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5 Things To Know About Grease Traps


1. What is a grease trap? 

  • A  grease trap in Michigan is essentially a plumbing device that is meant to trap grease and another build-up from entering the wastewater disposal system. 
  • Grease traps are critical for preventing clogs and other plumbing damages from happening, specifically concerning grease. 
  • Grease is thick in density and does not dissolve or mix with water. For this reason, having large amounts of grease in your septic systems in Allendale, Michigan can be quite problematic for your home or your business as a whole.
  • By having a grease trap installed, you stay at peace knowing that grease-free water will enter into your sewer lines, this way avoiding any potential clogs or costly damages.
  • A grease trap is an interceptor, which is part of the plumbing system that is designed to trap the following: 
  • Fats 
  • Oils 
  • Grease
  • Hardened solid food particles 

2. How Important is Grease Trap Cleaning?

If you have a grease trap installed in your commercial kitchen, you should conduct proper maintenance if you don’t want your sewer system to be compromised.
  • You should strongly consider cleaning your grease trap every one to three months to prevent grease from building up inside of it. 
  • The length between cleanings depends on the type of restaurant you run, the amount of grease that you have in your trap, and your personal preference. 
  • Grease must be disposed of properly, though, so you should use a company like ours to clean your grease trap

West Michigan Septic Sewer & Drain Service has the complete line-up of high-quality products and efficient services needed for  Allendale, Michigan grease trap maintenance, grease trap repair, or even grease trap replacement. Our well trained professional technicians will handle everything from the diagnosis up to the actual hard work to keep your sewer lines functioning.

2. Places That Require Grease Trap
They’re used in a wide range of environments including:
  • Restaurants
  • Cafes
  • Takeaways
  • Pubs, bars, and inns
  • Hotels
  • Schools and colleges
  • Bakeries

3. How Does Grease Trap Work? 
  • Grease traps work on the basis that FOG (fat, oils, grease) is 10 to 15 percent less dense than water and that grease won’t mix with water. Thus, fats and oils float on top of the water.
  • When wastewater enters a grease trap, the flow rate is reduced enough so the wastewater is given enough time to cool and separate into 3 layers.
  • The grease rises to the top inside the interceptor and is trapped using a system of baffles.
  • Solids settle at the bottom and the separated clear water escapes under an outlet baffle. 
  • Many grease traps also have strainers for collecting solid debris, which reduces the number of solids that settle at the bottom of the trap.
  • Over time, solids and grease build-up, and if left to accumulate for long enough they can start to escape through the outlet, and in some circumstances, they can back-up through the inlet.
  •  For this reason, the trap must be cleaned/pumped out regularly.

4. Types Of Grease Traps 

1.) Passive or Above-ground Grease Traps

  • placed inside or outside the kitchen]
  • made of metal, fiberglass, or PVC. 
  • small kinds have limited capacity for handling large volumes of liquid kitchen waste and should be regularly cleaned. 
  • larger passive or above-ground grease traps are typically installed outside the premises and have considerably larger receptacles

2.) In-ground (or Below-ground) Grease Traps

  • buried underground and generally have larger capacities than above-ground types. 
  • made of metal, concrete, or fiberglass. 
  • establishments prefer this type because it makes for a cleaner look for their establishment since it’s hidden. 
  • requires more work during installation, because it has to be lifted in place by heavy machinery.

5. Do’s and Don’ts When Handling Grease Traps

Do’s:
  •  Regular maintenance should be performed on grease traps.
  •  Use only safe and environmentally friendly grease trap treatments.
  •  Consult professionals like West Michigan Septic Sewer and Drains Service during major problems 
Don’ts:
  • Ignore grease trap problems. Delaying the necessary repair will only cause the problem to escalate.
  • Use low-quality products that can often make the problems worse.


If you would like to learn more about how West Michigan Septic Sewer and Drains Service can help your business maintain clean, compliant, and environmentally conscious grease traps, visit our website at http://bit.ly/wmssd-sewer-backup or call the numbers below:

  •     Muskegon: 231-739-7423
  •     Grand Haven: 616-847-1072
  •     Whitehall: 231-893-4252
  •     Holland: 616-392-8988
  •     Coopersville: 616-837-1800
  •     Allendale: 616-895-9080
  •     Twin Lake: 231-828-5595
You may also visit our official website to learn more about our products and services. Our service areas are open to provide the utmost service to our clients at Muskegon, Grand Haven, Whitehall, Holland, Coopersville, Allendale, and Twin Lake.

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