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.
Similarly, trying to pour drain cleaner or any other substance into the grease trap can cause a chemical hazard and could incur fines in your district.
By including boiling water will help build temperature inside grease clogged drain, and could dissolve the clog for you.
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If your grease trap has overflowed, it means that the outlet line or somewhere down stream is blocked.
Just mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 cup of water. Use the solution on a sponge to scrub away light grease stains from hard surfaces, like countertops, linoleum, the stovetop and even pots and pans.
Scoop out the grease - After placing a garbage bag into a trash can, dip the catch basin scoop down into the grease trap so the top of the scoop just barely breaks the surface of the water. Slowly pull the scoop up to capture grease and allow the water to drain through the holes on the bottom and sides of the scoop.
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.
Vinegar's acidity helps cut through grease easily. Spray some vinegar and water mix onto a splattered stovetop, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then scrub down with soapy water.
Not cleaning your grease trap regularly will cause the grease to solidify into an immovable object, which can contribute to all sorts of plumbing issues. At worst, they can even block the rest of your drainage, causing toilets, sinks and drains to start filling and backing up. Then comes the foul smell.
Filthy Grease Trap
When this organic waste is broken down by the microorganisms, toxic waste such as hydrogen sulphide and sulphuric gases is emitted. The sulphuric gases are responsible for producing the foul smell inside the grease trap.
Pour ½ cup coarse salt and ½ cup baking soda into the drain, followed by about six cups of boiling hot water. Let the mixture sit for at least eight hours and then flush with water from the tap.
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.
To put it simply, a grease trap is a receptacle into which wastewater containing FOG flows through before entering a drainage system. The receptacle is designed to intercept or "trap" the FOG while allowing clear water to escape.
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.
It is for this reason that grease traps are essential in commercial kitchens. Food service industry wastewater filled with grease, oils and fats flows from the kitchen sinks and travels through pipes to enter the treatment plant. That's why regular restaurant grease trap cleaning is mandatory.
DIY Grease Trap for Kitchen Sink
Under the kitchen sink is usually the ideal spot. Use an empty plastic gallon or any other plastic container with a lid. Using a funnel to avoid spillage, pour used cooking oils down the funnel and into the plastic container. Seal the container's lid to avoid unpleasant smells.
Grease traps handle flow rates of 10–50 gallons per minute, while grease interceptors accommodate flow rates of more than 50 gallons per minute. Pressure. Grease traps work best in a low-pressure water environment, whereas grease interceptors are more appropriate for high-pressure environments.
Solvalene, the highest strength industrial degreaser, can conquer countless tough cleaning assignments. This industrial strength cleaner and degreaser is able to quickly penetrate and emulsify like no other cleaner and degreaser can.
Grease: Tougher to Dissolve
Try mineral spirits first to remove grease stains, then if necessary, perchloroethylene, which is a better grease solvent and dries fast.
Alcohol. Another method of dissolving stubborn kitchen grease is to use isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol works in a similar manner to water-displacing lubricants. It breaks up the grease into smaller particles and surrounds it with alcohol molecules, in effect dissolving the grease.
The effectiveness of a grease trap depends on a number of factors including design, kitchen location, drainage systems, and size and kitchen practice. Each location and circumstance is unique. On average a single stage grease trap will retain from 50% to 90% of the FOG's that enter it.
Never add bleach, emulsifiers, enzymes, or any other chemical to the grease trap. These agents harm the natural bacteria that eat grease and oils in grease traps.