Few people remember that grease trap clean outs are part of general waste management. Effective grease management includes cleaning the grease trap. For best results, partnering with experienced service providers like Cleanway helps alleviate many of the issues because they will do the work for you.
It is worth noting, however, that cleaning out grease traps entails proper grease trap maintenance and adequate grease trap utilisation. If this is something that your business needs, then 2025 is the perfect year to start the process.
We are here to help you understand the basics of grease traps and why grease trap maintenance should be among your top priorities as a commercial kitchen, food service establishment, or anyone who uses and deals with fats, oils and grease.
Importance of Grease Traps
Grease interceptors or traps are essential for separating fat, oils and any grease (FOG) from wastewater. It skips the process of clogging plumbing systems and contaminating the public water. For restaurants, cafés and other food manufacturing facilities, having a functioning grease trap is not just a necessity; in quite a number of places it is a legal requirement.
If a grease trap gets neglected and overflows it can result in expensive repairs, environmental concerns, and even business closure.
Why Is It Important To Clean The Grease Trap Frequently?
The grease trap must be cleared out to prevent the liquids deposited from solid waste from getting too hard. For best functionality, a grease trap pump must have scheduled maintenance. Food solid waste can cause a grease trap smell that is undesirable and poses a danger.
Blockage Prevention
When it comes to grease traps, preventing blockages before they occur is a far better policy than fixing them once they occur. An essential part of this comes down to regular maintenance of the grease trap to remove excess build-up of unwanted materials.
Additionally, preventing blocking helps with general maintenance. A professional can see an issue before it becomes a major issue, thereby prolonging its lifespan. This ultimately prolongs the product lifespan and improves general liquid waste disposal systems for you and your local water authority.
Eliminating Odours
Bad smells are a sign that something is wrong. Often, grease traps smell bad due to a build-up of fats, oils, and grease in the system. Regular maintenance stops this unwanted buildup and extends the effectiveness of the product.
Eliminating odours also helps with the general atmosphere of health and safety, particularly for grease traps that exist in a commercial kitchen. Bad smells can result in a lacklustre approach to cleaning and maintenance across the kitchen.
Improved Product Life
Grease traps can be an expensive purchase despite how necessary they are in most kitchens. They are not something that most people want to have to continuously replace every time something goes wrong with them, so looking after it is important.
Cleaning and maintenance help to extend the life of a grease trap pump so that it continues to work as it should for many years. Luckily, this is true for most major purchases, so it is just a factor that needs to be applied to grease traps.
Protecting the Environment
Environmental regulations aside, protecting the environment is a good practice that major business needs to adopt in order to protect our planet’s future. In order for them to function correctly and protect the environment, regular maintenance is a must.
So what occurs is a win-win situation where your grease trap functions effectively and you are playing your part in contributing to a better future for our planet. If anything, this should be a major reason to schedule regular grease trap cleaning services.
Signs To Clean Your Grease Trap
Even with a regular cleaning schedule, you should watch for these signs that your grease trap needs immediate maintenance:
- Slow-draining sinks or backed-up water.
- Strong, unpleasant odours near your grease trap or plumbing.
- Visible grease or oil in your wastewater.
- Grease trap overflow.
If you notice any of these issues, contact a professional grease trap cleaning service like Cleanway to address the problem promptly.
Choosing a Reliable Grease Trap Clean Out Service
Choosing a reliable grease trap cleaning service comes down to prudent and tactical business practices that many experienced managers already know. This usually includes partnering with a company like Cleanway which has an established track record of ethical maintenance.
There are certain signs to look out for when choosing the right service. Be sure to read company reviews to ensure that they have a high customer satisfaction record and that their maintenance practices work to improve the product’s lifespan.
Cleanway’s Approach to Grease Trap Maintenance
At Cleanway, we specialise in keeping your grease traps in peak condition. Well-maintained grease traps should not smell and should function effectively. It is a vital part of liquid waste disposal. Grease trap cleaning also lessens the load of local water authority cleaning and maintenance.
Scheduled Cleaning
Cleanway can help you set up a regular cleaning schedule that aligns with regulatory requirements to ensure that your grease trap functions properly. This schedule helps to keep the product working as it was designed to do.
Waste Disposal
Proper waste disposal is a cornerstone of the Cleanway business. Liquid waste buildup in grease traps is usually of fats, oils, and grease, all of which both clog the system and shorten its lifespan. We work to ensure that these unwanted particles of solid grease are removed and safely disposed of.
Regular Maintenance
We’ve already discussed how regular maintenance increases the longevity of a product, so there’s no point going into it further. Trust that with Cleanway this process will be implemented to ensure that your product works as intended.
Eco-Friendly Solutions
Cleanway is an EPA-certified waste management company, so our solutions and methods are based in eco-friendly practices that do not cause harm to the environment while still being an effective means to treat the system.
Maintaining Your Grease Trap
While professional cleanings are essential, you can take steps to maintain your grease trap in between services:
- Scrape and Dispose of FOG Properly: Train staff to scrape food waste and grease into designated bins before washing dishes.
- Use Drain Screens: Install screens over sinks to catch food particles and debris.
- Avoid Pouring Grease Down Drains: Educate staff on the importance of proper grease disposal.
- Monitor FOG Levels: Regularly check your grease trap to ensure it isn’t nearing capacity.
- Keep Accurate Records: Maintain logs of clean-outs and maintenance to track trends and compliance.
The Future of Grease Trap Maintenance in 2025
As we move through 2025, advancements in grease trap technology and increasing environmental awareness are shaping the industry. Many are in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency and focus on minimising liquid waste and light waste particles like solid grease.
Why Choose Cleanway
Choosing Cleanway for your grease trap clean-out needs in 2025 will be a solid choice to make. Our expert team has developed their clean out process over multiple years within the industry. Not only do we know what we are doing, but we will do the job at an affordable cost and in an environmentally friendly manner.