Grease Trap

No matter where you live, grease traps by law require regular maintenance. In addition, properly disposing of fats, oil and grease is your responsibility as a home or business owner because over time these wastes can ruin potable water systems. This could lead to expensive, lengthy repairs and legal trouble if authorities write you a citation for improper waste disposal. Knowing the basics of grease trap services will prevent damaged plumbing and avoid costly civil lawsuits.

Installation

Grease traps have a number of uses, primarily in businesses that use cooking oil or in facilities that process food. Without grease traps, pipes would clog with a black, solidified substance since grease does not mix with water and hardens quickly once it cools.

If you plan to open a restaurant, you’ll need to install a grease trap to meet building codes and comply with environmental laws. At Bieg Plumbing, we tell our clients which type of grease trap they need. They come in two general varieties: in-ground and in-building, both of which Bieg Plumbing can install well.

Cleaning

Once you have a grease trap installed, you’ll have to clean it regularly. Otherwise, the unit itself can clog just as bad as the plumbing it’s supposed to protect. Furthermore, you may have to clean grease traps more often based on local statutes. We recommend at a minimum that you clean grease traps every three months, or when wastes take up over 25 percent of the space in the unit.

Due to the hazards of waste disposal, do not clean a grease trap yourself unless you have the right licensing. In most states, you need to earn state certifications to safely clean traps and haul away the waste, so our clients appreciate our comprehensive commercial plumbing services. We can do it all in one trip.

Repair

Any grease trap can degrade over time since oils can collect and solidify much faster than you’d think. If you use grease traps frequently, such as in a large office building’s cafeteria, repairs are inevitable after several cleanings. Properly cleaning them avoids expensive repairs, but if your grease trap does need fixing, Bieg Plumbing has the expertise to diagnose the problem.

Some common repairs may include:

• Unclogging inlets/outlets.
• Clearing back-ups in peripheral plumbing (e.g., sinks not draining).
• Eliminating foul odors.
• Fixing compartment damage and leakage.
• Foreign object removal.

This list covers the main culprits that we see, but occasionally, a problem that is hard to pinpoint requires a more thorough inspection.

Replacement

When grease traps need to be replaced, the process can be complex and unpleasant if the unit hasn’t been cleaned in over a year. Replacement, however, doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Modern grease traps can automatically skim grease into a separate compartment, making it easier to haul away the waste. All grease traps will need replacing every few years, so contacting Bieg Plumbing is a good idea when you’re not sure if your unit needs replacement.

Maintaining a grease trap isn’t difficult, but it does require regular checkups by a licensed professional such as our at Bieg Plumbing. If you would like to learn more about our commercial plumbing services, contact us to schedule a visit so we can diagnose your needs today.