If they simply throw dishes directly in the sink, then food, oils, and fats will go down the drains in large quantities. This simple extra step of using the trash instead will avoid a lot of strain on the system.

If you want to keep your restaurant’s plumbing system operating efficiently, contact All American Plumbing. For over 30 years, we’ve been providing a full array of services to businesses throughout Cabarrus County, NC, and the surrounding area. From repairing a leaking faucet to clearing out clogged drains, we’ll handle all your plumbing needs. Learn more about what we do online, or call (704) 788-8690 to schedule an appointment.