Thursday, November 24, 2011

Some Benefits Of Grease Trap Cleaning

By Adriana Noton


Some benefits of grease trap cleaning include keeping pipes and drains of a business from backing up. It is also a benefit to municipal waste water treatment systems by keeping fats that coagulate and other food waste out of public sewage lines and drains. Most restaurants and other food preparation businesses will contract with a professional to clean their system but it is possible to clean smaller units with in-house staff.

The function of a grease trap is to prevent used water, fats, oils, and grease (FOG) entering the sewage of the local community. Large restaurants and schools will usually have their receptacle outside and underground. Smaller facilities have theirs located outside above ground or inside the kitchen.

They work by slowing down the drainage water long enough for the FOG to cool down and harden at the top of the water. The remainder of the food waste will fall to the bottom of the receptacle. The water is left to flow freely into the sewer system through the drain.

Commercial kitchens of any type are required by state and local ordinances to have a receptacle of some sort in place. The reason is because of the large amount of dairy products, cooing oil, flour, food scraps, butter, lard, butter, and meat fats poured down the drain or into the sink. The waste being introduced into the pipes congeal and slows down drainage, creating sewage back-ups.

The receptacles come in a variety of sizes. There are models that can hold a few gallons of grease and models that hold over 500 gallons. Most businesses will have professionals clean them on a regular basis due to state and local requirements. Some of the contractors charge less than others because they will recycle the waste into biofuel to be used in diesel engines.

One of the ways to reduce the need for frequent cleaning or pump-outs is to direct staff to dispose of solids and oil into the garbage and not into the sink or down a drain. Another method is to use a bacteria additive which biologically breaks down and digests waste and leaves only carbon dioxide and water behind. It is available as a liquid that is poured down the drain or directly into the interceptor and a block which is suspended from a rope and dissolves slowly.

If the receptacle is above ground and small enough that a professional is not needed, it can be cleaned by maintenance or regular cleaning staff. Just fill a garbage can with several liners and fill the bottom with an absorbent filler like kitty litter or old rags and paper towels. Remove the oil and dump in bags. Next remove the baffles and clean then rinse them thoroughly. Scrape the bottom of the trap to remove all debris. Clean the vent then rise everything and put back together. Contact local waste management company to find out the proper procedure for disposal of the bags.

Grease trap cleaning is important to a business and the community. Having them cleaned properly will prevent sewage back-ups. It also contributes to a properly functioning waste-water treatment facility.




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