For many homes and industries, grease traps are an essential component of the plumbing and drainage system. They intercept grease and fat long before they enter the main drainage system, preventing problems with blockages. Many commercial premises, such as kitchens and restaurants, use huge amounts of insoluble fats and oil. The problem is that pouring grease into the drainage system causes warm fat to cool and congeal, restricting the flow of water through the pipes.

Grease traps avoid this messy situation, by segregating and separating fats from the wastewater before it causes any such problems. In fact, many states have strong legislation, making grease traps mandatory for commercial premises, in an attempt to stop waste grease from creating problems at the sewage treatment plant.

Fat dissolves in the hot water used for washing the dishes, but it solidifies as it cools down, blocking pipes and causing the filthy wastewater to back up into the sink. Blocked sinks cause a number of serious problems, costing a lot of money to remedy. Calling the plumber also wastes precious time and resources whilst the sink is unusable. In busy food processing areas, stagnant water is a serious risk to health, and provides the perfect breeding ground for dangerous bacteria. The other problem with disposing of waste grease down the sink is that the environmental and health authorities may administer a fine or even close down the facility. Money spent upon installing an efficient grease trap will soon be recouped.

Even in the home, grease traps can save money and prevent serious problems, especially when the waste drains into a septic tank. An easily installed grease trap will prevent the grease and fat from draining into the tank, where it will impair the natural breakdown of waste. If this causes the tank to block, you will need to use a professional drainage specialist to drain the tank, and they are not cheap. Even if your home is connected to a municipal sewage network, allowing excessive grease to enter the system risks causing major blockages, which are difficult and expensive to rectify.

Choosing the best grease trap can be surprisingly difficult, due to the range of options available, but there are a few tips that will make sure that you install the most effective type for your particular situation. Grease traps all operate on the same basic principle; the fat naturally floats on the surface of the wastewater, and the heavier suspended sediments sink. The grease trap allows the water to cool, giving the dissolved fat plenty of time to rise to the surface, where it can be trapped. The heavier particles and solids sink to the bottom of the trap. This process allows the cleaner water to be siphoned off, and it passes through, into the drainage system. Periodically, the floating fat must be skimmed off and disposed of, ideally by professionals.

Passive grease traps work by trapping the grease in a system of baffles, optimized to trap the maximum amount of fat whilst allowing the water to drain away quickly. Passive grease traps need emptying frequently, and they must be thoroughly cleaned, to maintain maximum efficiency. These passive traps are the most abundant type fitted by businesses, and they vary in size. For home use, small passive grease traps fitted near the sink are easy to install and maintain. For businesses and organizations, producing a high volume of grease, it is better to bury a large industrial sized trap outside. Grease traps need emptying frequently, but specialist companies reclaim and recycle the fat, as an animal feed additive or as an alternative fuel source for vehicles.

Grease traps are measured by volume per minute:

• For home use, 7 – 15 Gallons per Minute (GPM) is sufficient.
• For small and medium businesses and organizations, 20 – 35 GPM should be efficient enough.
• For larger businesses, 75 GPM is the minimum, and you may even need a dual grease trap systems, so ask a plumber for advice.

Of course, it is always better to buy one slightly bigger than needed, to give a good margin for error.

In some areas, especially where removing waste grease proves to be difficult, or space is limited, many homes and businesses opt for grease converters. This method of grease removal uses bacteria and enzyme action to break down the grease before it reaches the drainage system. Grease converters are generally more expensive than standard grease traps, and must be topped up with enzymes every night. If you decide to install grease converters, you must avoid using harsh chemicals, as they will kill the bacteria, denature the enzymes and reduce efficiency. Whilst grease converters are thorough, and return extremely clean water into the sewage system, they are becoming less common. Waste fat is a marketable commodity, so people are returning to the traditional grease trap.

Fitting Grease Traps – A Job for the Professionals

Grease traps are an essential addition for many businesses, and you should find a reputable specialist contractor for fitting one. They will advise about the optimum size and type, although you should shop around to try to obtain a good range of opinions and quotes. Installing the correct grease traps ensures that your home or business premises will meet all of the mandatory legal requirements, help the environment and avoid huge bills for unblocking pipes.