Grease Traps 101

If you are running any sort of cooking operation you should already be aware of just how important kitchen cleanliness is. Not only is a clean kitchen ideal for a high functioning kitchen in general, it is also required by law to have a certain level of kitchen cleanliness. An unclean kitchen not only can hurt your business’ reputation, but it can also make it difficult to keep a strong kitchen operation running. One of the quickest ways to ruin a kitchens cleanliness is through grease buildup, and not only is it a messy situation, it can also be potentially harmful to your kitchen and your staff. Grease can destroy kitchen appliances, poses potential hazards for employees, and put your kitchen at risk for fires. Disposing of grease is no easy task, however it can be made easier with a grease trap. 

A grease trap is a steel rectangular ‘trap’ that is installed between a restaurant’s sewer line and main disposal system. The grease trap’s primary objective is to prevent grease, fats, oils, and other solid from gaining entry in to the main disposal system. Grease, oils, fats, etc. are problematic to any disposal system and can cause massive buildups / blockages which could lead to lengthy kitchen downtime and expensive repairs. On top of causing buildups and blockages of the main disposal lines, grease and other solids entering the sewer system can be harmful to the environment and could impose negative impacts onto your local plant, animal, and aquatic life. And finally, it’s a requirement by law that any commercial premise ensure that their waste is managed properly, and a grease trap helps to be sure you comply with these laws. 

Grease traps work in a way where they ‘trap’ the grease, oils, fats, and food particles as they make their way through the disposal systems and catch them before they make it to the main sewer. Over time the grease trap can suffer from build ups and blockages, in which time they will be ineffective and can cause bad odors, spill-overs, and more. While it may seem like an easy task to clean the grease traps yourself, it is highly recommended you go with a proper cleaning service that services grease traps. They will have the proper equipment and expertise to ensure that the grease trap cleaning is done correctly and won’t lead to any other issues. 

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