What are Grease Traps and How Do They Work?

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Grease traps (also known as grease interceptors, grease recovery devices, grease capsules and grease converters) are plumbing devices (traps) designed to intercept most greases and solids before they enter a wastewater disposal system.

The essential need for grease trap cleaning service (https://draneranger.com/services/grease-grit-lint-traps/) and scheduled maintenance is because grease traps work on the basis that animal fats and vegetable oils (grease) are 10 to 15 percent less dense than water and that grease won’t mix with water. Fats and oils float on top of water.

Restaurant and food service kitchens produce waste grease which is present in the drain lines from various sinks, dishwashers and cooking equipment such as combi ovens and commercial woks. Rotisserie ovens have also become big sources of waste grease. If not regularly and properly removed by a grease trap cleaning service, the grease can clump and cause blockage and back-up in the sewer.

Common wastewater contains small amounts of oils which enter into septic tanks and treatment facilities to form a floating scum layer. This scum layer is very slowly digested and broken down by microorganisms in the anaerobic digestion process. Large amounts of oil from food preparation in restaurants can overwhelm a septic tank or treatment facility, causing the release of untreated sewage into the environment.

Professionals who provide important grease trap cleaning services explain that high-viscosity fats and cooking grease such as lard solidify when cooled, and can combine with other disposed solids to block drain pipes.

FOGS (fats, oils, grease, and solids) are the major enemies of the drains and garbage disposals of commercial kitchen. Grease trap cleaning service technicians explain that when the FOGS start to cool, they solidify, and result in a thick, waxy substance that adheres to the walls of drainpipes. The end result is in slow drains and often total clogs.

When the outflow from the kitchen sink enters the grease trap, the solid food particles sink to the bottom, while lighter grease and oil float to the top. The relatively grease-free water is then fed into the normal septic system. The food solids at the bottom and floating oil and grease must be periodically removed in a manner similar to septic tank pumping. A traditional grease trap is not a food disposal unit. Unfinished food must be scraped into the garbage or food recycling bin. Gravy, sauces and food solids must be scraped off dishes before entering the sink or dishwasher.

A grease trap is basically a box of water that traps grease and food waste (for example from washing dishes) and prevents it from blocking the waster system pipes. Over time – the grease trap will become completely blocked with grease preventing water flow through it. It’s time for a grease trap cleaning service.

What are the Myths and Facts about Septic Tank Systems?

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There’s a lot of misinformation about septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas.

A popular myth is that septic systems don’t really pose a hidden threat to water quality. Professionals who do septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas warn that when the effluent is not adequately treated, as in a failing septic system, it is a health hazard and can cause many human diseases. Studies have found that failing septic systems can become chronic sources of nutrients and interact with nearby waterways.

There’s also a common misunderstanding that septic systems are designed to be maintenance-free. Neglecting system maintenance leads to system failure. There is a need for maintenance of septic systems, or an accumulation of pollutants happens.

Professionals who specialize in septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas explain that some people consider a septic system similar to a garbage disposal. It is NOT! Garbage disposals can overload a system with solids causing the need for more frequent tank pumping and can increase wastewater strength beyond the capacity of the system to properly treat it.

Technicians who work on septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas warn about even coffee grounds. They don’t readily digest and can get into the septic system’s leaching bed, where they can contribute to system failure. Also, don’t flush plastic, condoms, rubber, coffee grounds, citrus rinds, eggshells, dental floss, diapers, baby wipes, kitty litter, cigarette butts, fats, greases, paper, paints, solvents, varnishes, thinners, waste oils down into the septic system. It inevitably leads to septic system failure.

There’s a myth about additives helping the septic system. Some septic tank additives on the market with chemicals, yeast, bacteria, or enzymes claim to improve septic tank performance or reduce the need for routine pumping. Septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas points out that adding a stimulator or an enhancer to a septic tank to help it function or “to restore bacterial balance” is not necessary. The naturally occurring bacteria needed for the septic system to work are already present in human feces. Professionals suggest: Let nature take its course.

Some homeowners mistakenly assume clogged septic systems must be replaced. Not always. Many clogged septic systems can be restored with maintenance. Three of the most common causes of clogs — indigestible sewage solids entering the leaching bed, slimy biomat growths blocking the holes in the perforated leaching pipes and tree roots physically clogging the leaching pipes — can usually be solved without replacing any part of the system.

A dangerous myth is ambitious DIY homeowners entering the septic tank. Septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas is unanimous with the caution: Never enter any septic tank. Poisonous gases or the lack of air can be fatal. Any work to the tank should be done from the outside.

How Long Does It Take to Clean a Grease Trap?

