Q&A for How to Clean a Grease Trap

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How often should you clean a grease trap?

Markeicha Dulaney
Personal Chef
Chef Markeicha Dulaney is a Personal Chef and Founder of Sweet Monáe Personal Chef Services in 2015 in South Florida. She has over 22 years of experience in the kitchen and provides customizable menus to meet the dietary needs, taste preferences, style, and budget of each client. She also specializes in weekly in-home chef services, all-inclusive pro-chef services, boutique catering, and pantry organizing services. She was featured in The Knot's "Table for Two" YouTube episodes and has also been featured in Real Simple Magazine article on "What routines save you the most time.” Chef Markeicha Dulaney graduated with an Associate's Degree from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute of Culinary Arts and is a longtime member of the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association).

Markeicha Dulaney

Personal Chef

Expert Answer

Try to clean your grease trap once every 2 weeks (if your stove has one). Make sure that you're also cleaning the filters that are above the hood of the stove—those tend to collect a lot of grease, too.

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Question

Why is the area around my grease trap flooded?

Community Answer

The lid might not be on properly, or there could be possible corrosion below the trap. You should check all of the screws to make sure everything is tightened properly.

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Question

Where does one get a FOG report?

Community Answer

Ask your city if they have a form. If not, certain cities just want an excel spreadsheet or folder with when and who performed the clean out.

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Question

How many baffles are usually in a standard size grease trap?

Community Answer

One is enough. A baffle is used so that grease will not go to the outlet tee.

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Question

Is it proper to discard the waste grease in the dumpster after bagging it?

Community Answer

It depends on the local requirements. Most places allow it, but I'd still check.

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Question

Why are there cockroaches on my grease trap?The lid is on securely. They came in through the outlet. This appears to be a bad trap design issue.

Community Answer

Talk to a licensed plumber about possibly installing a new one, or new pipes. It might be corroded and allowing bugs into your system.

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Question

Can I install a grease trap underground?

Community Answer

Yes. As long you follow the correct design for an oil and grease separator, it can trap the grease.

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Question

Can I pour bleach down the grease trap?

Community Answer

I wouldn't suggest doing this. If bleach is added to a grease trap, it will temporarily relieve odor issues. Unfortunately, the odor will soon return as the root cause of the odor hasn't been addressed. The addition of bleach to an acidic environment can cause the grease to harden and form a crust further down the line. If this happens in the municipal lines, you may face fines due to the line maintenance they will have to perform. If the buildup occurs in your private lines, you will have to front the money to have a plumber address the buildup. Not to mention, there is always the possibility of causing your personal lines to overflow back into the restaurant.

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Question

How do I remove a bad odor?

Community Answer

If you have recently serviced your grease trap or your grease interceptor and are still experiencing a horrific odor, you may have ventilation issues. I would suggest you check the seals, ventilation, or the plumbing to make certain there are no issues with it.

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Question

Can I use bacteria based chemicals to treat the fats, oil and grease?

Community Answer

Most sewer agencies do not allow the use of bacterial agents to break down grease. Check with your local sewer agency first.

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Question

Does a landlord pay for cleaning grease traps if the renter is not in business yet?

Community Answer

The landlord is responsible for ensuring the cleanliness and odorless nature of the greasetrap before the renter accepts the unit. So, in this case the landlord must pay since you've not yet used it.

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Question

When should I clean the grease trap?

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Community Answer

Grease traps should be cleaned based on the Municipality Guidelines. Generally, grease trap cleaning frequency will be based on usage. As per guidelines, if it's a restaurant with high footfall considered to be monthly twice, if it's a big trap like Type C, it will be cleaned every two months (1 time is preferred). But if you neglect it, you may get huge fines from the regulatory authority. it may cause drain blockages. It is recommended to follow the municipality guidelines.

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