The Hidden Costs of Neglecting Your Grease Trap

While you know the importance of not pouring grease down the drain, some will inevitably make its way into your plumbing system, especially if you work in a large commercial kitchen.

That’s where your grease trap comes in. However, a grease trap is not a one-and-done solution — it requires periodic maintenance to stay functional. Ignoring maintenance requirements can lead to several pricey fixes or fines.

How Neglecting Grease Traps Can Cost Your Establishment

Here are some dangers of not cleaning your grease trap of fats, oils and grease (FOGs).

1. Health Code Violations Can Result in Fines and Shutdowns

If health inspectors find your grease trap clogged, overflowing or foul-smelling, you might receive citations and fines or have to temporarily close your business until the issue is satisfactorily resolved. Excess grease can attract pests, bacteria and mold, which can put your customers’ and employees’ health at risk.

Health code violation fines vary by state and local rules, but the United States Food and Drug Administration Food Code provides a national guideline. Fines also increase according to severity and whether the offense is willful or repeated. In addition to paying these fines, you must invest in the tools to address the issue, such as purchasing cleaning solutions or hiring outside companies for services like pest management.

2. Health Code Violations Can Damage Your Reputation

If your business doesn’t comply with health code violations and puts customer health at risk, your reputation could suffer, and you could lose profits. Once lost, customer trust is difficult to regain.

Cleaning your grease trap keeps cleanliness in check and helps ensure customers have a good experience at your establishment. Remember — grease trap cleaning should be left to the professionals.

3. Clogs and Backups Can Require Pricey Plumbing Fixes

Similarly, the cost of kitchen and restaurant plumbing problems will depend on project complexity, your location and the service provider. Emergency repairs can inflate expenses further. Investing in maintenance services for your grease trap may seem unnecessary, but you’ll be glad when you can avoid pricey plumbing services.

4. You May Need to Purchase New Grease Traps More Frequently

If used and maintained correctly, your grease trap should last a long time. If neglected, it may receive damage, and extensive damage can necessitate a complete replacement. If clogs are frequent and damage is visible, it may be time for a new system.

5. Neglected Systems Can Attract Pests

Flies, cockroaches, rodents and other pests can flock to the food particles and grease that build up in your grease trap. A grease trap overflow can lead to infestations that result in health inspection fines and expensive pest management services. Pests can also impact your reputation and cause customers to look elsewhere.

6. Backups Can Lead to Costly Kitchen Downtime

If you work in a busy restaurant, office cafeteria, hospital cafeteria or another facility with a kitchen, you know the impact of kitchen downtime, including frustrated visitors and lost revenue. Stay ahead by keeping your grease trap in good working order.

Signs of a Clogged Grease Trap

You might have a clogged grease trap that needs attention if you notice:

• Slow-draining sinks: Water backing up or taking a long time to drain can indicate a clogged grease trap or drain system.
• Odors near drains: Full traps emit unpleasant, pungent odors throughout the facility, especially around drains. Persistent smells can affect customer experience, employee focus and the health of both groups.
• Visible buildup: Grease buildup around your trap and drains could mean the trap is overflowing. Traps that overflow can no longer separate FOGs from water and must be addressed by a qualified grease trap pumping company.
• Pest activity: As mentioned, if you notice an increase in pest activity, your grease trap may need attention.

Grease Trap Maintenance Best Practices

Avoid the environmental damage and costs associated with improper grease trap maintenance:

• Avoid pouring grease down drains: It’s worth repeating — while grease traps are meant to catch FOGs and separate them from the municipal water supply, you don’t want to pour grease down any drains. Grease traps are intended to catch the incidental grease that slips through the plumbing.
• Scrape plates first: Aim to scrape plates into waste containers as much as possible to avoid overusing your garbage disposal and straining your grease trap.
• Don’t flush with degreasers: Grease traps operate using the viscosity and density of grease, solids and water. They do not require chemicals or degreasers. These chemicals can cause issues with wastewater and potentially contaminate the municipal water supply.
• Get traps cleaned regularly: Even a grease trap that’s only 25% full can overflow. How often you clean, pump and hydrojet your grease trap depends on your waste output. Some businesses do so weekly, while others schedule cleanings every one to three months.

The Environmental Impact of Improper Grease Management

Improper grease management, including grease trap neglect, can negatively impact the environment. For example, FOG backups can cause sewers to overflow, resulting in waste flowing into groundwater and waterways, affecting people, plants, animals and aquatic life that rely on those water sources. Sewage overflow can also contaminate land areas and soil, which can impact crops. This environmental damage is largely preventable with the correct grease management methods.

Grease Trap Services From Baker Commodities

Baker Commodities offers fast and efficient grease trap pumping services throughout the U.S. Our process involves:

1. Removing solid materials, wastewater and grease from your system.
2. Transporting the waste to our recycling facilities.
3. Scraping and cleaning the grease trap’s interior walls.

We also offer optional services, including video inspections to detect drain issues. You can also rely on us for preventive maintenance and hydrojetting services.

For the most full-service option, you can sign up for our Total Grease Management® program, which includes:

• Grease collection, including used cooking oils.
• Grease trap and interceptor pumping services.
• Drain cleaning and plumbing.
• Hydrojetting.
• Preventive maintenance.

You can tailor these services to your business’s needs, whether you’re interested in the full suite of offerings or only require grease trap pumping and preventive maintenance.

Contact Baker Commodities to Avoid Kitchen Downtime and Restaurant Plumbing Problems

Baker Commodities has been leading the way in food waste management since 1937. Our three-generation family-owned and operated company serves restaurants, catering companies, schools and other organizations that make and serve food to hundreds of people daily. We’re also dedicated to environmental responsibility and are proudly carbon negative.

Learn more about our grease trap services and the Total Grease Management® program, or contact us with questions. Our team of skilled technicians will deliver the exceptional grease management services you deserve.