As a restaurant owner, you have many things to worry about regarding the safety of your employees and consumers. Maintaining your grease trap should be among your most important responsibilities. After all, neglecting your grease trap could bring costly disasters. In fact, a grease trap emergency can be so severe that your entire plumbing system clogs and backs up, resulting in a temporary (and embarrassing) closure of your restaurant until the problem is repaired.
To prevent a grease trap emergency in your restaurant, remember to these tips:
- 1. Cut Down on the Amount of Fat, Oil and Food that Goes Down the Drain
- Your grease trap is not designed to handle large amounts of oil and solid foods at once. As much as possible, dispose large pieces of food in the trashcan when rinsing dishes – this includes scraping excess oil into the trash as well. Experts recommend washing dishes at no more than 140 degrees during the initial wash cycle to help prevent solids from being dissolved and washed into the drains.
- 2. Consider Bacterial Additives
- Your grease trap holds natural bacteria that helps to break down oils and solids. If you want to boost the effectiveness of your trap, you can choose a bacterial additive to reduce clogs and odors. A professional from Metro Septic can add these products upon request.
- 3. Have Your Grease Trap Cleaned on a Regular Basis
- Catching a grease trap problem early is the key to avoiding a major plumbing catastrophe. Go ahead and schedule a professional grease trap inspection and cleaning at a reasonable rate so that your restaurant can avoid an expensive problem. A professional can determine how frequently you need a grease trap cleaning based on the size of your grease trap, the types of foods you prepare, and the size of your restaurant.
- 4. Educate Your Employees
- As a restaurant owner, you may have a clear understanding of what it takes to maintain a healthy grease trap. However, you are probably not the one doing all the dishes. Educate your cooks and other restaurant staff on the proper ways to dispose food as well as the warning signs of a grease trap problem.
If you notice a foul odor in your restaurant or your plumbing is running slower than normal, call a professional sooner rather than later. In the restaurant business, you should be adhering to the safest and most effective plumbing methods available!