Changing Your Environment Today

Grease traps are important components of commercial kitchens and certain industrial operations. Improper drain trap maintenance and cleanings can create a lot of problems for industrial and commercial operations. 

The following are seven mistakes it's important to avoid at your facilities to make sure that your drains, grease traps, and sinks stay in the best possible shape:

Pouring grease right down drains during use

While grease traps are designed to collect grease to prevent clogs, you should never pour pure grease directly down drains. You should dispose of grease separately. 

Grease traps are only meant to collect grease that is mixed in with water and other waste that goes down your drains.

Neglecting to occasionally check grease levels

You should occasionally check grease levels in your grease trap to make sure that your grease trap is still functioning properly. 

If you inspect your grease trap and notice that there is no grease present, there may be installation issues present that need to be corrected by a grease trap expert. 

Having no strainers in place over drains

Strainers can prevent solid waste from going down drains that could cause clogs. Also, strainers will prevent clogs from developing in drain traps after waste has flowed through drains. 

Neglecting to pump out grease traps when necessary

One of the most important maintenance tasks for keeping a drain trap in good shape is periodic grease removal.

Grease traps need to be pumped out to avoid excessive buildup of grease. A grease trap should never reach maximum capacity before it is pumped out or malfunctions can result.

Putting too much solid waste down drains

Those who operate sinks and washing machines that are hooked up to grease traps should be instructed to keep solid waste from going down drains. 

While your drain strainer might keep some solid waste out, you also need to watch what you're putting down the drain to prevent strainer and drain clogs. Dispose of solid waste elsewhere, and avoid putting it into your sinks.

Neglecting to keep track of collected FOG

You can evaluate the performance of your drain trap by considering how much fat, oil, and grease (FOG) your drain trap is successfully collecting. Those who service grease traps can provide you with records regarding FOG collection. 

Because FOG contents of grease traps can be sold or used for a variety of purposes such as methane gas power creation, you should carefully track how much FOG your grease traps produce and do some research on how you can capitalize on FOG. 

Not having professional cleanings of grease traps performed

In addition to pumping out grease traps, you should also have your drains cleaned. Professional drain cleanings minimize solid food and waste residue accumulation and can include hydro jetting of pipes that will clear away any buildup.