Summer is drawing near. This will be the busiest time of the year in the Bay Area for restaurant owners. It is pivotal that your restaurant is in working order. One way our team helps restaurant owners is by assisting on grease trap maintenance. Business owners are required to service their grease traps in order to meet local codes and regulations. For information about your local grease trap maintenance codes and regulations, please visit your city’s website.
Why are grease traps important?
Grease traps are in place to properly dispose of oil and fats that are used in commercial kitchens. Restaurants and commercial kitchens use grease traps to prevent grease and oils from entering the ocean. Improperly dumping oil down drains can cause build up in pipelines and sewers. This can cause costly repairs and cleanings. So, how should a grease trap be properly maintained?
Schedule a Grease Trap Audit.
Proper grease trap maintenance should never be neglected, as clogged up grease traps can cause serious problems, not only to your establishment but to the community. That’s why it is vital to have a grease trap audit and maintenance performed frequently. Regular grease trap cleaning and an occasional grease trap repair is a must if you want to keep your surroundings sanitary and safe from harmful gas buildup and grease overflow.
What we look for during our audits:
- It must be easily accessible for inspection and cleaning
- Any damages that may cause grease, fats, and oils to escape to the sewage system and seriously harm your business and the surrounding area
- If the unit has any visible cracks, and the lid must be tight-fitting to avoid any leakage.
- Much more
For more information about what to expect during grease trap audits, please read this post.
Schedule a Grease Trap Pumping
Professionals recommend that you should have your grease trap pumped every 3 months to prevent bad odors or overfilling. Some larger restaurants may require pumping every month or so. When you schedule a grease trap pumping, ensure that your company of choice is county permitted to pump and properly disposed of.
Perform Repairs if Needed
After your audit is complete, your auditor will let you know if you need to do any repairs. This may include sealing leaks or ventilation. In some cases, the grease trap may need a full replacement for a more suitable size. Too small, and all the fats, oils, and grease will enter the sewer system. Too big, and it allows for the creation of hydrogen sulfide, which can convert into hydrochloric acid and damage metal and concrete structures downstream.
Get on a Routine Grease Trap Maintenance Schedule
At A-1 Septic Tank Service Inc. we know that running a restaurant can be stressful and grease traps are probably not at the forefront of your mind. We offer routine scheduled maintenance for grease traps. This way, you can focus on other important aspects of your business. Having scheduled maintenance not only saves time but also decreases the need to spend extra money on emergency calls.
A-1 Septic Tank Service, Inc. is a family owned and operated business. For over 65 years, we have been providing the greater San Francisco Bay Area with fast dependable grease trap pumping services. A-1 Septic Tank Service, Inc. is committed to always delivering a safe, quality service and has built its reputation on honesty and integrity.