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Commercial grease trap cleaning is essential maintenance that often gets forgotten or skipped. Commercial grease trap cleaning is essential maintenance that often gets forgotten or skipped.

Sure signs of grease pit trouble are:

. when drains back up frequently

. there is pest infestation around the drain

. grease flows back into the sink

. slow draining

. odors coming from the drain

FOGS (fats, oils, grease, and solids) are the major enemies of the drains and garbage disposals of commercial kitchen. In their natural, liquid form, people don’t think twice about pouring it down the drain.

Commercial grease trap cleaning professionals warn that, when the FOGS start to cool, they solidify, and result in a thick, waxy substance that adheres to the walls of drainpipes. The end result is in slow drains and often total clogs.

A grease trap is basically a box of water that traps grease and food waste (for example from washing dishes) and prevents it from blocking the waster system pipes. Over time – the grease trap will become completely blocked with grease preventing water flow through it.

The structure has a baffle inside that retains the wastewater long enough for the grease to solidify and rise to the top, while the clean water flows through.  At the surface, the grease trap has removable lids used for inspections and cleanings.

Regular commercial grease trap cleaning—using the proper, professional equipment and techniques— usually takes from 20-30 minutes and is crucial for efficient operations and helps keep the number of down.

A safe and recommended commercial grease trap cleaning rule of thumb is to use the One Quarter Rule. Every three months. It complies with local regulations and for some busy restaurants, the traps should be emptied more often.

Keeping an eye on the grease trap and when it is a quarter of the way full (every three weeks), it is time to clean it out. The reason for the One Quarter Rule is because, at that point, the trap becomes no longer effective.

Commercial grease trap cleaning technicians vacuum the grease trap, scrape the grease trap clean and flow test to confirm proper draining.

Commercial grease trap cleaning works with cool water to allow the FOGS to float to the top. Wait ten minutes once the hot wastewater has been released from the dishwasher or sink and cools. The grungy fats, oils and greases are accessed by carefully prying off the grease tank cover. A delicate and critical component, known as the gasket, can be damaged if lifting off the cover without precaution.

Not only do commercial grease trap cleaning professionals efficiently remove and thoroughly clean grease traps, a key part of commercial grease trap cleaning is disposing of the waste safely.

Septic Tank Failure – Effective Tips to Get Rid From Septic Failure Problems

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Septic systems have long been an environmentally-friendly way to recycle household wastewater. Like all systems they can and run into problems. A failed septic system can lead to groundwater contamination, sewage ponding in the yard and sewage backups into the home.Septic systems have long been an environmentally-friendly way to recycle household wastewater. Like all systems they can and run into problems. A failed septic system can lead to groundwater contamination, sewage ponding in the yard and sewage backups into the home.

Most people think the lack of system maintenance is the biggest reason that septic systems fail.

According to septic tank cleaning companies, this does not happen as often because most homeowners are aware of the need for septic system maintenance. Stats show that less than 10% of failed systems are due to lack of septic pumping.

But it’s actually heavy water usage that can clog a septic system and cause failure

As septic tank cleaning companies explain, the septic system works depends on the amount of water a household uses each day. The amount of water plays a large role in the septic filtration system’s lifespan.  The separation of waste happens with the flow of wastewater from the inlet to outlet in the septic tank. The natural separation process of solids and liquids of different densities and gravity results in the scum rising to the top, the sludge sinking to the bottom, and the watery effluent in the middle.

To prevent septic system failure, it’s important to understand what commonly cause the nasty problem of a failed septic system and then you’ll understand how to prevent failure from happening.

Septic tank cleaning companies caution about the common symptoms of inefficient septic system and problems which can lead to septic system failure.

. drains backing up into the home—a sign of a clog in the septic system, failure of the equipment or it is starting to overfill

. bad smells coming from drains, or around the area that the septic tank is placed on the lawn

. over-green area on the lawn, means waste is getting out through the septic system into the drain field. This is caused by equipment failure or overfilling

. soggy lawn and build up of water near septic tank

. water and sewage from toilets, drains, and sinks are backing up into the home.

. bathtubs, showers, and sinks drain very slowly.

Despite warnings and suggestions from septic tank cleaning companies many homeowners still leave septic tank maintenance, septic tank cleaning or septic tank pumping needs left to the last minute. Septic tank failure can be pricey, cause a huge mess to clean-up in the basement or landscaping. For commercial or industrial properties, a septic tank system failure could result in massive environmental clean up costs and fines.

Septic tank cleaning companies do regularly scheduled maintenance and a quick response may save money in repairs and prevent illness and negative impact on the environment.