Grease Trap Cleaning With Lakeshore Septic
Lakeshore Septic Pumping offers more than just septic services! Our team provides reliable grease trap cleaning services for full-service restaurants, bars, fast-food chains, fast-casual establishments, and more. With scheduled maintenance, prompt emergency response, and proper service documentation, we help businesses stay compliant with health department regulations while maintaining a safe, hygienic kitchen environment.
Commercial Kitchens We Serve
Trusted by Local Food Service Businesses
- Bars
- Catering Companies
- Coffee Shops & Cafes
- Commercial Kitchens
- Event Center Kitchens
- Fast-Casual Concepts
- Fast Food Chains
- Full Service Restaurants
- School Kitchens & Cafeterias
Routine Grease Trap Cleaning & Maintenance
Keep Your Kitchen Health Code Compliant and Running Smoothly
Regular grease trap cleaning is one of the most important steps you can take to keep your commercial kitchen open and in compliance with health department regulations. Without routine maintenance, fats, oils, and grease (FOG) build up, causing waste backups and foul odors that can lead to kitchen shutdowns.
What Happens If Grease Traps Aren’t Cleaned?
When grease traps aren’t regularly cleaned:
- FOG waste solids build up and can back up into the kitchen
- Foul odors can emanate throughout the kitchen and even the dining area
- Drains move slowly or don’t properly drain at all
- Damage to the trap itself can occur, leading to expensive repairs
- Kitchens fail to meet local health code standards, and can incur fines or be temporarily shutdown
- Establishments can experience disrupted revenue and cash flow due to kitchen shutdowns
Luckily, these scenarios are preventable with proper maintenance and routine grease trap cleaning.
How Often Should Grease Traps Be Serviced?
The frequency of service varies depending on your commercial kitchen’s service volume, grease usage, and trap size. For most kitchens, grease traps should be cleaned every 1-3 months. Our technicians can walk you through recommendations based on your kitchen’s needs.
Extend The Lifespan Of Your Grease Trap
During every service, our technicians inspect key components of your system to ensure it is functioning properly and identify potential issues before they become emergencies. We review FOG volume, check for cracks and tank damage, inspect flow-control valves, and ensure proper documentation is recorded at each service visit.
Grease Trap Emergency Services
Signs Of Grease Trap Overflows
Kitchen emergencies happen, which is why we offer 24/7 emergency services. Common grease trap emergencies include:
- Raw sewage or dirty water back up into sinks and onto floors
- Unpleasant odors in the kitchen and dining areas
- Complete drain blockage
- Grease overflows on the floor or even into the parking lot
If your commercial kitchen is experiencing any of these, call (616) 223-9916 and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.
Grease Trap Cleaning FAQs
What is a grease trap?
A grease trap is a small to large tank that, as the name suggests, traps fat, oil, and grease within a kitchen system to prevent clogged pipes and drains. It works similarly to a septic tank, where grease floats to the top while food solids and other waste sinks to the bottom, allowing the clear water left in the middle to filter into the sewer system.
What does cleaning a grease trap entail?
We utilize our septic tank trucks to pump grease traps on location, removing everything current in the tank, including grease buildup, solid waste, and any leftover water. Our technicians then use a power sprayer to clean the inside of the tank thoroughly.
How often should I get my grease trap cleaned?
The average grease trap maintenance schedule for most commercial kitchens is every 1-3 months, depending on tank size and service volume. A fast-food restaurant, for example, that uses multiple fryers each day and has a high volume of customers will need more frequent cleaning. Each kitchen’s cleaning needs are unique, so it is important to consult with one of our technicians first to determine best practices.
What are the signs that a grease trap needs to be cleaned?
Common signs that your grease trap needs maintenance include:
- Unpleasant odors under sinks, throughout the kitchen, or in the dining area
- Slow-moving or clogged drains
- Standing water or visible grease backups
- Raw sewage backups in the kitchen
- An upcoming health department inspection
Why is it important to maintain my kitchen’s grease trap?
A full or blocked grease trap can have numerous financial and health repercussions, including:
- Failed health department inspections, which can lead to fines, penalties, or a complete kitchen shutdown
- In the event of a full shutdown, lost revenue until the grease trapped is cleaned and/or repaired, and the kitchen is back up to code
- Damage to the grease trap tank, leading to expensive repairs
- Unhygienic kitchen environment, increasing the likelihood of foodborne illness, health department complaints, and potential damage to your public reputation
I want to make sure my grease trap is functioning properly in between inspections and cleaning. What can I do?
While routine grease trap maintenance is the number one way to prevent overflows, there are numerous ways you can support your grease trap in between inspections and your maintenance cycle.
- Use a drain strainer.
- Put all food waste into the trash before transferring dishes to the sink area.
- Never pour grease directly into your drains.
- Train staff on how to remove waste, clean dishes, and dispose of grease properly.
- Monitor grease levels and connect with technicians if an on-demand service is needed between regularly scheduled maintenance cycles.
Prevent Commercial Kitchen Shutdowns With Lakeshore Septic Pumping
Get in touch with our team to schedule grease trap cleaning or an inspection today!
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