Grease Trap Cleaning and Pumping in Boise, ID


Ideally, running a restaurant should be like running a well-oiled machine: no hitches, everything flowing as smooth as butter. Including, of course, floor drains, sinks, and industrial dishwasher drains, all of which can quickly become clogged by the aforementioned butter. Working with fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) in the food service industry is practically unavoidable, and the critical piece of plumbing that keeps those substances from clogging up pipes and drains and causing major issues is the grease trap. 


What is a grease trap? 

Most managers in the service industry know that the grease trap is an important element, even if they’re not quite sure what exactly it does. A grease trap is a plumbing fixture located downstream from the drains, but before wastewater enters the municipal sewer system. It serves to intercept grease, oil, fats, and other solids before they enter the sewer. The old adage, “oil and water don’t mix,” is true, and oils, fats, and grease float to the top of wastewater. This fact can be used to our advantage: by allowing water to exit out the bottom of the grease trap, fats, oils, and grease are left behind, effectively trapped. 


Parts of a grease trap

A grease trap is generally made up of five parts: 

  1. The inlet pipe: as the name implies, the inlet pipe is where wastewater from all of the drains in a kitchen flows into the grease trap. Oftentimes, an access point for grease trap cleaning is located near the end of the inlet pipe.

  2. The flow rate controller: a grease trap is more or less a holding tank that separates grease, fats, and oils from wastewater, so there is a chance that it could become overwhelmed. The flow rate controller prevents this from happening by controlling the flow of water into the grease trap. 

  3. Baffles: typically made of either plastic or metal, baffles are blade-like separators within the grease trap that serve to separate water from FOGs. They leave a gap at the bottom of the structure, allowing the separated wastewater to flow through while retaining grease. 

  4. Cooling mechanism: water is the most commonly used mechanism. Greases, oils, and fats become liquid when heated, and is the primary state in which they are flushed down a drain. These substances harden when cooled, which allows for easier separation.

  5. The outlet pipe: once wastewater has been separated from greases, oils, and fats, it flows through the outlet pipe to enter the municipality’s sewer system.  


Why are grease traps important?

Greases, oils, and fats are liquid when heated, which is usually the case when cooking. Without a grease trap, they will cool down and harden once they enter the municipal sewer system. Greases--especially animal fats, like lard or bacon grease--solidify into thick, sludgy substances that can coat the inner surface of pipes. As hardened grease builds up and traps other particles, pipes can become blocked, leading to clogs that can cause backups called sanitary sewer overflows. These sewer overflows are not only costly to clean up and repair, but also present a public health hazard. Many cities legally require grease traps in the food service industry in order to prevent the major problems that can arise in the city sewer system without the critical role they play in separating wastewater. 


A grease trap serves to keep the sewer and wastewater system operating smoothly. Without proper maintenance, the grease trap itself can become clogged. In general, FOG clogs in a grease trap happens when build up slowly accumulates over time. If water is backing up in sinks or floor drains, or water seems to be draining slower than before, it’s likely that you may be dealing with a clog. Regular maintenance can help prevent this from happening. Reach out to a professional immediately if you suspect a clog, as leaving a clog unattended can exacerbate the problem and create a bigger issue that could have been prevented with proper care. 

At ASAP Septic, we are dedicated to serving our clients in Boise, Payette, Mountain Home, and areas throughout southeast Idaho as the industry leader for all things sewer and septic. Whether you need a grease trap pumped, hydrojetting or septic services, our team of experts is ready to help. Fill out our online contact form or give us a call at (208) 991-7184 for more information.  

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