Why It’s Important to Do Regular Grease Trap Cleaning

 The food industry generates a lot of food waste. However, most of the food waste is biodegradable. FOG is a more serious waste. It stands for fats, oils and greases that come from commercial kitchens.

To ensure that FOG does not get into the municipal sewer line, all food businesses are supposed to install grease interceptors. It traps greases and food particles so that they don’t go to the sewer line.

By 2021, installing a grease interceptor was costing up to $1500 (buying and installation). Of course, this depends on the size of the tank that you get.

This is quite a cost but at the same time, it is very important. If you do not install it, you could end up paying more in fines and on closed business days. You could even lose your customers.

Installation is not the only requirement. After that, you have to maintain the tank regularly, probably with the help of a grease trap cleaning service. It is important that you never miss a schedule.

The general recommendation for cleaning is once every 4 to 6 weeks. If you delay too much, there could be a foul stench, bacteria and other evils coming from the grease trap.

4 reasons why it is vital to clean grease trap regularly

There are many health, environmental and economical benefits for cleaning a grease tank. Here are four reasons why you should do that:

You can discover problems with the grease tank in good time

When you follow a regular cleaning schedule, you also get the opportunity to inspect the trap and ensure it is in great shape. Because of the acidic nature of the food and grease material that gets into the tank, some parts could start wearing away.

If you neglect proper maintenance, you will not be able to discover these issues in time. They will escalate and the repairs might cost too much. Actually, you might even have to replace the entire grease tank.

When you use a shop vacuum to pump out the grease, you will then have to clean the tank with warm, soapy water. This is going to reveal any problems.

You also need to clean the cover and the baffles. Inspect them manually for any problems. On the cover, there is a rubber gasket, which provides a tight seal. It can sustain damage easily. Check its condition during the cleaning session.

It helps to prevent the closure of your business

If the municipality officials do an inspection and they find out that you do not clean your grease trap, a few things can happen.

One, they will order you to clean it out immediately and fine you at the same time. Two, they can order you to close the business for some time until you comply with the state law regarding grease trap maintenance.

Closure days mean lost business. Some customers might never come back, especially when they suspect that the closure is something to do with grease management. To avoid all these, it is best to maintain a regular cleaning schedule for your grease interceptor.

Maintain a healthy environment in your business

Many things can go wrong in your business if you neglect proper maintenance of the grease trap. One of them is that a foul smell could envelop your premises, sending customers away.

The old grease starts backing up and eventually clogs your plumbing. It gets into the sink and starts to spread bacteria in the kitchen. This can get the public health authorities to close your business.

A cleaned grease trap keeps your business healthy, clean and free of foul smells. It also keeps your business running all the time since there will be no repairs to do, which might warrant the closure of business for some time.

Keeping your business premises clean also keeps it free of pests and rodents. Rats and roaches can spread nasty diseases. Besides, you do not want your customers to see rodents crisscrossing the floor.

Keep the trap in good working condition at all times

Like any other installation in your business premises, grease traps need proper maintenance to work well all the time. If you neglect it, it could clog up. It can also start backing up the grease such that it makes its way back to the kitchen sink.

While a commercial kitchen is usually very busy, keep an eye on the sinks. Are they draining the water fast enough? If the water drains slowly, there could be grease build up on the drainpipes.

Overflowing traps can spread bacteria and foul smell in the business. This is bound to happen if you don't have schedule for grease trap pumping. Cleaning it on time is more of a preventive than a curative measure.

Conclusion

Proper maintenance of a grease interceptor can keep it working in great shape for many years. It also enhances the cleanliness of your business environment and above all, it keeps you compliant with the local health and administrative authorities. 



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How To Choose A Used Cooking Oil Recycling Company?

Why it's Important to Do Regular Grease Trap Cleaning

What is Included With Grease Trap Cleaning?