The grease trap, so important in the commercial kitchen but often overlooked. The grease trap is an crucial part of the restaurant kitchen, the device which captures all the fats, oils, and grease before the flow of kitchen wastewater arrives in the sewer system. In commercial kitchens, grease traps are required by law, though many don’t realize the benefits and advantages they provide not only for the restaurant business but also the environment.
The grease trap calls for simple installation, and is hidden from view beneath commercial sinks in the kitchen or underground outside the restaurant. In fact, the grease trap is hardworking when properly maintained, but when overlooked, it can cause big problems. Here, the experts at Flamingo Plumbing and Backflow share what you need to know about the benefits of commercial grease trap for your restaurant.
Environmental Protection
The grease trap protects the environment by preventing fats, oils, and grease from being released into streams, rivers, and other bodies of water. Without the grease trap these substances could contaminate local water supplies, making the water dangerous for human consumption. Grease traps prevent the collection of fats, oils, and grease in natural watersheds. Plus, these substances when captured are recyclable, able to be converted to for other uses and thus further protecting the environment. On top of that, if your commercial kitchen is found to be improperly handling fats, oils, and grease, you could find your business facing unwanted fines from federal, state, and local authorities.
Guarding Community Health and Safety
The successful operation of your commercial kitchen includes stopping fats, oils, and grease before they reach the community drainage and sewage system. To guard the health and safety of the community, the grease trap collects these substances, preventing their entry into the sewer system where large quantities of fats, oils, and grease can become a big problems. Gathering with similar substances from other restaurants and businesses, beneath city streets in sewer systems, fats, oils, and grease can create major plumbing problems for communities.
The Benefits for Your Business
The grease trap in your commercial kitchen also offers a number of benefits for your business. The greases trap eliminates backflows which can cause you and your business valuable time and money. Your grease trap, while generally hidden from view, can improve the public perception of your business, showing that your brand is concerned in preserving the health of the community as well as the environment. Plus, as a business owner you need to protect your business and your grease trap can help you do just that.
Maintaining Your Grease Trap for Proper Function
The goal in grease trap maintenance is ensuring its proper function and longevity. Here’s how to get the job done.
- Before dishes hit the sink, scrape extra food off plates into the garbage disposal or trash receptacle to limit the waste that makes its way to the grease trap.
- Rather than pouring used cooking oil into the drain, recycle it into sustainable biofuel instead. Doing so will not only help the environment but protect your pipes as well as your grease trap.
- Lastly, clean your grease trap as needed. Your grease trap is most effective if you keep waste levels below one-fourth full. Monitoring how quickly your trap fills up will help you gauge when it needs to be cleaned.
Getting the Most From Your Commercial Grease Trap
Maintaining your grease trap as intended can help you optimize the benefits and advantages for your business, as well as your community and the environment. Flamingo Plumbing and Backflow can help with grease trap cleaning services, repair, and installation.
