The Importance of Grease Trap Maintenance in the Winter

If you have a grease trap in your home or business, you know it is integral to a kitchen that functions as it should. If you have trouble with your grease trap, it can cause a host of issues; taking care of it can’t be ignored. That underscores the importance of grease trap maintenance in the winter, even in Lakeland.

Grease trap pumping in Winter Haven FLThe Grease Trap

A grease trap is a plumbing apparatus that captures most greases and solids before entering a wastewater disposal system. The primary role of a grease trap is to stop oils, fats, and greases (FOGs) from solidifying and obstructing the drain lines. It works by reducing the speed of hot, oily water’s flow so that it can cool. The fats, oils, and grease congeal as the water cools and the food solids settle. These weightier substances (FOG and solids) are collected in the trap while the water, having been cooled, is not as thick and, without grease, continues its journey down the pipe to the sewer; doing so halts any drain blockages and the proliferation of fats in septic and sewer systems, both keeping the efficiency of the wastewater treatment process and guarding against environmental damage. Periodic maintenance and cleaning of your grease trap is critical to its continued operation.

Your Grease Trap in Winter

As you have read, grease traps are important to the well-being of your kitchen and septic system or sewer. FOGs in kitchens start as liquids when they are warmed up and slowly solidify when they cool. The cooler the atmosphere, the swifter these substances transform into solids. In the summer, when our environment is hot and humid, greasy substances flow down drains without an issue in their liquid state.

Even in Central Florida, winter temperatures speed up the cooling of FOGS into solids, increasing the risk of drain and plumbing clogs. Now that you understand the importance of upkeep of your grease trap, stave off any possible issues. Even with the issue of cooler temperatures in winter, you should make sure your grease trap is in good shape all year long. Read on to find out what the other issues related to not maintaining your grease trap are.

Blockages

The first and most imminent threat to a great trap is blockages. If not cleaned often, they can become overfilled and inoperable, causing blockages in your plumbing system. This issue can greatly impact your restaurant’s or home’s operation and cost you quite a bit in repairs.

Health Issues

When you don’t service your grease trap, it can become loaded with bacteria, causing horrendous odors and possible health hazards, such as E. coli and salmonella, among other bacteria.

Equipment Longevity

Routine cleaning will keep your grease trap efficient and protract its lifespan. The aggregation of grease and solid wastes will eventually wear your grease trap down if not maintained.

The Environment

Grease traps guard the environment against FOGs entering the wastewater system. Not only will that bring about hefty fines for commercial businesses, but if FOGs reach the rivers and lakes we are named for, they can hurt fish, birds, and plants and dirty the water.

Grease Trap Regulations

As we just mentioned, a grease trap causing an environmental issue can result in fines. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection enforces regulations mandating frequent grease trap cleaning, upkeep, and keeping all related documents. If your business doesn’t follow these requirements, it can be costly or result in the temporary closure of your business.

Grease trap maintenance in Plant City, FL

Efficiency

A clean grease trap performs more efficiently at seizing FOG and preventing its entry into your septic or sewer system, ensuring the wastewater treatment goes as it should.

Savings

Frequent cleaning of your grease trap will keep more expensive issues such as emergency plumbing services, fines from non-compliance, or replacement costs at bay.

Lakeland Septic Knows Grease Traps

If you are in Lakeland or the greater Polk County area, we can maintain your home or commercial grease trap to keep it in top working condition. Contact us today so we can inspect and clean your grease trap.