Category: Grease Trap

As a restaurant owner, there’s no doubt that you have some sort of grease trap – a plumbing device that is designed to trap the majority of greases and solids before they continue to a wastewater disposal system! These grease traps are responsible for reducing the amount of greases, fats, and oils that enter the wastewater disposal system. Grease traps are usually installed within the sewer lines of a restaurant’s commercial kitchen. Usually, homes don’t require grease traps, since the amount of grease produced at one’s home is way lower than the amount that grease traps are built for. Since grease traps collect a large variety of unpalatable, and frankly unpleasant, substances, most owners of restaurants hire a grease trap cleaning service. One such company is Drane Ranger, a restaurant grease trap cleaning service that takes care of all the trapped debris within the grease trap for you!

The Inner-Workings of Grease Traps:

Grease traps are vital to the sewer process. Typically, regular wastewater contains tiny amounts of oil and grease which enter septic tanks and treatment facilities. The oil forms a layer on top of the water, which is broken down and digested by a variety of microorganisms. However, large amounts of fat, oil, and grease can interrupt this process and, consequently, lead to an eruption of untreated sewage into the environment! The way that grease traps work is by reducing the flow of hot or warm, greasy water, allowing it to cool down. As this water begins to cool, the grease and oil contained within the water separate and float to the top of the trap in a scum layer. Once this debris has floated to the top, the cool water continues down the pipe to the sewer, and the oil and grease are trapped by the grease trap. Over time, oil and grease residue can build up. This is why it’s vital to hire a restaurant grease trap cleaning service! After all, sanitation and safety are key components in most workplaces, but especially in restaurants.

The Reason Why Grease Traps Need Cleaning:

Grease traps, by nature, regularly require comprehensive maintenance and cleaning! Leaving them uncleaned and unmaintained can lead to a variety of issues; grease, for example, is a primary cause of sewer blockages. This can interrupt wastewater utility operations, even if it doesn’t result in overflowing sewers. It’s better to avoid this situation altogether, and to hire yourself a restaurant grease trap cleaning service! Drane Ranger, for example, has clear documentation and compliance validation, and they offer complete grease trap maintenance and cleaning in the Houston area! This comprehensive cleaning includes grease trap door control to ensure that your traps continue to be effective and that they will not interfere with the safe and sanitary running of your restaurant.

How Often Does Your Grease Trap Need to be Cleaned?

As a general rule, your grease trap should be cleaned out once every three months. If you’re unsure whether or not your grease trap requires cleaning after three months, follow the one-quarter rule. This rule should be followed because it follows the principle that, once your grease trap is a quarter of the way full, it is no longer effective. If you leave your grease trap alone and don’t clean it once it has reached this level, the debris will leak into the pipes, potentially resulting in increased blockages and overflows. Additionally, this also increases the possibility of food contamination! To avoid this situation, hire yourself a restaurant grease trap cleaning service to ensure that your restaurant continues to run smoothly.

Regular grease trap cleaning is important, especially for commercial kitchens. Over time, kitchens will generate dirt and waste from cooking, especially liquid waste, such as fat, oil, and grease (FOG). When waste builds up, it can become a problem without a proper grease trap cleaning. A grease trap cleaning service can help deal with waste build-up and ensure your grease trap is working efficiently. At Drane Ranger, we are your number one choice when it comes to your grease trap cleaning.

What is a grease trap?

In simple terms, a grease trap connects to a sink with the purpose of preventing FOG from entering the sewer system. Grease traps can be found in kitchens, especially commercial kitchens. The City of Houston requires cleaning of all grease traps within city limits, and without proper maintenance, your grease trap will get clogged and will start causing many issues – issues that will be costly to repair! Let Drane Ranger help maintain your grease trap by providing grease trap cleaning services.

