The grease trap trap… How not to fall into it.

Cincinnati has an impressive reputation as home to world class restaurants. And all restaurants, from Four-Star to Gold Star, have one thing in common: grease traps. With that in mind, this news item from Arizona caught our eye: Eateries Ignore Grease Trap Ordinance: Read article

Grease waste: A slick operation
Most people give grease traps little thought. But, well maintained traps (and their counterpart, grease interceptors) are one of the lynch pins in our city’s sanitary sewer system. By law, nearly all restaurants are required to use a grease trap system and maintain it according to state and local requirements.

Typically located under sinks and dishwashers in food service operations, grease traps and grease interceptors remove and separate fate, oils and greases (FOG) from a restaurant’s waste water. In the world of potential health code violations, improper disposal of grease or failure to pump out a grease trap on a regular basis are big ones for city code keepers.

When food service food waste and grease are improperly disposed of (e.g., washed down the drain), it can cause sewage backups into nearby homes and businesses.

The simplest and most cost-effective approach is to set a schedule for pumping the trap(s) and inspecting the integrity of the grease interceptor(s). The cost of pumping varies depending on the size of the restaurant. Most trap-cleaning operations charge by the gallon and the cost is reasonable.

Is grease trap cleaning messy?
In a word, yes. Typically, the grease, fats, and oils in the trap and interceptor have been there a while. In all honesty, “unpleasant” is an understatement. This brief video shows how one restaurant cleans their trap; draw your own conclusion about the messiness factor (and whether you would like to dine there). Watch video

At Allied, we’re good with grease.
Our skilled staff meticulously provides both interior and exterior grease trap pumping services to the food service industry, retirement homes, schools, apartment owners, and manufacturers around town. In addition to removing the grease, our technicians will scrape down the trap and provide an inspection of the trap’s overall condition, including the baffles and cover. Most importantly, our technicians will ensure that your trap cleaning log is updated and provides the proper documentation to the city health inspectors.

For more information on our grease trap cleaning process or to receive a free estimate, contact us today at 513-396-5300.