
How does a fat trap work? In the most basic terms, a fat trap works by slowing down the flow of warm/hot greasy water and allowing it to cool. As the water cools, the grease and oil in the water separate and float to the top of the trap.
What is a fat trap / grease trap?
What Is A Fat Trap / Grease Trap? Fat traps (better known as passive grease traps or grease interceptors) are essentially stainless-steel boxes designed to capture, and therefore trap, fats, oils and grease (FOG) before they flow down the drainage network.
How do grease traps&interceptors work?
How Do Grease Traps & Interceptors Work? What is a Passive Grease Trap? Passive grease traps are plumbing fixtures that contain pools of rotting food waste. Fats, oils, and Grease (FOG) are lighter than water and float to the top of the tanks.
How do grease traps work in restaurants?
Grease Traps & Interceptors. Restaurant wastewater enters Grease traps from 3-compartment sinks and automatic dishwashers. The grease trap tank acts as a reservoir holding the wastewater and food solids that enter the trap. As the wastewater cools, the fat, oil, and grease (FOG) harden and the food solids settle.
How does a fog work on a grease trap?
A grease trap functions in the same manner. FOG fills a grease trap from the top of the tank to the bottom. The FOG fills the grease trap from top down, displacing the wastewater from the middle of the grease trap and into the sanitary sewer or septic system.

What happens when a grease trap is full?
Full Trap If your grease trap becomes excessively full, grease will begin spilling out of the primary compartment into the secondary one. This will soon lead to clogs in the lines leading into and out of the grease trap. A full trap will also restrict the flow of water through the system.
How do you empty a fat trap?
How to Clean Your Grease TrapRemove the lid from the grease trap. ... Stick a ruler into the grease trap and note how many inches of grease are in the trap. ... Remove the water from your grease trap, either with a bucket or a small pump. ... Start scooping out the grease from your trap.More items...•
What breaks down fat in a grease trap?
Lipase – Breaks down fats/grease (triglycerides) into glycerol and fatty acids. This Enzyme is applicable to the product for FOG treatment. This enzyme breaks down the FOG in the grease trap, and assists in the prevention of downstream blockages, due to deposits.
How do grease traps work at restaurant?
A grease trap is just that—an entrapment for grease. When residual FOGS are emptied into the commercial kitchen sink, the grease trap allows the water to sink to the bottom and drain into the city's water supply. The floating grease remains at the top, where it can be accessed and removed.
Why does my grease trap smell?
Origins of Grease Trap Smells The hydrogen sulfide interacts with water and produces a strong acid that adversely affects the steel and concrete tank, while the sulfuric gas creates the rank odor. Therefore, you must regularly have your grease trap pumped out to avoid accumulating particles.
Can I clean my own grease trap?
For a thorough cleaning, utilize the shop vacuum to suck out any lingering FOGs from the grease trap. Next, refresh the grease trap and free the tank from obnoxious odors with a little elbow grease, a steel pot scrubber, dish soap and tepid water. Thoroughly scrub down the grease trap's baffles, sides and lid.
How often should you clean grease trap?
Most grease traps should be cleaned out every 1-3 months, depending on usage. To know exactly how often your business needs to attend to the grease traps, consider the “1/4th rule.” In simple terms, the grease trap should be cleaned out when it reaches a quarter of its capacity.
How deep is a grease trap?
Typically, the maximum depth from the ground surface (access covers) to the liquid level in the trap should not exceed 4 feet, as this will impede effective visual inspection. f) Refer to the attachment “Typical Underground Grease Trap” for specific minimum design requirements.
Will Drano unclog a grease trap?
Commercial kitchen operators face issues with their sinks, drains and grease traps getting clogged with food solids. To combat this problem, some resort to using chemicals such as Liquid Plumber or Drano to clear these clogs.
How long does a grease trap last?
5-8 yearsOn average, steel grease traps last 5-8 years. They can be quite heavy, if buried indoors (in a concrete or tiled floor, for example) can be quite difficult to replace.
What do you do with grease from a grease trap?
Dispose of grease trap contents in a sealed container and dispose of sealed container in the trash. Do not pour grease down drains, toilets or the storm drain system.
How long do commercial grease traps last?
On average, metal grease traps are expected to last about five to seven years, although your experience may vary. If your facility uses a metal grease trap that is more than five years old, schedule a professional inspection to identify any problems.
