At CountyClean Group, our engineers can provide you with reliable grease trap installation and replacement services to guarantee your grease trap meets your business needs. Having a professionally installed grease trap allows you to focus on running your kitchen, confident that the fats, oils and grease are being safely and efficiently removed.
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A grease trap may not be suitable for a residential property as fats, oils and grease (FOG) can be collected on a smaller scale, in a container, and disposed of at your local recycling facility. However, it may appeal to large scale establishments such as hotels and restaurants and prove to be a useful product to avoid any unwanted FOG problems.
In the UK, commercial and industrial kitchens are required to have grease traps in place (see below for more detail on the current legislation in place). This requirement applies to various establishments, including:
- Restaurants
- Pubs
- Cafes
- Bakeries
- Fast Food Restaurants and Takeaways
- Food Manufacturers
- Food Processing Facilities
- Hotels
- Schools, Colleges and Universities
- Hospitals
- Anywhere that has a commercial/industrial kitchen
Unsure if your business needs a grease trap installed? Get in touch and a member of our team will be happy to advise you.
Grease Trap Or Grease Separator?
Deciding between a grease trap or grease separator is an essential choice for businesses aiming to manage fats, oils, and grease (FOG) effectively. Both are designed to prevent FOG from entering drainage systems, reducing blockages and potential environmental harm.
Grease traps are simple, passive devices that collect FOG from wastewater, which then settles at the bottom. On the other hand, grease separators use a series of baffles and filters to separate FOG, which is then collected and stored in a separate compartment for later disposal.
The choice between the two often depends on the size of the establishment, its production levels and its operational needs. In large restaurants or commercial kitchens, high FOG levels will be produced from a variety of appliances such as sinks, dishwashers, combination ovens, rotisserie ovens and commercial works. There might even be FOG washed into the drains from cleaning the kitchen worksurfaces and floor.
Consulting with a professional can help businesses determine which option is best suited to their specific requirements.
Types of Grease Trap Installations
At CountyClean Group, we understand the importance of quality installations. That’s why we work closely with Durey Castings, the UK’s largest independent accredited specialist and distributor of manhole covers, gully gates, associated drainage ware and rapid set mortars and concretes. This strategic partnership allows us to source the best-suited solution for your business needs while maintaining competitive pricing.
Our friendly operatives are happy to supply and install a variety of grease trap systems tailored to meet your specific requirements. One of our most popular solutions is the Kessel’s EasyClean® free UnderSink. This innovative system ensures that your grease trap operates smoothly with no interruptions.
Is it a Legal Requirement to Have a Grease Trap?
As of February 2024, there is currently no legislation in place over the FOG in domestic drains, meaning there is no requirement to have grease traps installed in homes unless the kitchen is being used for commercial food production.
All businesses that serve hot food commercially are legally required to manage their food waste effectively, which means installing and maintaining grease traps or separators as per legislation. This includes compliance with Building Regulations (Document H, Section 2.21), The Building Act 1984 (Section 59), Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Section 34), Food Safety Act 1990 and The Water Industry Act 1991.
Non-compliance can lead to fines or business closure. All grease traps must adhere to specific standards (BS EN 1824-2:2002 and BS EN 1825-1:2004), and disposal should be handled by licensed waste carriers (which you can check here). It’s essential to maintain detailed maintenance records for regulatory inspections.
Grease Trap Emptying and Maintenance
To maintain you newly installed grease trap’s optimal condition and prevent FOG build-up, we recommend scheduled grease trap emptying and cleaning for all food manufacturers and businesses serving hot food. A damaged or clogged grease trap can lead to expensive repairs and be an inconvenience to your daily operations.
Our team will work with you to create a bespoke grease trap maintenance schedule that aligns with your business requirements, whether it’s every three months, six months or annually. Regular grease trap maintenance and servicing can ensure your kitchen operates smoothly and meets the necessary legal and environmental standards for FOG disposal.
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.
Grease Trap Installers Near Me
Contact CountyClean Group today for a hassle free grease trap installation experience. We’re here to make sure your business runs smoothly and efficiently. Call, email or fill out our contact form to get started now!
FAQs
Interior grease traps are usually located in the kitchen area under the sink or near a sink or dishwasher.
Exterior traps are much larger and tend to hold thousands of gallons therefore in most cases they are outside, below ground.
The cost of installing a grease trap in the UK can vary widely depending on several factors:
Size: Larger traps will generally cost more to install. They are typically sized according to the amount of covers produced and flows coming from the kitchen.
Type of Grease Trap: There are different types of grease traps, including passive and automatic models. Passive traps rely on gravity to separate grease from wastewater, while automatic models have mechanisms to remove grease more efficiently. Automatic models typically cost more to purchase and install.
Location: The difficulty of the installation site can affect costs. I.e. the grease trap needs to be installed below ground with access from an manhole.
Permits and Regulations: There may be additional costs associated with obtaining permits and ensuring compliance with local regulations.
Labour and Material Costs: Labour costs can vary depending on the contractor and the amount of work involved. Material costs will depend on the type and quality of materials used.
You might be able to install a small grease trap system for under the sink if you have plumbing knowledge and experience.
For a larger grease trap, you will need a professional company to install it below the ground.
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 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 three to six 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.
A clogged grease trap can occur when the grease collected in the trap solidifies and starts to accumulate. Here are a few signs that your grease trap might be clogged:
- Foul Odours
- Slow Drainage
- Pooling Water
- Gurgling Noises
Regular maintenance, such as cleaning and inspection, can also help prevent clogs and ensure that your grease trap functions properly.
You should replace your grease trap when it is no longer working efficiently or you are producing more covers than what the current grease trap is capable of processing.