Grease traps are important appliances, especially for restaurants. However, any home or business that deals with Grease will benefit from having one.
Since Grease is 10-15% less dense than water, it will float. Because of this fact, plumbers install grease traps to keep Grease from entering and damaging the pipes.
Whether you own a restaurant or not, a grease trap can save any business or homeowner money by keeping the pipes clean. It is important to note that restaurants need grease traps that meet efficiency standards and have the correct capacity.
How Grease Traps Work
● The Grease gets trapped by the baffle, which is a plastic wall inside the grease trap that controls the flow of water.
● The tank fills from the top down, allowing grease-free water to be drained into the sewer lines.
● Grease floats to the top of the tank, where it can be emptied.
Why Do You Need a Grease Trap?
● To Avoid Blockages: Especially Grease from animals, which will eventually solidify. When this occurs in your pipes, they will become clogged, and you will need to have a plumber clean them.
● Overflows: If the Grease solidifies and causes a blockage, you run the risk of an overflow. Overflows cause a public health risk.
● It Will Save You Money: Blockages, overflows, and backups all cost money to repair. For businesses, these events may lead to fines or even a period when you cannot do business while repairs are underway.
Types of Grease Traps
● Small Passive Hydromechanical Grease Interceptors (HGIs): HGIs are what most people think of when they think of grease traps. They usually sit in the kitchen in a pit or under a sink.
They trap Grease over time and, in some cases, need to be pumped at least once a week. HGIs are less expensive initially, but the cost of cleaning will raise the overall cost. It is impossible to avoid this cleaning, as doing so will make the HGI inefficient.
● Gravity Grease Interceptor (GGIs): GGIs typically have a larger-than-average liquid capacity, but cannot hold grease very much. You will need to pump every 90 days with special equipment and a truck. This can get very expensive.
We place traps in the ground, so replacement is also very expensive. They last about 15 years on average so that replacement will be necessary.
● Automatic Grease/Oil Recovery Systems: They work similarly to HGIs, but the Grease is moved to a separate tank. These traps are expensive up front, but maintenance costs are much lower because they can usually be done without a plumber.
● High-Capacity Hydromechanical Grease Interceptors: Again, these devices are similar to HGIs, but they have a greater grease capacity. They are popular among restaurants in nontraditional locations with limited space.
