A grease trap is there to catch or trap grease and other solid waste material from entering the waste water disposal system and causing blockages and other problems. Having a grease trap cleaned regularly by a top company like Sustainable Restaurant Services is absolutely essential to ensuring that it is functioning correctly. A trap that is just a 1/4 full can allow up to 60% of grease and grime to enter the waste water system.
How often grease trap cleaning should be performed is dependent on how busy a restaurant is and how much grease is produced. Some experts recommend evert 3 months and others every 6-8 weeks. To be on the safe side, every 2-3 months should be sufficient.
This is an extremely messy job and is a health hazard so it is recommended to be properly prepared before performing the task. Wear a coverall, strong rubber gloves as well as a gas mask. An ordinary sanitary mask will not help with the extreme unpleasant odor and won't eliminate the health risks.
A crowbar/wrench, scraper, scoop and bucket will also be necessary to clean the grease trap. The crowbar or wrench will be needed to remove the lid or cover over the grease trap (although some lids simply snap off).
Once the lid is open, use the the scoop to remove sludge and grease that is standing at the top of the tank and placing in the bucket. Use the scraper to remove any remaning grease that has built up on the surfaces on the different parts of the grease trap. Be careful not to damage any parts of the machine or the trap while performing this task.
A vacuum or pump may also be required to empty the tank of grease and liquids once the sludge has been scooped off. Grease floats, resulting in the sludge that floats at the top of the tank and allows water to pass to through the trap, leaving the grease behind.
The sludge in the tank therefore covers a layer of dirty water that may have been standing and smells rather bad and this is the main health hazard in the cleaning process. It can be time consuming and even messier to attempt to scoop this dirty water out of the tank and a vacuum is therefore important.
Once all grease, sludge and liquid have been removed from the tank, all surfaces can be scraped to get rid of any remaining sludge. Pay special attention to the inlet and outlet valves and pipes to ensure that these have not become blocked with grease which will prevent the grease trap from functioning properly. It is advisable to check water flow through the grease trap once this step has been completed.
Replace all parts as well as the lid and the job is complete.
Although this task may seem simple enough, it is highly recommended to have grease trap cleaning performed by a professional plumber or service provider. This will ensure that the job has been performed properly and that the grease trap is functioning as it should.
How often grease trap cleaning should be performed is dependent on how busy a restaurant is and how much grease is produced. Some experts recommend evert 3 months and others every 6-8 weeks. To be on the safe side, every 2-3 months should be sufficient.
This is an extremely messy job and is a health hazard so it is recommended to be properly prepared before performing the task. Wear a coverall, strong rubber gloves as well as a gas mask. An ordinary sanitary mask will not help with the extreme unpleasant odor and won't eliminate the health risks.
A crowbar/wrench, scraper, scoop and bucket will also be necessary to clean the grease trap. The crowbar or wrench will be needed to remove the lid or cover over the grease trap (although some lids simply snap off).
Once the lid is open, use the the scoop to remove sludge and grease that is standing at the top of the tank and placing in the bucket. Use the scraper to remove any remaning grease that has built up on the surfaces on the different parts of the grease trap. Be careful not to damage any parts of the machine or the trap while performing this task.
A vacuum or pump may also be required to empty the tank of grease and liquids once the sludge has been scooped off. Grease floats, resulting in the sludge that floats at the top of the tank and allows water to pass to through the trap, leaving the grease behind.
The sludge in the tank therefore covers a layer of dirty water that may have been standing and smells rather bad and this is the main health hazard in the cleaning process. It can be time consuming and even messier to attempt to scoop this dirty water out of the tank and a vacuum is therefore important.
Once all grease, sludge and liquid have been removed from the tank, all surfaces can be scraped to get rid of any remaining sludge. Pay special attention to the inlet and outlet valves and pipes to ensure that these have not become blocked with grease which will prevent the grease trap from functioning properly. It is advisable to check water flow through the grease trap once this step has been completed.
Replace all parts as well as the lid and the job is complete.
Although this task may seem simple enough, it is highly recommended to have grease trap cleaning performed by a professional plumber or service provider. This will ensure that the job has been performed properly and that the grease trap is functioning as it should.