Regular grease trap emptying is essential for businesses within the food and drink industry including restaurants, hotels, fast-food chains and other establishments with commercial or large kitchens.
CountyClean Group recognise the importance of providing an efficient and regular grease trap emptying service.
In this article we will do our best to share our extensive knowledge of grease traps so you can understand how essential this equipment is, what they do and why they are necessary.
What is a Grease Trap and How does it Work?
Put simply, a grease trap (also known as a grease interceptor or fat trap) can be a plumbing fixture in a drain or waste pipe up to a large external pit that prevents grease, oils and food solids from passing into the drainage system and entering our waterways, it also separates and traps solid grease and light waste particles.
Grease traps work by cooling warm or hot and greasy water which causes the different layers of waste to separate. Fats, oils and grease are lighter in density and therefore float at the surface of the grease interceptor becoming trapped, the clean water then continues draining to the sewer. Food solids which are dense and heavy will settle at the bottom of the tank.
Cooking on a large scale generates a lot of fats, oils and grease waste and this is not as easy to dispose of as you would do at home. These sorts of waste if not disposed of properly can create issues within your own plumbing and clog sewer lines contributing to the “fatbergs” we have seen on the news recently.
How Often Do I Need to Get My Grease Trap Emptied?
Generally, the rule of thumb for getting your grease trap emptied is when 25% of its contents has filled up with fats, oils, grease and solids. When it has reached this level, the trap will no longer work effectively meaning that the waste it is supposed to trap will start to escape. The chances of blockages and your grease trap overflowing will also increase creating foul smells, mess and the risk of contamination of drainage systems and watercourses.
If your grease trap is of the correct size for your business and the amount of waste oils and grease you produce, it will need to be emptied out between every 1-3 months. If you find your grease trap is filling up within a month then you may need to look into upgrading the size of your grease interceptor.
Why is Grease Trap Emptying Important?
By paying attention to the level of grease and oil in your interceptor and by having regular scheduled emptying and cleaning you can avoid health and hygiene related issues such as; overspills, bad smells, risks of flooding, blockages through grease build-up, expensive grease trap repairs and even fines from local water authorities.
If you are experiencing any of the issues mentioned above then feel free to give our friendly team a call on 01323 741818 or 0800 171 2204 for advice and to discuss your grease trap emptying requirements.
As a business you’re responsible for any pollution events caused by your grease traps and drainage system. Regular grease trap maintenance is required to stop grease and fat escaping into the sewerage system and congealing with other waste to cause fatbergs, these blockages cost the UK around £100m each year to clear. (BBC, 2019).
So What Can We Do to Help?
At CountyClean Group we understand the importance for providing an effective and regular grease trap emptying service.
You should monitor the levels in your grease trap to allow you to put a regular maintenance plan in place to avoid emergencies and to keep your grease trap in good working order.
Having a regular emptying service will keep your costs lower overall since you won’t be paying for expensive emergency call outs or for costly repairs. After emptying your grease trap we also guarantee to dispose of your waste at a licensed treatment facility.
The amount of time in which your interceptor fills up can increase during peak times, that’s why we will help you to implement a well-thought out plan to avoid emptying during busy periods. Our highly skilled operatives and powerful vacuum tankers have the capability to work quickly, efficiently and out of hours if necessary to minimise disruption to your business or kitchen.
We operate our specialist grease trap emptying service across London and the South, our rates are highly competitive and we can also provide an immediate response in the case of an emergency.
Additional Services We Offer for Grease Trap Emptying
To ensure maximum efficiency after we empty your grease trap we can also provide high pressure water jetting to remove hard deposits and other debris that accumulate in grease traps over time. To read more information on our grease trap emptying services please click here.
You can count on us any time of day or night and we are available 24/7, now that you know how a grease trap works and how important it is to maintain it. Get in contact with us on 0800 171 2204 or 01323 741818 or email us at info@countycleangroup.co.uk and our team will be happy to book in any of our services for you and answer any further queries you may have.