How Often Should I Call a Professional for Grease Trap Cleaning in Toledo, OH?

Restaurants, cafeterias and other facilities that do food preparation get a lot of use out of their grease traps. The question most frequently asked by customers of services that do grease trap cleaning in Toledo, OH is, “How frequently do I need to have my grease trap cleaned out?”

The answer really varies from restaurant to restaurant. There are many factors that go into setting a pumping and cleaning schedule, including the size of the trap, the seating capacity, the amount of business the establishment gets and the cooking techniques used in the kitchen.

With all this in mind, here is some information to help you determine how frequently you need to call in a professional to clean your grease trap.

The one fourth rule

Perhaps the most common general rule of thumb used for setting a grease trap cleaning schedule is to have the process taken care of every one to three months. Of course, this is a fair amount of variance, so to get even more specific with how you should schedule your grease trap cleanings, you should follow what’s known in the industry as the “one fourth” rule.

The rule is that when a quarter of your grease trap is filled with fats, oils, grease and solids (referred toby the acronym “FOGS”), it’s time for you to pump out the grease trap. After the trap is more than a quarter full, it is no longer effective, and you’re going to start to notice some foul odors, as well as other issues such as drain line clogs and poor drainage in general. Restaurants that produce more grease or have smaller grease traps will likely reach the quarter mark faster than other types of facilities, so they should either increase the size of their grease trap or just settle for more frequent cleanings.

What’s required by law?

Of course, there are also some legal stipulations you need to be aware of, especially in a restaurant environment. Many local municipalities have ordinances stating restaurants must clear out their grease traps at least onceevery 90 days. However, these ordinances vary based on the municipality, so make sure you look up what the rules are for your specific area before you decide on any particular grease trap cleaning schedule.

Grease trap best practices

You can help delay the need for grease trap cleaning (at least to a small extent) by following some general best practices around your kitchen. For example, be sure to scrape off plates and utensils of all extra food before you wash to limit the amount of FOGS you’re sending down the drain and into the grease trap. This will also help you avoid having to rely on your garbage disposal as frequently as you may be used to. Finally, when possible, recycle cooking oil so it doesn’t end up in your grease trap.

For more information, contact Ace Diversified Services today. We look forward to being your trusted source for grease trap cleaning in Toledo, OH!

Categorised in: Professional Grease Trap Cleaning