Why commercial kitchens rely on grease traps

Commercial kitchens, such as restaurants and cafeterias, have grease traps because they generate large amounts of waste. By not scheduling regular grease trap cleaning service appointments, waste will accumulate in the sewer pipes and create larger problems, including restricted wastewater flow, blocked drain pipes and sewers, and foul odors. The FOG that these types of kitchen produce is far greater in volume and frequency compared to smaller kitchens, so it’s important to do regular grease trap cleaning to ensure pipes, and the things they connect to, remain functional and safe. A grease trap cleaning service will help prevent problems from arising.

How does a grease trap work?

A grease trap functions by cooling warm or hot greasy water. The cooling of FOG allows for the separation of different layers of waste, and the grease and oil in the water float to the top of the trap, where grease trap cleaning can be implemented. The cooler water, minus the grease, continues to flow down the pipe to the sewer.

Why is grease trap cleaning important?

If you don’t do grease trap cleaning regularly, you risk having it back up either because it needs to be cleaned or because of an outlet blockage. These types of issues can result in costly repairs for your business. Grease trap cleaning, when performed on a regular schedule, will ensure your drains are running smoothly. The general rule, when it comes to grease trap cleaning, is about once a month. However, high volume establishments, like a restaurant, will require more frequent cleanings.

At Drane Ranger, we provide grease trap cleaning service in the Houston area. We are committed to the safe, responsible, and sustainable treatment and disposal of all non-hazardous wastewater. Kitchen grease is the number one cause of blockages in pipes and sewer lines, so grease cleaning service is a must. The city of Houston requires cleaning of all traps, and with over 35 years of experience in the Houston area, Drane Ranger is the best choice for grease trap cleaning service. Call us for a free quote today!

A grease trap is a trap in a drain or waste pipe that prevents grease from passing into a sewer system. Grease trap maintenance, especially for larger establishments, is important. If you’re searching Google for grease trap cleaning service, Drane Ranger is your number one choice in grease trap maintenance in the Houston area.

Over time, kitchens will generate dirt and waste from cooking, especially liquid waste, such as fat, oil, and grease (FOG). Unlike at home, where you would simply pour FOG into a container for disposal, cooking in a commercial kitchen is slightly more challenging. When waste builds up, it can become a problem without proper grease trap maintenance. A grease trap cleaning service can help deal with waste build-up and ensure your grease trap is working efficiently.

What is a grease trap?

A grease trap, also known as a grease interceptor, can vary in size from small to very large. It is typically connected to a sink, and its purpose is to prevent FOG from ending up in the sewer system. Grease traps can be found in kitchens, especially commercial kitchens. Grease traps cannot go without proper maintenance and will require a grease trap cleaning service regularly.

Why do you need a grease trap?

Large establishments, such as restaurants and cafeterias in schools, will generate large amounts of waste. This waste, if not dealt with, can accumulate in the sewer pipes and create larger problems, including restricted wastewater flow, blocked drainpipes and sewers, and foul odors. The FOG that these types of kitchens produce is far greater in volume and frequency compared to smaller kitchens, so it’s important that the grease trap is regularly maintained to ensure pipes and the things they connect to remain functional and safe. A grease trap cleaning service will help keep problems from arising.

How does a grease trap work?

In simple terms, a grease trap functions by cooling warm or hot, greasy water. The cooling of FOG allows for the separation of different layers of waste, and the grease and oil in the water float to the top of the trap where grease trap cleaning services can remove them. The cooler water, minus the grease, continues to flow down the pipe to the sewer.

Why does a grease trap need maintenance?

If you aren’t using a grease trap cleaning service in Houston, you risk having it back up, either because it needs to be cleaned or because of an outlet blockage. These types of issues can result in costly repairs for your business. Grease trap maintenance, performed on a regular schedule, will ensure your drains are running smoothly. The general rule, when it comes to grease trap cleaning, is about once a month. However, high volume establishments, like a restaurant, will require more frequent cleanings.

At Drane Ranger, we provide grease trap cleaning services in the Houston area. We are committed to the safe, responsible, and sustainable treatment and disposal of all non-hazardous wastewater. Kitchen grease is the number one cause of blockages in pipes and sewer lines, so grease cleaning service is a must. The city of Houston requires cleaning of all traps, and with over 35 years of experience in the Houston area, Drane Ranger is the best choice for grease trap cleaning service. Call us for a free quote today!

