Express Plumbing Heating & Air Blog
A Grease Trap is a common term typically used of an underground enclosure that serves as a receptacle for kitchen wastewater before it enters the sewer line. Grease is a general term used to describe animal fats and vegetable oils. These are a portion of the residue from food preparation and cooking. A Grease Trap is a common and necessary device in the food preparation industry. They are necessary to trap or intercept this grease. Grease Traps have been used for centuries, with the first patent coming in the late 1800s by Nathaniel Whiting.
Without a Grease Trap, the grease leaving a kitchen would flow down the drains, into the sewer line. After that, they would travel all the way to a treatment facility. There, it could overwhelm the treatment facility’s ability to process all the wastewater. The result would be that untreated wastewater is placed back into the environment. Therefore, it is a high priority for these treatment facilities, and therefore the local governments and companies operating behind them, to make sure this excessive build-up doesn’t happen. Even before the treatment facility, large amounts of indisposed solids along with grease could form blockages in local drain pipes and sewer lines. This could cause serious damage.
As an example, the Boise Public Works Environmental Division has guidelines for grease trap enforcement. They also follow a case-by-case approach to ensure that violators are identified and ongoing issues are resolved. Compliance is necessary to avoid such consequences as additional fees, citations, and legally enforced closure. Details of pretreatment guidelines can be found in Title 8, Chapter 14 of the Boise City Code. Whenever a city needs to get involved, due to Grease Traps not being properly serviced, all applicable fees and charges are imposed. Further consequences of not maintaining a Grease Trap include downtime and bad publicity. Financially, a poorly maintained grease trap is a business nightmare.
So, when the grease flows down your drain pipes and into your Grease Trap, what actually happens when it gets there? Grease is less dense than water, by about 10-15%. And it doesn’t mix with water either. Therefore, the grease (fats and oils) will float above the water. Once inside the grease trap, the “clean water” on the bottom flows out into the sewer line. The grease on top collects with the help of a series of baffles. A baffle is a device used to restrain the flow of fluid. As the grease collecting in the trap gets deep enough, it must be professionally pumped out.
For best results of a well-maintained grease trap, and to avoid excess charges, downtime, and damage to your business, scheduled maintenance on every grease trap is highly recommended. Get help so that you can safely, and inexpensively, handle this necessary part of your business. Find a company like Express Plumbing Heating & Air, that specializes in this area of service.
Express Plumbing Heating & Air has been proudly serving our customers since 2006 in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Star, Kuna, Middleton, Marsing, Homedale, Parma, and the entire Treasure Valley. We offer very competitive pricing (typically better than other providers), outstanding customer service (our reviews are strong and blow the competition away), and we welcome the chance to help you maintain your grease trap effectively. Call us today at 208-941-8718 to schedule your next service.
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