How do you sample a grease trap?
0:061:15How the Grease Trap & Tank Sampler works - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInsert it to the bottom of the vessel. That you wish to sample pull up the actuator handle to closeMoreInsert it to the bottom of the vessel. That you wish to sample pull up the actuator handle to close the ball valve and capture the contents. And remove for reading.
How do you measure grease in a grease trap?
1:001:36Sizing Your Grease Trap - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd outlet of the grease trap itself in this case two inches the calculation is simple just divideMoreAnd outlet of the grease trap itself in this case two inches the calculation is simple just divide the total area of your sink or sinks that will feed into your grease trap by 231.
What Is The Purpose of A Grease Trap?
The wastes generated by large establishments such as schools, cafeterias, and restaurants is significantly more in both frequency and volume. If le...
How Does A Grease Interceptor Work?
In the most fundamental term, it functions by cooling warm or hot greasy water. By allowing the FOG to cool, it’s able to separate the different la...
Grease Trap Or Interceptor Sizing
Size is, needless to say, the most important thing for an establishment to consider. This is tied to the rating that hydro mechanical interceptors...
What Could Possibly Go Wrong With Grease Traps?
If the trapped FOG is not pumped out when needed, it becomes thick and may begin to escape via the outlet tee.Also, when blocking occurs in the dow...
How Often Should You Pump Your Grease Interceptor?
For correct functioning, a deep layer of water is needed. To this end, it’s recommended that a grease trap be drained as soon as the food layers an...
Besides The Pumping, Is Anything Else Needed For An Effective Grease Trap?
If the grease interceptor is not drained often enough, the inlet and outlet often become clogged with FOG. For this reason, the drainage should be...
Common Guidelines For Commercial Kitchens
To mitigate issues associated with foul odors from blocked drains, officials from the local health and hygiene department recommend the following t...
How Does A Grease Trap Work?
In the most fundamental term, a grease trap or grease inceptor functions by cooling warm or hot greasy water. By allowing the fat, grease and oil (FOG) to cool, a grease trap is able to separate the different layers of wastes with water.
What is grease trap?
The definition of a grease trap is “ a trap in a drain or waste pipe to prevent grease from passing into a sanitary sewer lines and system. ”. A grease trap/grease inceptor is in simple terms ...
What is The Purpose of a Grease Trap/Grease Inceptor?
The wastes in food solids, even oils and grease, generated by large establishments such as schools, cafeterias, and restaurants is significantly more in both frequency and volume . If left unchecked, the food solids could end up accumulating in sewer pipes and create sewer system problems such as:
How Often Should You Pump Your Grease Interceptor?
To this end, it’s recommended that a grease trap be drained as soon as the food layers and grease occupy 25% of the trap’s space.
How to reduce FOG in drain?
1) Grease trap cleaning practices. To reduce the amount of FOG going down the drain, it’s necessary that you have good grease trap cleaning practices in place. Dishes should be scraped before being washed. As a result, less food and grease (FOG) will make its way down the drain.
What is grease inceptor?
A grease trap/grease inceptor is in simple terms a plumbing fixture that contains decomposing food waste, bettering the sewer system. There are three main types of grease traps: Automatic grease traps, or automatic grease removal units. Each type of grease trap can be used for different reasons.
Why is the grease trap unusable?
This is because chemicals and other detergents used can emulsify the FOG rendering the grease trap/grease inceptor unusable.
What is grease trap?
Grease traps are also known as grease catchers and grease recovery systems. These units have the ability to remove fats, oils, and grease from water and are highly useful in cafes, Hotels, Bakeries, Restaurants, and schools.
How do grease traps help with water pollution?
Grease traps are the most effective solution in this regard, as they are capable of preventing water pollution by trapping the FOG’s and other associated compounds from water bodies through manual and automatic technology.
What is the difference between gravity grease traps and manual grease traps?
The major difference lies in the capacity of both models. Gravity grease traps have a larger capacity and are ideal for heavy-flow applications.
Why does grease settle on top of the water?
This occurs because fatty substances do not dissolve in the water, and thus, the settled material is removed from the top. Thus, leaving clean water which leaves through the outlet.
Why is my grease trap overflowing?
Overflowing of the grease trap is a common issue. This mostly occurs when the chamber is not cleaned on a regular basis. Along with this, the situation often leads to the spilling of one compartment components to another compartment.
