The Drain Brain works  with many business and homeowners in the Tompkins County  area to keep their plumbing systems running smoothly even available for 24 emergency plumbing services.  Our Ithaca septic system expert recommends that restaurant owners keep their grease traps cleaned on a regular basis to avoid unnecessary business interruptions.

As a restaurant owner, your job is to prepare and serve delicious food, keep your restaurant clean, and follow the recommended codes to provide a healthy and safe environment. You are not trained in plumbing or grease trap cleanings, and why would you want to be?

Business owners would find themselves well-served to have a working relationship with The Drain Brain, we can meet their needs and provide experienced service to their restaurant or other business locations.

Grease Traps – What Are They?

A grease trap is located in the sewer and drainage system of your restaurant.  All drainage systems should be equipped with a grease trap to catch and contain the residue that is flushed into the system from cooking and cleaning. Our Ithaca area grease trap cleaning services can easily show you were your grease trap is and explain the process by which it works. A grease trap is there to catch the fats and oils before they can clog up your plumbing system, pipes, and sewer.

Reasons to Clean Your Grease Traps

The most important part to cleaning your grease traps, according to The Drain Brain, is to provide essential functionality to your entire plumbing system and your restaurant business. The grease traps must be cleaned regularly in order to provide optimal service and liquid discharge from your system. Our Ithaca septic services sees the most benefit to customers by engaging in regular grease trap cleaning and servicing.

So How Often Should Grease Traps Be Cleaned?

Your Ithaca area plumbing and septic expert realizes that a restaurant business produces a heavy amount of grease that potentially can stop your business cold. If your restaurant produces a large amount of grease, fats and oils that are regularly flushed down the drains, regular grease trap cleaning is highly recommended. You can monitor the condition of your grease traps by visually inspecting them daily for unusual build-up of residue.

For restaurants that have a lighter grease disposal usage, The Drain Brain recommends a minimum of a monthly cleaning to keep your system running smoothly. Again, utilizing your local plumbing services and building a solid working relationship with them will help you to understand the exact needs of your disposal systems. A grease trap becomes ineffective when it is clogged with fats and oils, thereby dispersing the materials into the main septic or sewage system. The results of a clogged grease trap tends to cause a back-up into the pipes and then the potential for clogged drains as well.

Mandatory Regulations Affecting Grease Traps

In New York, restaurants, hospitals, day cares and other such businesses are required to have a licensed plumber install grease traps (also known as grease interceptors) in all plumbing systems.

“Every business or establishment that produces and disposes of fat, oil or grease (FOGs), such as restaurants, food processing establishments, hospitals, and day care and senior centers, must have a grease interceptor system to prevent the discharge of waste grease into the City’s sewer systems. Grease interceptors prevent FOGs from entering and clogging sewer lines by separating the FOGs from the normal wastewater stream. Grease interceptors should have all grease removed as frequently as necessary to avoid exceeding the interceptor’s rated capacity. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) routinely sends inspectors to verify that such businesses have appropriate and well-maintained grease interceptor systems. Communicating the importance of proper grease handling to a business’s employees is often one of the most effective ways of ensuring compliance. Please visit the links below for a copy of DEP’s grease-related regulations and more information about best management practices for FOGs, or contact DEP using the contact information listed below.

DEP requires that only licensed plumbers install grease interceptors. A licensed plumber can determine the required size of grease interceptor needed depending on the size and nature of your business.”  Per City of New York (https://www1.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/description/grease-interceptor-information)

Who To Call For Plumbing Services in Tompkins County

The Tompkins County area is serviced by The Drain Brain, your Tompkins County area septic and emergency plumbing experts for both commercial and residential needs. All businesses that produce a large amount of grease into the drainage systems must have a grease trap interceptor in order to reduce the amount of residue that is sent into the sewer system of the County and city areas.

Contact your local septic professional for grease trap cleaning recommendations as it pertains to your restaurant’s usage and demands.  Remember, failure to keep your system running smoothly will result in unnecessary costs and potential loss of business, as well as issues with health regulations. Contact The Drain Brain for all your emergency plumbing needs.