What is a grease trap and why does it need to be cleaned?
Kitchen sinks, dishwashers, disposals or any floor drain that would funnel FOG into the wastewater stream need to filter through a Grease Trap. The grease and oils float to the surface while heavier particles sink to the bottom. The water flows thru the outlet pipe, preventing the grease and solids from entering the water stream. Over time, the layers of grease and sediment build up and, if left unchecked, can block the water outlet or be forced into the city sewer system.

The importance of grease traps
A grease trap plays a critical role in your foodservice operation. When installed and maintained properly, the grease trap interceptor is a safe, clean way to rid your restaurant of fats, oil and grease (FOG). When there’s a glitch in your grease trap system, it can lead to sewer or drain backups and noxious odors. Proper grease trap cleaning and maintenance is a must to keep your operations running efficiently. Mahoney Environmental provides both indoor and outdoor grease trap maintenance to commercial businesses in the food service industry. Our trained technicians fully inspect and service your grease trap in a timely manner that works with your hours and needs.

Understanding Your Grease Traps
Grease traps are important for keeping fats, oil, and grease from food production from entering the sewer line with waste water. When waste water enters the grease trap, a system of baffles causes the oils and grease to rise from the water and become trapped within the receptacle. The water at the bottom of the receptacle is allowed to pass through into the sewer line as the grease and oil accumulate from the top down. If the grease and oil are allowed to accumulate too much, it can clog the grease trap and cause a backup.

Warning Signs of a Clog
A clogged inside grease trap can cause a backup that brings water and possibly sewage into your kitchen. A clog can also cause noxious fumes from the oil and grease to linger in the kitchen because there is nowhere for the fumes to vent. If you have an outside grease trap, a clog may cause a backup in your main sewer line and cause the water to come up out of the manhole covers. The main reason that grease traps become clogged is because they are not being rodded frequently enough to remove the built-up debris. Make sure you regularly check your grease traps to ensure that the grease and oil haven’t accumulated too much in the receptacle or have clogged the lines in and out of the trap.

You must rod out the grease trap and the inlet and outlet pipes to remove the built-up debris. Having a professional commercial grease trap cleaning company such as Mahoney Environmental provide regular maintenance for your grease traps to prevent clogs and breakdowns from old or faulty equipment. Our professionals have the expertise and the proper tools to clean and maintain your grease traps.

And you do want to have your commercial grease trap cleaned on a regular basis to avoid serious issues such as:
• foul odors
• customer complaints
• back-ups and flooding
• contamination and health issues
• business closures
• expensive remediation services