Importance of Grease Traps in Commercial Kitchens

Over decades, the number of commercial kitchens and food establishments has significantly increased. The wastewater generated from these kitchens contains a lot of fats, oils, and grease which can together be termed as FOG. If the FOG ends up entering the drainage system, it can block the drainage lines and cause damage to them. Hence, it is quite crucial to filter out the FOG from the wastewater at the time of disposal.

Role of Grease Traps in Kitchens

A grease trap is an industrial solution to this problem. It is a special kind of fixture whose role is to trap the fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from the wastewater so that they do not enter the drainage system.

How do Grease Traps Function?

A kitchen grease trap consists of multiple compartments also known as baffles. The wastewater containing FOD enters these compartments through an inlet. After this, the speed of the wastewater flowing in the grease trap is reduced. Since water and grease have different density compositions, the grease accumulates in the grease retention area on the top of the grease trap. The treated water after filtering the FOG out remains at the bottom compartment and exits through the outlet of the grease trap.

Key Considerations

Grease traps are commonly constructed using durable and corrosion-resistant materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), fiberglass, or metal (stainless steel). It is crucial to ensure that the quality of the grease trap doesn’t degrade over time else it can impact its functioning.

Furthermore, grease traps are usually installed underground or partially buried. They have an access lid at the top which allows easy access to the trap for inspection and maintenance purposes. Grease traps come in different sizes and it is crucial to ensure that the grease trap that you get one according to the volume of the wastewater generated by the kitchen. Small establishments might need a small one, while on the other hand, bigger kitchens and food services might require a bigger grease trap as wastewater generated will be more.

The last and most important thing is the maintenance of the grease trap. You must ensure that regular inspection of the grease trap is being done and it is maintained and serviced properly to ensure its smooth functioning.

Hope this helps give you an idea about the overall necessity and functioning of a grease trap. In case you wish to get one for your kitchen, you can check out the Grease Inspector by Ashirvad Pipes. They are one of the leading brands in the water management industry and offer high-quality products.