Commonly Asked Questions about Grease Traps

Grease messes with sewers in a way that causes blockages. Of course, as you’d imagine, it’s no good if and when a sewer gets blocked up. Oftentimes, wastewater ends up overflowing, damaging people’s property as well as infiltrating local bodies of water. Gross.

People are smart, though, about grease– thankfully. There’s such a thing as a “grease trap,” which essentially collects grease so it doesn’t end up in the local sewer and/or an overflow onto property/into bodies of water.

Grease Traps A grease trap is a device that allows for the separation of fats, oils and greases in wastewater discharges. It can be outdoors, in-ground, or even under-the-counter. Did you know that any food service establishment dealing with grease and oil (regarding food prep and the washing of dishes) should have a grease trap? It makes sense. Any facility involved in preparing food or manufacturing food products should utilize grease traps.

How much does it typically cost a small restaurant to have a grease trap installed? In general, a trap will cost between $300 and $1,000. Pricing depends on the trap size and its location. Grease traps need to be pumped out or “cleaned” periodically, just like you’d want to clean out the drain in your bathroom sink every so often. Having the grease trap serviced every 90 days will help ensure that everything runs smoothly as intended.

What happens if the grease trap becomes clogged? People will often smell foul odors coming from their drains because the trap is clogged. A new gasket or some jetting work may be needed. One way to prevent clogs is to have a proper screen/strainer over the sink drain which helps prevent clogs down below. Also, scraping food into trash cans before rinsing dishes helps, too.

If you want a grease trap installed or cleaned, please call Freedom Septic Service of Maryland at 410-795-2947.

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