Grease Trap Installation, Cleaning, and Maintenance

Are you looking for an effective way to manage the build-up of grease, fat, and oil in your foodservice business?
 
Under the Approved Document H, it is mandatory for commercial kitchens to manage grease. This is so that grease does not go into the sewerage system, blocking it and contaminating other water supplies. 
 
The most effective way of managing grease in a commercial kitchen is a grease trap. 
 
In this article, we will explain what a grease trap is and how it works. We’ll also provide essential information around how to install, clean, and maintain a grease trap.

What Is a Grease Trap?

A grease trap is a device that is installed into a waste water system to intercept and remove fats and oils from the water that passes through it. A grease trap should also intercept any solid particles such as small food pieces.
 
Water treatment facilities are used to make sure that fats and oils are not released into the sea and waterways through sewerage. However, commercial kitchens produce levels of grease that these treatment facilities cannot cope with. This means that harmful grease is released into the environment. 
 
Another issue is that grease can quickly build up and solidify in the local sewerage system, causing blockages and sewerage overflows. When this happens, rivers and streams can become contaminated.
 
For these reasons, the UK government has strict guidelines about how commercial kitchens must minimise the amount of fat and oil they allow into the water system. As well as the Approved Document H requirements on grease management, the Food Safety and Hygiene England Regulations make it mandatory to avoid the build-up of grease in commercial kitchens.
 
While you are looking at your grease management obligations, you may also want to check that your ventilation meets regulations.

How Does a Grease Trap Work?

Fats and oils are lighter than water, so they naturally float. A grease trap works on this principle.
The basic idea is that water passes through a large container with a small outlet located at the bottom. Since the grease floats, it will generally stay at the top of the container and never flow through the water outlet. 
 
A grease trap needs to be regularly cleaned and maintained to remove the collected fat and oil.

Grease Trap Installation

Grease trap installation can be done either by a business owner or professional technicians. It is useful to get expert help to ensure that the grease trap is installed properly. 
 
This will ensure the trap is removing enough grease to meet regular demands. It will also ensure that the trap is able to be easily cleaned and maintained in the future. 
 
There are some key factors to consider when installing a grease trap. To begin with, your grease trap needs to be large enough to accommodate the average hourly flow of your waste water.
 
It needs to be as close to the kitchen as possible. It needs to maximise its use of gravity. It also needs to be easily accessible for service and cleaning.

Grease Trap Cleaning

A grease trap needs to be cleaned regularly so that the amount of fat and oil does not become so high that it is forced down into the sewerage system. 
 
Likewise, you do not want the grease overflowing the separation system. This could have an environmental impact and you may be fined.
 
An excess build-up of fat and oil over time will cause grease to solidify. This can then block your plumbing system, which will mean a larger and more expensive problem. 
 
Once the grease trap has been cleaned, it is also essential that it is disposed of properly. Once again, there are significant regulatory considerations with this.
 
At VSS we provide a full grease trap cleaning service to ensure that grease is periodically removed from your premise and correctly disposed of. Our staff are licensed so that you will be in full compliance with all of the relevant government regulations. We provide ductwork cleaning services that comply with government regulations. 
 
We can also provide your own staff with the necessary training they will need to manage grease build-up and disposal. 

Grease Trap Maintenance

A grease trap requires periodic maintenance to ensure that it is still working at maximum efficiency. Once again, this is very important so that your business remains compliant and avoids fines. 
 
A grease trap service will focus on making sure that the structure of the trap is still solid so that no fat or oil can escape the chamber. If the integrity of the chamber is compromised, this can often be fixed without replacing the trap. 
 
This is why regular maintenance is so important. If the issue with the grease trap is not identified and fixed quickly, it may result in the entire trap needing replacement. 
 
A grease trap service will also monitor the water inlets and outlets to ensure that they are not compromised. It will also help to determine whether your grease trap is coping with the volume of grease your business is producing over set time periods. 
 
A grease trap maintenance service from a VSS technician will give you peace of mind that everything is working as it should. As a result, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.

Grease Trap Service: Be Prepared

Hopefully, you are now aware of the absolute importance of grease, fat, and oil management for commercial kitchens. But, while this is very important, it does not need to be difficult or expensive. 

A grease trap is a cost-effective solution for managing the fat and oil waste that your business produces. 
 
Once you have installed your grease trap, it is essential that you have it vigilantly cleaned and maintained. This will ensure you comply with all relevant regulations. It will also save you money by keeping your grease trap operational for longer. 
 
VSS can help you stay on top of your grease management, taking all of the worry and difficulty out of your hands. We are fully licensed to clean and maintain all grease traps and to safely dispose of all waste products. 
 
So, if you are looking for an easy and affordable solution to all of your grease problems, why not get in touch with us today.