Skip to main content

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.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Preventive Measures You Should Consider to Protect Your Sewer

Not all things that you use in your toilet are flushable. And one thing you should realize is the more you  protect your sewer system, the less money you'll need to spend on cleaning your sewer system  Muskegon . Protecting your sewer can be done in a variety of simple ways by everyone in your family.  However, sometimes it's necessary to supplement your measures with professionally executed  prevention sewer systems . Sewer backup is more common these days due to an aging U.S. sewer system (domestic sewer lines  are on average over 30 years old), that combine stormwater and raw sewage and old tree roots  seeking moisture.  There are a few preventative measures homeowners can take for sewer backup prevention.  Maintain your sewer lateral. Most homeowners don’t realize it’s your responsibility to maintain the  pipeline between your house and the city’s sewer main. A lateral that’s cracked, deteriorated or filled  with...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Grease Trap Works?

A grease trap or also known as grease interceptor is designed to stop the oils , fats & grease to enter the wastewater disposal facility. It is commonly used in restaurants and another similar industry that offers food services. The wastewater usually carries small amount of oils that enter into the septic tank or sewer system and floats in the upper scum layer. The fats, oils and grease (FOG) are very slow to decompose by microorganisms in the anaerobic digestion process. If the huge volume of grease is accumulated inside the disposal facility, it will be released as untreated into the environment still. Also, it may cause pipes to clog in once the grease solidifies. How does a grease trap function? Grease trap is installed in between the restaurant drain and the main sewer line or septic system. Grease trap slows down the flow of water into the drain. This makes the fat, oil and grease (FOG) to float in the upper layer and trapped by the grease interceptor system , w...
Post a Comment
Read more

6 Common Misconceptions about Septic Systems in West Michigan

You might be having some issues with your septic system or you may be thinking of constructing or  replacing one in your property. However, you must be sure that you are on the right track.  Here are six of the most common septic tank septic systems myths or misconceptions. 1.       Septic systems will stay functional for a long, long time. To assume that you can use your septic tank forever is a common misconception. Depending on the  kind of material it is made, your septic system may be functional for as long as 40 years for concrete  and 30 years for steel. You have a serious problem with your septic system if there is flooding in the  septic field, poor quality of water, and sewage backups. When these happen, call a professional  technician as soon as possible and have it examined and replaced by septic systems Muskegon . 2.       Septic additives are enough to maintain the septic system. A number ...
Post a Comment
Read more