When a restaurant prepares food, it often uses a lot of oil and grease, which can find its way down the drain. If the grease is unchecked, this can cause serious problems for the restaurant's plumbing system and the city's sewer system. According to Popular Science, up to 225 pounds of grease can be stored in a restaurant's grease trap. Keep reading to learn more about this essential mechanism.

The Grease Trap System

Once grease solidifies, it can build up in pipes, leading to blockages, backups, and even sewage overflows. That's why there needs to be a plumbing device in place to intercept the grease and oil before it mucks up the sewer system. That's where a grease trap comes in handy. It works by slowing down the wastewater flow from the kitchen, giving some time for the grease to rise to the top and solid particles to sink to the bottom. The remaining water can then flow out of the grease trap and into the sewer system. As you can imagine, a grease trap pumping service is the key to keeping the solid grease particles cleaned out of the trap.

The Grease Trap Mechanism

The grease trap does its job by utilizing a few key components of its system. The inlet pipe carries wastewater to the grease trap. When the water enters the grease trap, it flows through a series of baffles, which are partitions that create a zigzag flow pattern. This helps slow down the water flow, which allows the grease and other solid particles to settle.

Next, as the grease rises to the top, it forms a thick, oily scum layer. At the same time, the solids sink to the bottom, creating a layer of sludge. The water in the middle layer, which is cleaner, flows out of the grease trap and into the sewer system just as it should.

Grease Trap Maintenance

As this process is repeated in the restaurant, the grease and sludge layers build up and fill the grease trap. Then it's time to clean the trap. Most restaurants hire a professional grease trap pumping service. This will keep the grease trap working efficiently.

By properly maintaining your grease traps, you can help prevent clogs and backups and do your part to protect the environment. If you notice your grease trap is getting full, be sure to contact a professional grease trap pumping service to keep it functioning the way it was intended. Our team at 1st Choice Grease Service LLC would love to assist you!