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While grease traps are installed in commercial kitchens across the world, you may not be familiar with exactly how it works. The drain cleaning experts from KRK Enterprises, Inc wrote this brief guide to your grease trap because we know that the more you know about your drainage systems, the better you will be able to maintain them. The better you maintain your grease traps, the more effective they will be at removing greases, fats, oils and other wastes.

How Does It Work?

Grease traps are simple – the trap is nothing more than a device that separates fats and oils from wastewater as wastewater flows through your kitchen drains and pipes. Because grease, a mixture of oil and fat, is 10-15% denser than water, it is easily separated from wastewater because it will not mix with water.

As the water and grease flow into the trap, the grease rises to the top of the water where it is separated by a system of baffles. The grease fills the trap and displaces the water out of the trap and into the sewers. Remember, when your grease trap is full, you will need to clean it or it will not be able to remove any grease.

Why Do I Need a Grease Trap?

Installing a grease trap helps commercial kitchens run efficiently by preventing blockages in your pipes and eliminateing unpleasant odors. In fact, many state local governments require that commercial kitchens be equipped with grease traps.

Learn more about your grease trap by calling the grease trap experts at KRK Enterprises, Inc at your convenience. Feel free to schedule an inspection where we can walk you through the proper maintenance procedures for your grease trap.

As any homeowner knows, your house has several drains that can become clogged for various reasons. One of the drains that is most likely to develop a clog is your the drain in your kitchen sink. These drains are asked to handle the tough task of removing our food waste from our homes and transporting it to the sewer, helping to keep your home sanitary.

Because a wide variety of materials are placed in your garbage disposal, and ultimately your kitchen drains, homeowners will need to clean the drains in their kitchen sinks periodically. This practice has been shown to prevent clogs and backups.

A quick and easy way to clean your drains in your home’s kitchen is to use vinegar and baking soda. This combination of common household products is a cheap and effective alternative to the harsh chemicals found in many traditional store-bought liquid drain cleaners.

Follow these steps for a quick and easy way to clean your drains.

1. Rinse your drain by pouring a pot of boiling water down it.
2. Dump 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain.
3. Mix in a cup of hot water.
4. Allow the mixture to settle for a moment or two.
5. Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar.
6. Cover drain.
7. Allow the reaction to clean the inside of your drain for a handful of minutes.
8. Remove the drain cover and flush with another pot of boiling water.

IMPORTANT:

Sometimes, even this potent reaction isn’t strong enough to break through the most stubborn clogs. When you can’t get through a clog, you will need to call a professional at KRK Enterprises, and we will get your drains working again.

Grease and oil recycling is one of the incredible modern technologies of our time. When KRK Enterprises, Inc. obtains your used cooking oil, grease, and fat, you can be assured that your waste is being disposed of in an environmentally conscious manner: often by recycling it into something useful. Here we walk through some of the process for recycling used grease into to a usable material.

A common product that used cooking oil, vegetable oil, and grease is often recycled into is biodiesel. Grease and oil is reacted with an alcohol, usually methanol, in the presence of a catalyst. This reaction forms biodiesel, and also glycerin as a byproduct. Glycerin is used in many cosmetics and soaps.

Biodiesel is a more environmentally conscious fuel than petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is produced in the USA, which reduces emissions from importing diesel. Biodiesel improves fuel lubricity, which diesel engines rely on keep their parts moving. It is also safer than petroleum diesel: it is less combustible and has a much higher flash point, making it much safer to store, use, and transport.

Grease and Oil Recycling

Biodiesel is one great example of how your recycled grease, oil, and fats are re-purposed into something useful and easier on the environment. For professional, trustworthy recycling and disposal services, call the team at KRK Enterprises Inc., at 1-800-330-7686! 

In 2013 after several residents of a London neighborhood complained about their toilets not flushing, the Thames Water company got to work searching for the source of the problem. Much to their surprise, a 15-ton school bus sized “fatberg” made of congealed grease and baby wipes was clinging to the walls of the sewer below. Crews worked for days digging the “fatberg” out by hand and the sewer returned to normal, but this incident renewed the emphasis for the public to be mindful of what they flush and send down their drains.

Grease and cooking oils pose a very real threat to plumbing and sewage pipes. Have you ever left grease in a pan, only to find it later solidified into a block? This is exactly what happens when grease and fat enters plumbing pipes. Even if you use drain cleaner to clear your pipes, the grease is washed down into public sewers where it can congeal there, as in the case of the 15-ton “fatberg.”

Greasy Pipes

If you suspect your pipes are clogged with grease and oil, turn to Florida’s grease clean up professionals. You can be sure the grease is handled and removed in an environmentally conscious manner, and that grease from your pipes won’t cause problems down the line in city sewers. Call our professionals today at 1-(800)-330-7686! 

Commercial kitchens, like those found in schools, resorts, and restaurants, have a series of local city codes and building policies set in regards to their drainage systems. This includes grease traps installed in the drains, sinks, and dishwasher to prevent grease (or FOG) from joining the main water system. Grease traps, or grease interceptors, catch the fats, oils, and grease from traveling in the main sewer line to the sewer treatment facility – as it cannot be treated as wastewater in the same way. Neither is it good for your pipes to become caked in grease – so the use of the grease trap is instantly the perfect idea! Right?

Right! Grease traps are manufactured to prevent your main sewer line from becoming obstructed. It is, then, just as important to maintain your grease trap and keep it clean and in good working order, lest some FOG substances spill over and you or your business incurs a heavy fine.

The grease trap cleaning services KRK Enterprises, Inc. provides Florida with are unmatched! Maintaining your grease trap should be done frequently and with a professional on hand. We will be sure your drainage pipes don’t clog and that your kitchen sinks don’t backup. Two of the most common signs of blockage in your system is a foul odor coming from your drains, and the other is water draining slowly in your sink(s). If you notice either of these symptoms, call in the professionals quickly so that your small problem does not become a crisis. Don’t lose business, productivity, or customers over a small plumbing snafu.