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FOGS, an acronym for fats, oils, grease, and solids, is unavoidable in kitchen activity, particularly cooking and washing dishes. If not correctly managed, it can cause multiple problems to your sewerage system. Grease usually sticks to pipes hindering liquid flow, for instance. Damage caused by FOGS can be expensive to repair, especially for large establishments such as restaurants. In addition, the downtime experienced during grease trap repair can affect daily business operations. Thanks to grease traps, such a situation should not be of great concern to hospitality businesses. These traps are designed to reduce and prevent blockages of sewage systems by grime in wastewater.
What Is A Grease Trap?
It is a receptacle inside the sewerage system designed to intercept fats, oils, grease, and solids (FOGS) after the wastewater enters the drain. From here, the clear water proceeds to the drainage system. Removal of FOGS by grease traps is vital in reducing the chances of sewer system problems like backups and overflows, which cost more time and money to fix. There are three types of commercial grease traps – Passive hydromechanical grease traps (manual), Automatic grease traps, and Gravity grease traps.
How Does A Grease Trap Work?
It functions based on the principle that heavier things sink and lighter things float. Nathaniel Whiting (the “father of grease traps”) applied this knowledge to how waste products enter the sewerage system. Solids quickly sink while oils and fats float on top of the water. The grease (vegetable oils and animal fats) rises to the top and gets trapped inside the interceptor. In contrast, the solids settle at the bottom, letting the separated clear water escape through an outlet.
Over time, grease and solids build up, backing up into the sink if not removed for a while. Therefore, frequent checks and pump-outs must be conducted by specialists. The length between each check depends on the amount of waste and the size of the traps. It could be every two to four weeks in the case of there being no biological treatment. Otherwise, it can take up to eight weeks.
Grease Trap Installation
There is no doubt that a greasetrap plays a critical role in reducing the damage FOGS may cause without it, which is especially important when a significant amount of wastewater passes through the sewerage system every day. There are standards for grease traps in Australia to guarantee that the drainage infrastructure operates efficiently even with extensive usage and after an extended period. Three of the most important things to consider are:
- Wastewater content
- Trap size
- Trap type
For instance, an under sink grease trap Australia is classified under three different available standards. The three existing standards widely applied Australia-wide are:
- European Standard EN 1825
- Australian Standard AS 4494
- International Standard EN 1825
The cost of commercial grease trap installation is anywhere between $4,000 and $20,000.
Grease Trap Service
Grease traps require frequent check-ups to ensure they are operating optimally, which is specifically applicable for a commercial grease trap whereby FOGS has entered the plumbing for a while in significant amounts. When there is a glitch in the system, noxious odours and drain backups may result. The reason behind these smells and clogs lies in the lack of frequent inspections to remove accumulated debris. To prevent such issues, you will need expert help from a qualified plumber for regular sewer rodding. Experienced grease trap plumbing contractors provide indoor and outdoor grease trap maintenance for businesses in the food service industry, ensuring that your demands are satisfied.
Grease Traps For Restaurants
A quality plumber guarantees efficiency, swiftness, and reliability. A highly trained team of fully equipped technicians can promptly identify any grease trap problems you may encounter and provide the finest solutions. Certified and consistent in their work, a professional grease trap plumber is undoubtedly experienced in managing grease traps to avoid clogs and overflows. Some of the services they offer include:
- Frequently scheduled inspections and maintenance
- Inlet and outlet pipe cleaning and repair in the event of burst pipes, overflowing drains, and sewer leaks
- Grease trap cleaning and repair
- Inspection report in case of any sewage blockages
- History report provided after every regular check-up
- Emergency 24/7 clean-up
Now you know what a grease trap is, how it works, and how it is installed and serviced. Such knowledge helps in identifying grease trap problems and working with grease trap plumbers.
