5 Things You Should Know About Grease Traps
1. Grease traps are devices used in plumbing to collect grease and oils from
wastewater
2. Grease traps prevent sewer blockages caused by oil and fats
3. Grease traps solidifies the oil that it traps
4. Grease traps are used in many food service establishments
5. Grease traps must be maintained and cleaned regularly for it to be efficient
Grease traps are devices used in plumbing to collect grease and oils from wastewater
Wastewater coming from kitchens and facilities of food service establishments are filled with grease, oil, and fats (such as animal lard). Since water does not mix with oil and grease, the tendency is for those substances to float on top of the water’s surface. Wastewater from the kitchen may also have solid particles from leftover food.
Grease traps collect all these oils and stores them in their respective receptacle before they can travel into the sewer lines. Such interceptors come in various types and sizes, depending on how heavy the usage will be and what each food service establishment will require. These grease traps can be located inside the kitchen, outside the establishment, and under/over the ground. Sizes can depend on where it is to be installed. Common installation places included kitchen/dishwasher sinks and mop sinks.
Grease traps prevent sewer blockages caused by oil and fat
Grease is the top reason for the cause of blockages in sewage systems. Since water does not combine with grease, the substances only end up afloat on top of the wastewater’s surface. When the grease trap has successfully filtered out the grease and oil, wastewater will flow better and more freely in the sewage lines.
Grease traps solidifies the grease and oil that it traps
When grease, oils, and fats are separated from wastewater, and then cool down when it becomes in contact with liquids, these substances will solidify. This grease then settles and accumulates until it is time for the grease trap to be cleaned out, for efficiency.
The grease that has been collected in these grease interceptors for long periods of time are also called as brown grease. Brown grease includes rotted food particles combined with grease and oils, and it is unsuitable for re-usage, and headed to landfills.
Grease traps are used in many food service establishments
Restaurants, food factories, and other establishments that produce food are usually the largest producers of grease, fat, and oil. Having a grease trap is required for food service establishments. In the industry, there are three known types of grease traps being utilized: small, passive hydro-mechanical grease traps, Large pre-cast concrete gravity grease traps that can usually hold 500-2000 gallons, and more advanced grease trapping interceptors that are automatic.
Automatic grease interceptors are able to collect the grease and automatically remove it from the system. In this case it is now referred to as yellow grease. Yellow grease can be reused and recycled.
Without a filtering component, these oily substances will wreak havoc deep within the sewer system. This becomes a huge problem once too much grease clumps together, solidifies, and blocks the flow of the wastewater, therefore creating a drainage problem that can be a huge headache not only for the establishment themselves, but can also affect neighbors who utilize the same sewer as well.
For food service business owners, grease traps are important to prevent any blockages from the sewage. This also prevents the business from spending on expensive repairs caused by the grease accumulation in their plumbing. Aside from this, grease traps help keep bad odor emanating from the drainage away.
Grease traps must be maintained and cleaned regularly for it to be efficient
Some traditional older versions of the grease traps require the user to empty out the grease at 25-50% capacity, else the trap will stop filtering off the wastewater. Small grease traps are easier to clean and are possible to clean by hand, while for bigger grease traps a professional must pump the accumulated oil and grease out from the receptacle.
Newer versions of grease traps have increased capacities and longer efficiencies. Such interceptors are also available in bigger sizes for heavy usage in bigger food service companies. Cleaning an establishment’s grease traps regularly is important not only for efficiency, but also to ensure that systems remain a sanitary condition, and foul smells accumulating within the drainage can be kept at a minimum. If grease traps are not cleaned, the whole trapping system fails, and the device will start allowing more and more grease to filter through along with the wastewater, which is bad news.
To learn more about the things you should know about grease traps, find our page and further details here.
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A Cambie Cleaning can be phoned on 604-279-0501.