How Often Should You Clean a Grease Trap?

There are a lot of things, and it can all be overwhelming. One question that many owners have with experience in the business is how frequently they need to clean their grease trap. This task is frequently overlooked, but cleaning out the grease trap is something that needs attention. Here’s everything you should know about how often you should clean out your grease trap.

Things to Keep in Mind

When and how often you clean out the grease trap will depend on a few variables. Before you set up a cleaning schedule (we’ll get to that in a moment), you should know the capacity of your trap, how often it is filled, and how large your restaurant is.

The most important thing to remember is that cleaning your grease trap is necessary for restaurant/kitchen care. In fact, you could face expensive legal consequences if you overlook cleaning it regularly. In addition, a dirty grease trap will put your customers’ health at risk.

How to Determine Your Cleaning Schedule

Most grease traps need to be cleaned every 1-3 months, depending on your kitchen's needs. To know exactly what your cleaning schedule should be the grease traps, consider the “1/4th rule.” In simple terms, the grease trap should be cleaned out when it hits 25% capacity. The fats, oils, grease, and solids (FOGS) inside the trap can begin to emit foul smells if left to sit for too long, so draining it out at 1/4th full will prevent those odors. Additionally, the more FOGS there are in the trap, the less effective the trap becomes; you could see blocked pipes or slow drainage if left too long.

Legal Considerations

Some states have specific requirements on how often a restaurant must empty out grease traps. The specific regulation will depend on your location, but a common rule is that traps must be cleaned out every three months. This means you should service the trap quarterly, even if it hasn’t reached the 25% mark.

Make sure to verify your local health and safety laws and restaurant guidelines, so you don’t unknowingly violate them. Hiring a professional service is a surefire way to keep up with your grease trap cleaning since they’ll know the laws. Plus, they’ll have the expertise to provide an effective trap.

Cleaning out a grease trap is no easy chore, and as a busy restaurant owner, you have enough on your plate. Leave the job to the professionals at ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing. We’ll clean out your traps promptly and thoroughly so you can focus on running your business.

Give us a call now at (888) 860-0649 to request a free in-home estimate.