How long does it take for grease to biodegrade?
Mostly, the time ranges from 2 to 4 weeks, but it can also extend to around eight weeks. That can be done by integrating non-pathogenic bacteria into the system, which can biodegrade the grease and other fatty compounds. Thus, enhancing the overall performance of the product.
Can you use liquid substances in a trap?
Similarly, it is not wise to use liquid substances for this purpose as they are not very efficient in this regard. Users only need to reassemble the drainage assembly and reinstall it in the trap according to the instruction mentioned in the user manual.
What happens when a grease trap is full?
When a grease trap is full of grease sludge the trap is incapable of capturing any grease or food solids whatsoever. Passive grease traps and grease interceptors do not control the inflow of restaurant wastewater. During busy automatic dishwashing and sink draining periods restaurant grease bypasses the grease trap.
How does wastewater enter a grease trap?
Restaurant wastewater enters Grease traps from 3-compartment sinks and automatic dishwashers. The grease trap tank acts as a reservoir holding the wastewater and food solids that enter the trap. As the wastewater cools, the fat, oil, and grease (FOG) harden and the food solids settle. The FOG, being lighter than water, floats to the top of the grease trap. The wastewater is forced through the grease trap and out to the sanitary sewer. The FOG and food solids remain in the tank, increasing in volume daily. Food solids and grease sludge (brown grease) settle to the bottom of the grease trap.
What is a Passive Grease Trap?
Passive grease traps are plumbing fixtures that contain pools of rotting food waste. Fats, oils, and Grease (FOG) are lighter than water and float to the top of the tanks.
What is grease trap pumping?
Grease trap pumping is having a large liquid holding truck come to your foodervice facility. The truck,, equipped with a large tank, brings the hoses inside the facility to the grease trap. The complete contents of the grease trap are pumped back into the truck's tank.
What is grease interceptor?
Grease interceptors are large in-ground outdoor tanks that prevent FOG and food solids from entering the sanitary sewer or septic system at restaurant facilities. Conventional Grease Traps are referred to as passive grease traps and gravity based grease traps. Grease Traps were originally designed over 100 years ago.
How many gallons of grease is in a grease interceptor?
Grease Interceptors are frequently sized at 1000 Gallon to 2000 Gallons for restaurant use. Grease interceptors are tanks made of cement, PVC or fibreglass that hold the fats, oil, grease, and food solids. The interceptor tanks are usually buried to the exterior of the restaurant.
Where is the grease interceptor buried?
The interceptor tanks are usually buried to the exterior of the restaurant. To install a grease interceptor a large trench must be excavated. A cement footing is built to support the grease interceptor. The interceptor is placed within the trench.
How Does A Grease Trap Work?from grease-cycle.com
In the most fundamental term, a grease trap or grease inceptor functions by cooling warm or hot greasy water. By allowing the fat, grease and oil (FOG) to cool, a grease trap is able to separate the different layers of wastes with water.
What is The Purpose of a Grease Trap/Grease Inceptor?from grease-cycle.com
The wastes in food solids, even oils and grease, generated by large establishments such as schools, cafeterias, and restaurants is significantly more in both frequency and volume . If left unchecked, the food solids could end up accumulating in sewer pipes and create sewer system problems such as:
How Often Should You Pump Your Grease Interceptor?from grease-cycle.com
To this end, it’s recommended that a grease trap be drained as soon as the food layers and grease occupy 25% of the trap’s space.
What is grease inceptor?from grease-cycle.com
A grease trap/grease inceptor is in simple terms a plumbing fixture that contains decomposing food waste, bettering the sewer system. There are three main types of grease traps: Automatic grease traps, or automatic grease removal units. Each type of grease trap can be used for different reasons.
How to maximize separation of FOG from effluents?from grease-cycle.com
In order to maximize separation of FOG from effluents, the wastewater making its way inside the grease trap should be regulated by control devices that at this stage also allow mixing of air.
Why is the grease trap unusable?from grease-cycle.com
This is because chemicals and other detergents used can emulsify the FOG rendering the grease trap/grease inceptor unusable.
Why use DFU values for sizing?from grease-cycle.com
Similarly, using DFU values for sizing is straightforward because one only has to sum up the DFU values for the waste flowing into the grease trap. Some basic math is required when calculating the grease interceptors’ size based on the flow and capacity of the actual waste.
