LANCASTER GREASE TRAP CLEANING

Grease & Cooking Oil Waste Removal Service

The Grease Co.

Lancaster's city requires all restaurants and other food servicing establishments with grease recovery devices, also known as a grease trap or grease interceptor, to regularly maintain and clean them. If you are looking for a grease trap cleaning service in Lancaster, we have a team that is ready to help you. Whether you are a new establishment looking for a grease pumping service or an existing business in need of a reliable grease company, you have come to the right place.

Do I Need a Grease Trap?

Without a grease trap or grease interceptor, grease and solid waste would enter into the sewer lines, causing build-up. In turn, heavy build-up leads to an unwanted back-up of the sewer and grease line, leading to the need for emergency trap cleaning and plumbing services. Therefore, most cities throughout California make it mandatory for businesses with commercial or industrial kitchens to place a grease recovery device suitable to their needs.

Preventative maintenance will help stop plumbing issues from emerging. Lack or improper service will cause slow drains inside the and/or the grease trap to overflow.

Preventative Maintenance For Grease Gravity Devices

Aside from having a grease trap or grease interceptor put in place, Lancaster's industrial waste department makes it mandatory that these units are pumped and cleaned regularly. Grease trap or grease interceptors must not exceed 25% FOGS or fats, oils, grease, and solid content to be compliant. Going above this level can jeopardize the plumbing system by contaminating the pipe, eventually leading to overflows and costly clean-up costs. Rule of thumb, most large interceptors are cleaned every three months, while smaller indoor grease traps are serviced every month.

How Do I Know If My Grease Trap Is Full?

A grease gravity device or clarifier is full when the FOGS to wastewater ratio reached 25%. Exceeding the maximum allowable grease and solid content make the unit ineffective affecting the sanitation sewer lines with FOGS effluent. Therefore, if you are experiencing drainage issues in the kitchen or an overflow of a grease trap or grease interceptor, be sure to check the last time the device was pumped and cleaned.

Purpose of Fats, Oils, Grease, & Solid Devices

A grease trap or grease interceptoris a device that helps limit the majority of fats, oils, grease, and food solid waste from invading the sanitation drain lines that can cause severe plumbing matters. It's a plumbing unit obligatory for all food servicing establishments to pre-treat the wastewater liquids and solids from the commercial kitchens. Massive amounts of FOGS waste from commercial kitchens can cause serious plumbing problems without a grease gravity device in place. Therefore, the city of Lancaster and the industrial waste department had made it a necessity for restaurants and businesses with commercial kitchens to acquire a unit before operating their business.

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What is a Commercial Grease Trap?

The notable difference separating a grease trap versus a grease interceptor is the size and effectiveness. Larger grease interceptors are more effective and pumped less frequently versus a small indoor grease trap.

Lancaster city make it known that all grease traps and grease interceptors are to be pumped when the content reaches 25% FOGS waste capacity.  All grease devices from restaurants must be cleaned by removing all cotent inside. Grease traps are significantly smaller than grease interceptors. For this reason, they are less efficient and can reach 25% F.O.G.S. content within three to six weeks. Grease trap sizes range between 25-75 gallons, and they usually will reach their maximum allowable FOGS content in three to six weeks. The price for cleaning a grease trap will fluctuate, depending on the condition and accessibility. Anyone can clean a grease trap, but it can be very messy, and you will need to have a resource to get rid of the waste removed. Most of the time, they are serviced by licensed professionals who have specialized equipment and are certified to haul and dispose of restaurant grease & food solid waste. All food servicing establishments are regulated to maintain their FOGS control devices routinely, ensuring that the levels remain below 25%.

What is a Grease Interceptor?

Due to their large size, grease interceptors can go more extended service periods and are more efficient than small grease traps. The bulk of cities in California will likely demand a food servicing establishment to place a grease interceptor because of its capacity to hold a higher amount of FOGS

Unlike grease traps, Grease interceptors are more effective because of its large size.Large grease interceptors require larger spaces for this reason; they are placed outdoors, typically in the parking area. Unlike grease traps, these devices can go longer cleaning service intervals, grease interceptors are more extensive, and their storage content volume is much greater. Since these devices can hold a larger capacity, service increments are from three to six months. The majority of grease interceptors mounted outdoor in the parking lot buried in-ground with a round cast-iron or hard plastic access point typically made by Jensen Precast, Schier, Trapzilla, or Pro-Cast.

Though newer developments such as high-rise buildings with no parking lots, it is not uncommon to find above FOG-Ceptor or Proceptor grease interceptor tanks made by Zurn or Xerxes. Both Zurn and Xerxes tanks are the most common FOGS interceptors installed in properties with limited space for in-ground grease interceptors such as parking garages. Because of the limited access, cleaning these devices will be more costly since it will need special equipment such as a low-profile vacuum truck.  



THE GREASE COMPANY

LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA

Restaurant Grease Waste & Plumbing Specialist

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How Often Should A Grease Trap or Grease Interceptor Be Cleaned? 

When the grease gravity device exceeds 25%, it becomes less effective, allowing the release of FOGS content. Eventually, grease recovery devices with excessive grease and solids will prevent the liquids from passing through and causing the drains inside to flood and the device to overflow.

The most common cause of drain stoppage and grease trap overflow is improper or lack of maintenance of FOGS separator devices and plumbing lines. While holding off on grease trap or grease interceptor cleaning may seem as if you are saving money, in the end, it will end up costing you more when a plumbing disaster emerges.

When both devices exceed the maximum allowable FOGS, there is a surcharge for disposal and additional labor. A device that has not been maintained or cleaned for some time can contain an extreme amount of solidified grease and food solids that are costly to dispose of and challenging to remove. With a proper preventative maintenance service plan, you can keep your device healthy and maintain the pipes' cleanliness.

Traps & Interceptor Brands

  • Jensen Precast
  • Proceptor
  • Xerxes
  • Procast
  • Zurn
  • Big Dipper
  • Schier
  • Canplas
  • Trapzilla
  • Endura
  • Grease Guardian
  • Goslyn

Odor & Foul Stench From Grease Traps

Although a foul and rotten odor is not an indication of a grease trap or grease interceptor being full, according to OSHA, the grease and solid waste trapped inside the device create toxic gases and fumes. Over time gases such as methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, etc., can be made from the content of a grease trap or grease interceptor. Trapped FOGS waste inside a grease trap that has not been service can damage the seals and even the component itself, allowing the gasses to pass through. Therefore, if you experience severe odor problems at your business from the grease trap, it may be time to clean the device.

If the smell is still present after service, there may be a fault in the venting or plumbing line that backflows into those unwanted places. The most common causes of odors are poor ventilation, dry P-Traps, and broken seals. 

 

Save big on grease trap or grease interceptor pumping service by including free USED COOKING OIL COLLECTION & RECYCLING. Call us at 888-697-8910 to learn more.

THE GREASE COMPANY

If you are looking for a local grease trap and grease interceptor servicing company, we can help. We work with highly qualified licensed grease pumping and plumbing companies that can support you in managing your grease traps and grease interceptors, making sure that it's healthy and in excellent condition.  

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