Do’s and Don’ts of Grease Trap Maintenance

Maintaining grease traps properly, and on a regular schedule, is of extreme importance if you want to avoid the unnecessary consequences of failing to do so. After all, sewer blockages, backups, and fines are never fun to deal with.

Fortunately, ensuring these things don’t occur isn’t a monumental task.

In order for you to be able to do that, however, you must understand the do’s and don’ts of grease trap maintenance. If you’re able to learn and remember these tips, you’ll make life much easier for yourself.

Do: Hire Professionals

Getting a hold of qualified professionals, such as those at Hazardous Waste Experts is your best solution when it comes to grease trap maintenance. Attempting to do it all yourself simply isn’t a feasible option.

Professionals are labeled as such for a reason. They are effective, know how to be compliant with state and federal laws, and take the hassle of filling out paperwork off your hands.

While you may feel it’s not worth it to spend the extra money, it certainly is. Violating regulations can lead to serious penalties and fines.

Don’t: Forget to Have Your Trap Cleaned on a Consistent Basis

The notion of having to only clean a grease trap a couple of times per year is simply incorrect and, depending on the laws in your area, one which could cost you in the form of fines.

In most locations, the law requires establishments to properly maintain its grease traps and have them cleaned every 90 days. In some states those requirements are more stringent and require cleaning every 60 days.

Forgetting to schedule these cleanings could cost you.

Do: Make Sure Your Grease Trap Is Properly Installed

It seems obvious that if you have a grease trap, it was properly installed, right? While one would think so, that may not always be the case.

Like anything else, a grease trap can be installed incorrectly and that could easily lead to problems in the way it’s doing its job. But how do you tell if your trap is working well or not?

The answer is simple.

If you’re noticing that your grease trap has little to not grease accumulating in it, something isn’t right and it likely wasn’t installed correctly. If this happens, you should call professionals to come look at it.

Don’t: Use Enzymes or Solvents to Clean Your Grease Trap

Cleaning your grease trap is something that should be left in the hands of experts.

Attempting to use solvents or enzymes that allegedly break down the fats, oils, and grease in your trap may seem convenient, but these methods are not proven.

Many of these products do not actually break down the grease but, instead, just separate it from water. This leads to grease flowing down into the wastewater system and getting clogged there. Additionally, the ingredients in these products can often be questionable.

Finally, your state or city may actually prohibit them from being used.

Do: Make Sure You Have Line Jetting Performed by a Professional

Line Jetting is a very effective method of pipe cleaning and one of the more crucial parts of preventive grease trap maintenance.

With this method, a hose with powerful jets is inserted into the plumbing and water is forced out, in a circular motion, at high pressure (usually 2,000-4,000 lbs. per square inch).

This is one of the most effective ways for completely removing debris from pipe walls and should be performed several times a year by a professional.