If you’re the owner of a commercial kitchen, you know the importance of having a grease trap. If you don’t, now is a great time to learn more! Our Titusville grease trap installation team shares why grease traps are so important for keeping your kitchen compliant.
Grease traps play a significant role in keeping your kitchen safe, sanitary, and in compliance with local and state regulations. These devices ensure that the fats, oils, and grease (FOG) that run down the drains of your sinks do not get into the sewer system and cause plumbing, health, and environmental issues.
Acme not only provides maintenance for these valuable devices, but we now provide installations as well. If your kitchen does not have a grease trap, now is the time to schedule an appointment with one of our certified technicians.
What Are Grease Traps?
Grease traps are vital to your kitchen’s operation even though you might not know they’re there. They intercept the FOGs that flow down your kitchen’s sinks so that they cannot enter your municipal sewage system.
Grease traps must be pumped when their contents have reached a certain level. It is recommended that you have your grease trap pumped at least once every six months, but the frequency of this service may increase depending on the size of your commercial kitchen and the number of people it serves.
Why Do Grease Traps Play Such A Vital Role In Kitchen Compliance?
Wastewater management authorities monitor the amount of grease that enters the municipal water systems. Excess amounts of FOG in the sewage systems can lead to health concerns for the area’s population, the environment, and any wildlife nearby.
Without a grease trap, the FOG waste that your kitchen produces can accumulate and cause backups, unsafe working conditions, and an unsanitary environment. Installing a grease trap that is properly sized for your kitchen’s needs and production volume is one of the most effective steps you can take in keeping your kitchen safe.
How Can You Ensure That Your Kitchen Stays Compliant With Grease Trap Regulations?
Schedule Routine Service Appointments With Certified Septic Technicians
The number one way to ensure that your kitchen maintains compliance is by receiving regular service. Grease traps must be emptied when they are 25% full, and service should only be provided by trained septic technicians. Because it’s always possible to come across misinformation about grease trap maintenance, it is best to trust those who are certified to handle the job.
Educate Your Kitchen Staff On Proper Grease Trap Maintenance And Safety
Ensure that your kitchen staff knows what signs could indicate that your grease trap is malfunctioning, is damaged, or needs to be serviced. Providing complete education on proper disposal of food waste and fats, grease, and oils, will help keep your kitchen staff safe.
It is also helpful for your staff to understand safety risks related to the grease trap itself. OSHA reports that grease traps present slip hazards, and it is even possible for someone to fall into a grease trap hole if the lid is not secure. Becoming more familiar with grease trap FAQs can help you and your kitchen staff maintain a safe and problem-free environment.
What Problems Can Take Place Without A Grease Trap?
Without a grease trap, your commercial kitchen can develop some extremely unpleasant issues, including:
Foul odors – Grease traps play a significant role in keeping the air in your kitchen smelling fresh. This is because the grease that is built up in your kitchen’s plumbing system creates clogs and a prime breeding ground for bacteria, both of which lead to powerful and unmistakable odors.
Backups – Backups in your kitchens sinks, restaurant toilets, or other drains can be the result of a full or malfunctioning grease trap.
Increased presence of pests – You’re not the only one who enjoys greasy french fries. Rodents and other pests are also attracted by the accumulation of grease and trapped food particles that can be present without the aid of a grease trap.
Grease overflow – When grease traps are not routinely emptied, the excess grease is forced to find an escape, usually through the pipes and drains in your kitchen. 
Slow drains – If you notice your kitchen’s drains are working more slowly than usual, your grease trap could be due for service.
High water levels – An overfilled grease trap can cause clogs in your kitchen’s plumbing that lead to high water levels. If the water meant to flow past your grease trap is inhibited by an accumulation of grease, it can cause drainage issues in the other parts of your plumbing network.
Keep Your Kitchen Compliant With Acme
When it comes to the business of commercial food production, few things are more rewarding than receiving a spotless report from your local wastewater authority.
Contact Acme for expert Titusville grease trap installation and maintenance today!