How Do You Protect the Planet?

A restaurant, school or other establishment that prepares food will typically be required to have a grease trap installed. This is a type of apparatus that fits between the kitchen's drains and the sewer lines and which keeps fats, oil, and grease (FOG) from getting into the sewers and causing clogs. It's important that these establishments keep their grease traps properly cleaned and maintained so they don't back up and cause an overflow, as this is very messy and difficult to clean.

If you manage a restaurant or another facility with a grease trap, consider three steps you can take to keep it properly cleaned and maintained. This will protect your kitchen and keep you from having to face more expensive cleanups down the road.

1. Use a bacteria additive

A bacteria additive will help to break down several types of grease and fats so they can more readily be cleaned out, and they allow them to be digested through the pipes, leaving only water and carbon dioxide behind. A bacteria additive can be in the form of a bar that is suspended by rope from the top of the trap; it slowly dissolves over time. Powder varieties can be added, and both of these may take several weeks to dissolve completely before they need to be replaced. Using bacteria additives can mean less grease to clean and less risk of clogs in the pipes.

2. Shovel out the solid waste

For smaller grease traps, you can often shovel out the solid waste yourself on a regular basis. This can be done with a small shovel, and the grease can be put in a bin to be brought to a grease recycling center. For a thorough clean, use kitty litter or another grease absorber at the bottom of the trap to get all the particles cleaned out completely.

3. Vacuum out the grease traps and drains

For larger traps and for a more thorough job, use a special grease vacuum or pump on a regular basis. These pull the grease out of the trap and also pull it out of the pipes to keep them cleaner. These vacuums or pumps are used by professionals when they clean out grease traps, and they can be purchased by restaurant owners themselves. By actually vacuuming out the pipes and not just shoveling out the grease, you pull out more buildup and, in turn, the pipes will be clearer overall.

For more information, contact a company such as No Fuss Liquid Waste.