How to Clean a Grease Trap

Much like a homeowner who needs to perform regular home maintenance, a restaurant owner must not forget to clean their kitchen grease traps. Depending on the amount of usage, it is recommended that grease traps be cleaned every four to six weeks (preferably by a professional). If your grease traps are not maintained, then there is no barrier to stop grease from entering your septic system or sewer system. Keep in mind that a self-cleaning grease trap can become a problem, too.

Furthermore, grease blockages will be quick to back up into your restaurant kitchen, leaving you with a massive sanitation problem on your hands. You will likely need to close your doors for a couple days in order to properly sanitize the area after a grease backup.

Want to learn how to clean your restaurant’s grease traps? First, start by gathering these important cleaning tools, and then follow the advice of a professional grease trap cleaning company in Strafford County, NH:

• Gas mask, rubber cleaning gloves and coveralls: You will want to wear a gas mask to avoid inhaling nasty grease and unhealthy particles during the cleaning process. Rubber gloves can protect your skin from becoming irritated, while also saving you from having to touch the grease traps. And unless you plan to throw your clothes away, consider wearing commercial coveralls specifically for cleaning up such messes.
• Hand tools: You might need a crowbar, wrench and scraper to take on a grease trap. The crowbar easily removes the lid (some lids require a wrench), and a scraper can be used to thoroughly clean the tank and baffles (the parts that separate the flow of wastewater in a grease trap tank).
• Bucket and vacuum: You’ll remove sludge and liquids from the tank using a bucket and scoop, and then use a shop vacuum to remove liquid and grease from the tank.

As you’re getting started, wait for the water inside the trap to cool—about 10 minutes after removing the wastewater. Look under the grease trap sink and remove the lid. Be careful to not hit your head! The grease sludge will rise to the top of the tank, making it easy to remove from the trap. This sludge can be more than two inches thick. Use the shop vacuum to remove the remaining contents of the grease trap, then move on to cleaning the tank lid, sides and baffles with the scraper.

Next, check that all sludge is removed from the intake and outlet pipes in the tank. Now, test whether water flows smoothly through the trap by draining a gallon of cold water from the compartment tank. Replace the baffles and lid, and dispose of grease sludge in a garbage bag.

While it’s true that you can clean your own grease traps, it is much easier to hire a professional grease trap cleaning company in Strafford County, NH. When you work with a professional, they will set up a regular maintenance and service schedule to ensure you won’t have to close your restaurant due to a severe grease backup. Contact the knowledgeable team at B.H. Cameron Septic Services LLC to learn more or to schedule grease trap cleaning service today!

Categorised in: Grease Trap Cleaning

This post was written by Writer