If you manage a restaurant or large kitchen in Georgia, you have likely heard of grease traps. Commercial grease traps serve a vital role in protecting the health and condition of your business, but they also require routine maintenance and compliance with Georgia state laws and regulations. Take the time to fully understand the purpose of a grease trap as well as what it demands from you.
What Is a Grease Trap?
A grease trap is a unit that is typically found in a commercial-grade kitchen that wastewater flows through before entering a sewer system or septic tank. Grease and water are combined when entering a grease trap, but the grease will be forced to rise to the surface, where it is trapped in baffles (a special series of plastic walls). As grease fills the trap from top down, clean water is allowed to leave the bottom of the trap and enter the sewer or septic lines.
Why Do I Need a Grease Trap?
If you want to prevent drain clogs, the proper disposal of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) is critical. When you are cooking food such as bacon, the animal fat produces a grease that cools and solidifies inside your pipes. If allowed to continue, this solid grease accumulation can attract food particles and block the sewer or septic pipes completely. In result, restaurant owners may be subject to a sudden backup that violates health codes and drives customers away. This is why it is recommended that all food service and food processing facilities install grease traps that are sized appropriately.
What Does My Grease Trap Need?
Your grease trap works hard for you in preventing embarrassing and costly backups in your restaurant. Now it is time for you to know what your grease trap needs from you. Simply installing a grease trap is not enough. Every grease trap must be properly cleaned every three months. A professional grease trap maintenance expert will thoroughly clean all components of your grease trap so that it can do its job. This may involve hydro-jetting, pumping and scraping of the grease trap to allow wastewater to flow freely through your drains until the next scheduled cleaning.
Who Can Clean My Grease Traps in the Greater Atlanta Area?
At Metro Septic, we understand that a fully operational kitchen is at the cornerstone of a successful restaurant business. Our restaurant grease removal service includes comprehensive cleaning of all food, debris and grease buildup in your system as well as proper disposal of the waste. We are happy to provide the required documentation you may need to meet Health Department guidelines as well as educate you on your specific city municipal codes for grease disposal.
Don’t let your customers smell your septic wastes instead of the food you are preparing. Call now to schedule a grease trap cleaning from Metro Septic.