Grease Services
WHAT IS A GREASE TRAP?
Grease trap is a gravity device that is designed to decrease the amount of fat, oil, grease and solids from entering the city sewer lines. Most grease traps are typically located inside the kitchen beneath the sinks varying in sizes from 150 gallons or below. There are still a small percentage that grease traps can be located outside the facility.
TRAP SIZE & MAINTENANCE
Due to its small size (5-150 gallons), grease traps are typically cleaned out between 4-8 weeks on the average. To determine an accurate service maintenance schedule, please refer to the service manifest history. Each manifest history will show the condition of the grease trap as well as give an accurate count of solids and grease percentage. Please note that grease traps are not supposed to go over 30% of combined solids and grease count. Failing to properly pump or clean a grease trap in a timely manner can lead to main line blockage causing the device to overflow and/or sinks to not drain.
AUTOMATIC GREASE TRAP
If you own an automatic grease trap such as Big Dipper, Grease Boss, Thermaco, etc. please note that these devices will only separate the grease and not the solids. Although you may not have to service automatic grease traps as often as the non-automatic, we sill highly suggest these automatic devices be pumped out every quarter to ensure that all solid content is removed.
WHAT IS A GREASE INTERCEPTOR?
Grease Interceptor (GI) is a plumbing device that is designed to eliminate fats, oils, grease and solids form entering the city sanitary system. Sizes of grease interceptor can vary with a minimum size of 750 gallons and due to its large size it is located outside the premises. Grease and solid waste entering the grease interceptor will mainly come from the kitchen; no sanitary waste should ever enter this system unless there is a plumbing problem. Grease interceptors are efficient when grease and solid content level of 30% or below. Once it goes over that level, it starts to release higher amount of grease and solids to the main or city sewer. Hence when running efficiently grease interceptors can trap up to 80-85% of grease and solids. Therefore, there are still a large percentile of grease and solids that escape out of the GI. Since there are still a percentage of grease being released, in order to maintain the lines from blockage it is highly suggested for the grease lines to be hydro jetted every 6-12 months. Failing to properly maintain the lines can lead to grease interceptor overflow or line blockage.
PUMPING & CLEANING PROCESS
Grease interceptor can have one or more chambers and manholes. When pumping the interceptor, we remove all the lids and pump from the top until it is completely empty. Please note that in order to properly service a grease interceptor, all content must be removed from top to bottom. Since grease interceptor contains grease, water and solids, the servicer must pump out the grease and water in order to reach the solids in the bottom. Also note that many companies will try to lead customers in they have lower prices, but in actuality they only skim the grease on the top of the interceptor. As an example, if you have 1,000 gallon grease interceptor that is being maintained quarterly with 20% grease and 15% solid content, they will only take out the 20% grease leaving 800 gallons inside the interceptor.
Keep in mind that the fact that solids is heavier than both grease and water, it settles in the bottom and over time it can solidify and can be very costly to remove. At Environmental Pump Services, Inc. we will ensure you that the grease pumping service we provide will be a complete pump at all times. We pledge to not take any shortcuts that can negatively affect our customers in the long run.
Did You Know?
TRAPS STORE SOLIDS
Aside from grease and oil, traps will also store solids in the bottom. Therefore, when serviced, all content must be fully removed to prevent any slow drains or line blockage.
F.O.G.S.
An inappropriately serviced grease interceptor from restaurants or other food services can be a significant problem for waste water collection or sewer systems. F.O.G.S. ( Fats, oils, grease, and solids), can solidify and congest the main pipeline that leads to the sewage. Failing to properly manage grease traps/interceptors can lead to violations as well as cause blockage that may prevent you from running your daily operations.
IS MY GREASE INTERCEPTOR FULL?
When a grease interceptor is 750, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, 3,000, 3,500, 4,000, 4,500, 5,000, etc. gallons, this means that in normal working condition it must have that constant amount at all times, unless there is a blockage. Grease interceptors are only empty when it’s new or the day when it’s pumped out because in order for the device to separate F.O.G.S. ( Fats, oils, grease, and solids), the water acts like a separator. Once it arrives at its maximum capacity, for every liquid that it takes in, it releases the same amount out to the lateral or the city sewer lines. Therefore, a grease interceptor should always be filled whether it’s with only water or with a combination of grease, water and solids. Rather, once the interceptor reaches a capacity of 30% of grease and/or solid content, it is required by the county sanitation district for the device to be pumped out.
WHY IS MY GREASE TRAP OVERFLOWING?
It’s likely due to a lack of regular maintenance or subpar work on the part of another pump company. In many cases, when we get a new customer, we have to clean up another company’s lack of thorough maintenance on the trap to get the system back to maximum operating performance.
DO YOU OFFER ONGOING MAINTENANCE?
Yes. For commercial clients like restaurants, we can establish a regular schedule to have grease traps pumped as frequently as required by local waste water agencies.
DO YOU CLEAN UP AFTER THE JOB?
Yes. We try to leave each job site as clean as it was when we got there, if not cleaner. We’ll even mop on our way out the door to ensure no residue or mess are left behind on the premises.
