How Do Grease Traps Work?

February 15, 2020

In a commercial kitchen, quality equipment is everything when it comes to efficiency, productivity, quality and safety. One of the most important pieces of equipment in a commercial kitchen is the grease trap. While this might not seem like an essential component in your kitchen, the reality is that a properly functioning grease trap is key to the safety and productivity of your New Orleans, LA kitchen. So, how do grease traps work? Read on to find out more.

How do grease traps work in New Orleans, LA?

Commercial kitchens use a lot of grease to cook large quantities of food, and a lot of this grease ends up going down the drain. As grease, oil and fats flow down the drain, they cool and solidify. When these substances harden in your plumbing system, they accumulate on the walls of your pipes, capture other debris and food particles and cause large obstructions to develop.

Even if these substances make it through your pipes without blocking them up, they can cause damage to sewer water collection systems and treatment facilities. For that reason, commercial kitchens are required to have a grease trap to catch fatty substances before they get into the plumbing system.

Grease traps protect a commercial kitchen’s plumbing system from damage and minimize the danger of grease fires. These pieces of equipment are designed to perform reliably to collect all of the grease, oil and fatty substances that go down your floor drains. They do this by slowing the flow of water and allowing it to cool before passing into the rest of the plumbing system. As the water in the grease trap cools, the fatty substances float to the top and the rest of the water flows down through a drain in the bottom of the trap.

Grease trap cleaning and maintenance

The substances that float to the top of the grease trap solidify and collect. Over time, as more and more grease, oils and fats accumulate in the grease trap, it becomes more difficult for water to flow through the trap. Because of that, it’s necessary for grease traps to be maintained and pumped on a regular basis. A professional grease trap technician will open up the grease trap, pump out the grease and fat and dispose of it properly in accordance with applicable regulations.

To make sure that you never skip your routine cleaning, set up a maintenance schedule with a grease trap service provider. Find a local company that has a good reputation for customer service and reliability. This allows you to ensure your grease trap continues performing effectively with on-time pumping and cleaning service.

Professional grease trap services

If you have more questions about grease trap maintenance and cleaning or you need professional grease trap services, reach out to Safeway Used Oil and Grease. We specialize in offering comprehensive, high-quality grease trap maintenance, repair and disposal services to our customers. Whether you’re dealing with a malfunctioning grease trap or are simply looking for more information about how grease traps work, give our New Orleans, LA team a call today for a consultation and quote.

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Safeway Used Oil and Grease