Updating Your Grease Trap To A Lighter Plastic Unit

The grease trap under the commercial sink in your restaurant or commercial kitchen may need to be updated if it is extremely old. Grease traps have the same job now as before but there are options to choose from that can make your life a little easier. Considering moving to a newer, plastic model might be something you want to consider.

What Does A Grease Trap Do?

The grease trap under your commercial sink is installed in the drain line to remove fats, oils, and grease from the water before the water enters the sewage system. The fats and oils cool and rise to the top of the tank and the food solids settle to the bottom. If these fats were to enter the drainage system and harden, they would plug the pipes up and cause a huge problem. The grease trap stops that from happening before the water drains. The result is clean water leaving the trap that keeps your drain system working as it is intended.

Updating Your Grease Trap

In most commercial kitchens, the plastic grease traps are made from steel or metal and can corrode over time. Remember, this is water that is passing through the trap and combined with the food, oil, and fats that are in it, the trap can wear over time and even corrode and begin to leak. Replacing it with a new plastic grease trap unit that will be more durable and last longer, might be the best option for you. The trap can be removed and replaced with just a change in the inlet and outlet plumbing. If you are not comfortable swapping the old for a new unit, call a plumber to come change it for you.

Cleaning Out The Trap

Most businesses will contract with a company to come and clean the trap out for them. Depending on the size of your trap, you can set up a time for the company to come and clean the trap. If you have a very busy business, you might need to trap cleaned weekly or if it is a small business with limited patronage, the trap might be good for a month. You will have to determine what works best for you. The other factor is the size of the trap. Sometimes just upgrading to a larger trap can save you money because it will not need to be cleaned as often but the company that cleans it might charge more because of the size and amount of material in the trap. You will need to discuss the details with them.


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