How Do I Clean a Grease Trap?

Grease traps are grease collection devices that are common in restaurant drainage systems, but they have a place in some large residential homes too. For houses with very busy kitchens and multiple kitchen sinks, a grease trap can be an effective asset to have, but they are not very common in a residential setting. Grease traps are fixtures that helps trap cooking oils, wax and fat to prevent them from getting to the sewer and drainage systems. Grease traps can be essential for preventing clogs and issues down the road if a lot of food grease ends up slowing down your drain. Restaurants and cafeterias equipped with grease traps should clean them on a monthly basis, although that exact frequency will depend on the amount of grease generated by the kitchen.

Use a bacterial treatment

One of the easiest ways to clean a grease trap and kill the odors that can emerge from it is to use a bacterial treatment plan. According to NewTechBio, this method reduces fats, grease and oil to water and carbon dioxide. Carrying out this treatment once a month will help reduce grease buildup, keep drain lines clean and ensure your grease trap doesn't fill up too quickly with waste. Bacterial treatment is easy enough to complete on your own, saving you time and money spent on grease trap pumping and cleaning.

Leverage a Professional

Homeowners have become more aware of ecological concerns over the years and they can turn their awareness into action by scheduling regular pumping and cleaning services from an experienced service provider. Such companies are equipped with pump trucks that literally vacuum out the grease into a mobile tank on the back of the truck. The pumper will haul away the grease and dispose of it at a licensed processing facility to ensure it will be treated properly so that it cannot cause environmental damage.

Clean it by hand

You could always approach grease trap cleaning the old fashioned way, but it can be a filthy job with a terrible smell that makes sewage smell pleasant by comparison. You'll need a scoop and bucket to remove the grease. After flushing your tank, you'll then need to wipe down the entire thing and dispose of the grease at a licensed processing facility. If you want to avoid the hassle altogether, simply call a plumbing professional to get your restaurant on a regular pumping / cleaning schedule and ensure that your grease trap always stays in good working order.

For the few homeowners with grease traps, they should also establish a pumping schedule with a pumping / cleaning service, preferably a plumbing company that has the tools, skills and expertise to not only clean out your grease trap but one that can also keep it operating effectively.

How Do I Clean a Grease Trap?