As a restaurant owner or manager in Cincinnati, you’re no stranger to the fast-paced kitchen environment. Between preparing meals and ensuring excellent customer service, plumbing issues are the last thing on your mind. However, overlooking one critical component—the grease trap—leads to major problems.

Here’s why regular maintenance is a smart practice and essential to keeping your restaurant running smoothly. 

Clogged drains 

A grease trap is designed to collect fats, oils, and grease (FOG) that flow down the drain after cooking. Over time, these substances build up in the trap. If not cleaned regularly, they can quickly solidify and clog the drain pipes, leading to slow or blocked drainage. When this happens, the water can’t flow freely, causing sewage to return to the kitchen.

What’s that smell?

When grease traps aren’t cleaned, grease and food particles begin to decompose. This can create a foul smell that can waft through the kitchen and dining areas. Regular grease trap cleaning helps prevent this issue, keeping your kitchen smelling fresh and clean.

Ask the plumber: Your frequently asked questions about grease traps answered

Compliance issues

A greasy trap isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s also a health hazard. Did you know that if grease from your restaurant overflows and enters the drain, it can contaminate the water supply and contribute to pollution?

The buildup of grease and waste can attract harmful bacteria and pests, leading to potential contamination. If a grease trap isn’t properly maintained, the restaurant may be at risk of failing local health inspections, which could lead to fines or even temporary closure until the issue is resolved.

Costly repairs

Once grease builds up in the pipes, it can cause significant damage to the plumbing system, resulting in costly repairs or replacements. The longer a grease trap goes without cleaning, the more likely you’ll face serious plumbing issues that could have been easily avoided with regular maintenance.

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Decreased efficiency

The cleaner the grease trap, the better a restaurant’s plumbing system will work. However, neglected traps can lead to drainage issues. Regular cleaning lets your staff focus on serving customers instead of dealing with plumbing problems.

Do you need to schedule a grease trap cleaning for your Cincinnati restaurant? Give us a call. We’ve been helping local restaurants keep running smoothly for decades.

If you’re running a restaurant in Cincinnati, grease trap cleaning is one of the most essential maintenance tasks you can’t overlook. Grease traps prevent fats, oils, and grease from clogging your plumbing and causing costly backups. But how often should you clean your grease trap to keep everything running smoothly?

The basics of grease trap maintenance

How often you need to clean your restaurant’s grease trap primarily depends on the size of your restaurant and the amount of grease your kitchen produces. Here’s a breakdown to help you determine the proper cleaning schedule:

1. Small establishments: For smaller restaurants, cafes, or food service operations with moderate grease output, a grease trap typically needs cleaning every 1 to 3 months. 
2. Medium to large restaurants: If you run a larger restaurant or a high-volume food service operation with significant grease production, you might need to schedule cleanings every 2 to 4 weeks. Heavy use of fryers, grills, and other grease-producing equipment increases the frequency of required cleanings to prevent blockages and unpleasant odors.
3. High-volume facilities: For establishments that generate a substantial amount of grease, such as large-scale restaurants, hotels, or institutional kitchens, more frequent cleanings may be necessary. This could sometimes mean weekly or bi-weekly maintenance to ensure the grease trap remains effective and compliant with local regulations.

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Why regular grease trap cleaning matters 

Timely grease trap cleaning is essential for several reasons:

• Prevent clogs and backups: A clean grease trap prevents grease and solids from clogging your plumbing system, reducing the risk of costly backups and potential kitchen closures.
• Avoid health violations: Regular cleaning helps ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, avoiding fines and potential disruptions to your business.
• Maintain efficient operation: An efficiently functioning grease trap helps keep your kitchen running smoothly, improving overall operational efficiency.

At Allied Reddi-Rooter, we understand the importance of keeping your grease trap in top condition. We offer flexible services tailored to your needs, whether you require a single cleaning or prefer to set up a scheduled maintenance plan. Our experienced team is also available 24/7 for emergency services.

Don’t let grease trap maintenance fall by the wayside. Contact Allied Reddi-Rooter today to discuss a cleaning schedule that works for your restaurant so your kitchen remains efficient, compliant and prevents costly plumbing problems in the future. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.