5 Grease Trap Mistakes You Must Avoid

When you are running a commercial kitchen, you definitely have to think about your grease trap. It is an integral part of your kitchen that will keep the space hygienic and odor-free while keeping the sewer system unclogged. That is why regular maintenance of the grease trap is necessary.

Mistakes in Grease Trap Maintenance

Let’s assume you have recently installed your brand new grease trap. How will you deal with it? Often, the staff in a commercial kitchen doesn’t know about handling a grease trap and they end up making some common mistakes. This can lead to two results, either the grease trap will not work properly or the grease trap will stop functioning and you will have to spend to buy a new one. Surely, you don’t want either of these to happen. So, what are the mistakes you need to avoid while dealing with your grease trap maintenance? Take a look at the following points to know more.

Failing to Clean the Grease Trap Regularly

The most common and major mistake in the maintenance of a grease trap is that you are failing to clean the trap regularly. Generally, a grease trap of a commercial kitchen needs to be cleaned in three month intervals. However, most of the time, the kitchen owner ignores this time line. As a result, the grease trap becomes overflowing and the solid FOG becomes rigid making the grease trap stop functioning. That is why you need to connect with the grease trap cleaning service regularly to clean it properly. It will ensure better functioning and longevity of the grease trap.

Not Hiring Professionals

Let’s face it. Cleaning grease traps is not a DIU job. You alone will not be able to clean it, more so because you will not have the right equipment to clean it. The solid layer of clog will need to be scooped out. You will not have the scooper. You might have to use a shovel to clean the clog. This can damage the grease trap. That is why hiring professionals for it is necessary. The same is the case for grease trap installation too. If the grease trap is not properly installed, it will not function the way it should. And as a result, you will have to spend more money.

Pouring Hot Water in the Grease Trap

One of the most common practices of a commercial kitchen is pouring hot boiling water into the drain. The science behind this is that the water will melt the solid clogs in the drain. But if you do the same with the grease traps for commercial kitchens, it will not work. In the case of the grease trap, it will allow the grease to melt and flow deeper in the main sewer system. This grease will turn into solid clogs inside the pipes, making things messy. Cleaning these clogs will be not only difficult but also expensive.

Not Replacing the Damaged Gaskets

The gaskets offer to seal the grease trap so that the liquid and the smell can remain inside. But when you are opening the lid of the grease trap firmly and quickly, it damages the gaskets often. Now, if you don’t repair them at the right time, it will result in the leaking of the grease trap. The area around the trap will be flooded with grease while the bad odor will make your customers go away from your eatery. Surely, you don’t want any of these things to happen. So, when you are closing the lid of the grease trap, make sure that you are checking the gaskets. If the gaskets are broken or damaged, make sure that you are replacing them.

Not Placing Strainer over the Sink

It is an often overlooked mistake in the case of grease traps. The job of the strainer is to prevent anything solid or semi-liquid-like grease to get into the drain. When you are putting used utensils in the sink, you need to use strainers so that the solid food particles don’t enter the drain. If they do, then later on when FOG cools off, it will form solid clogs inside the drain. So, make sure you are placing a strainer over the sink.

So, now as you know about these five big mistakes in maintaining grease traps, what are you waiting for? Follow them to increase the longevity of the grease traps.

Alan is an expert blogger on grease trap cleaning and its various aspects. Here he writes on how to know if your commercial grease trap needs cleaning and maintenance.