A grease trap is a system set up between your restaurant's drains and the public sewer they run to. This system separates fat, oil, and grease from wastewater, then holds onto them until they're emptied through grease trap pumping. If you haven’t managed this type of system before, here's what you need to know.

How It Works

Cooking grease floats on top of water when left to settle. Your grease trap has a large tank where the water from your drains runs through. At the top of the tank are barriers to trap the floating grease, and near the bottom, water moves into the sewer. Water runs through the grease trap continuously, while grease builds up inside until the tank is ready to be emptied.

Grease Trap Pumping

Cleaning your trap gets rid of the buildup of grease before it can overflow. An overflowing trap may cause your restaurant’s sinks to back up or allow grease to run into the sewer. Cooking grease in the sewer causes blockages and damage, so most local governments require businesses to maintain a trap and will fine your business for any spills.

Regular grease trap pumping protects your business from fines and drain blockages. You can tell it’s time for this service if your drains are running more slowly or there are unexplained odors from the drains in the kitchen. There may also be an area outside the restaurant where you can open the grease trap hatch and check the liquid depth. If more than a quarter of the total depth is grease, it needs to be emptied. At minimum, you’ll require pumping every three months, but busy restaurants may need this service as often as once a month.

Other Maintenance Tips

Besides scheduling regular grease trap pumping, you can protect your system by minimizing the amount of grease and food debris that goes down your drains. This way, it’s less likely to clog and won’t need to be emptied as often. Ensure all dishes are scraped off into a garbage can or compost bin before being washed. Use drain guards to catch debris, and pour grease into a container to collect it instead of putting it down the sink.

For grease trap pumping, choose A1 Septic Cleaning Service in Kerrville, TX. Serving the hill country area for more than 25 years, this certified provider will do a thorough job and show you the bottom of your empty tank when they’re done. Learn more about their services online, and call (830) 257-7867 for an appointment.