ChatGPT Says I Can Clean My Own Grease Trap. Is That True?
- Tim Friedrich
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
There is no doubt AI tools are changing how we get information. It’s great for helping you choose the perfect color of paint for the hallway or drafting that email to your coworkers you’ve been putting off writing. But it can’t do everything – and offering de facto plumbing advice is one of them.
If you ask ChatGPT if you can clean your restaurant’s grease trap yourself and it will tell you can, offering a step-by-step list that makes it seem easy. Just turn off the water, scoop out the grease, rinse, and you’re done. Easy, right?
Grease traps are the kind of plumbing feature that may appear simple and straightforward, but the fact is that they are much more complicated (and messy) than you might realize. What’s more, commercial grease traps are regulated by the local health department. Cleaning them with the guidance of AI doesn’t just risk clogging your drains - it can lead to code violations and fines.
Plumbing requires human hands
Professional plumbers have the kind of hands-on experience you need when it’s time to clean your restaurant’s grease trap. And they don’t stop at simply cleaning out the trap, they also inspect the entire system for buildup, leaks, or cross-contamination between gray water and grease lines.
Trained plumbers also know how to dispose of the waste properly and record the service in a way that satisfies local regulations. If you run a restaurant or commercial kitchen in Cincinnati, a city employee usually also inspects your grease trap maintenance log. Showing you followed instructions from ChatGPT won’t go over well.
There’s also safety to consider. Grease traps contain bacteria and gases that can make you sick if handled without proper protection or ventilation. A professional plumber has the proper equipment to perform the job safely. This keeps you, your employees, and customers healthy.
Why AI can’t replace a plumber
If you want to use ChatGPT for grease trap advice, let it be to explain how it works. Use it to better understand what a grease trap does, or why fats, oils, and grease are such a big problem for your plumbing system.
With this knowledge, you can be better informed when you talk to your plumber or city inspector about your grease trap. As for keeping it clean? That requires a human. Preferably one who’s been cleaning Cincinnati’s grease traps for decades - like the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter.