Have you cleaned your grit traps lately? You might be invoking more trouble than you really should if you haven’t. How do you know when it’s time? Here are a few tips and warning signs you should take note of when it comes to grit trap cleaning in Houston.

What are grit traps?

First things first, though—what exactly are grit traps and why do they need to be cleaned? Grit traps are essentially catch basins, and you have a few similar items in your home. The one you are probably the most familiar with is your lint trap. This is the filter in your dryer that prevents the fluff, dander, and pet hair that comes off your clothing from clogging the dryer’s air duct. You know how important it is to clean this: not doing so can cause your dryer to start on fire—and that’s never a good time—but did you know that there is a similar lint trap in place to help protect your plumbing from the same types of lint that can end up trying to drain from your washing machine? This is especially important for professional laundry services; lint and grit trap cleaning keep debris from clogging pipes, thus preventing service disruption due to required repairs.

The concept of the lint trap is one that necessarily applies to a number of different services. Another familiar one should be the grease trap. You have a grease trap in your kitchen to prevent grease from washing down your drain, building up in your pipes, and causing odor problems, health concerns, and a risk of your pipes backing up. This is particularly important for restaurants and other professional industries. Without grease and grit trap cleaning in Houston, all of the problems the grease trap is designed to prevent can end up occurring as a result of its neglect.

Grit traps follow the same principle, but instead of preventing lint and grease from going down the drain, they filter dirt and sand. This is particularly important for businesses in the car wash industry. Grit trap cleaning in Houston can prevent pipe damage and clogs that would otherwise cause disruptions of service and expensive repair bills.

How do you know when you need grit trap cleaning in Houston?

As per Houston’s local city regulations, any lint, grease, or grit traps must be emptied, and safely and properly disposed of, four times a year. That’s approximately every three months, or when your trap becomes one-quarter full. If you fail to do this, not only are you making yourself, your home, and your business vulnerable to the consequences of overloaded and failing traps, but you are also exposing yourself to noncompliance fines. Of course, depending on the amount of use it gets, you may need lint, grease, and grit trap cleaning in Houston more often. There are some indicator signs you can look out for that will warn you before the situation gets out of hand, though. For instance, slow drainage, a bad odor, and the appearance of residue in other places can all indicate that your traps need to be cleaned.

Just remember, there are regulations in place in Houston, so if you can’t remember the last time you had lint, grease, or grit trap cleaning in Houston done, then it’s time to call a certified professional. They should be able to provide you with the appropriate documentation upon completion so you can prove your grit traps are appropriately maintained.

If you own some sort of restaurant, chances are you have a grease trap. Grease traps are plumbing devices that are designed to trap most solids and greases before they travel to a wastewater disposal system. These traps reduce the amount of oils, greases, and fats that enter the wastewater disposal system. Typically, grease traps are installed in the sewer lines of a commercial kitchen. Homes don’t usually need a grease trap because the amount of grease produced in a home is a much lower volume than what grease traps are built for. As you might imagine, grease traps are not the most fun thing to clean, which is why you should consider hiring a grease trap cleaning service! These companies, such as Drane Ranger, know how to get all the gunk and grime out of your grease trap without you having to lift a finger!

How do Grease Traps Work?

Regular wastewater can contain small amounts of oil which enter treatment facilities and septic tanks to form a floating scum layer, which is slowly broken down and digested by microorganisms in an anaerobic digestion process. Large amounts of oil, grease, and fat can interrupt this process, resulting in a release of untreated sewage back into the environment. Grease traps work by reducing the flow of warm or hot greasy water and letting it cool down. As the water cools, the oil and grease in the water begin to separate and float to the top of the trap. The cool water continues its journey down the pipe to the sewer, and the grease and oil are left behind in the trap. The grease and oil residue will build up, which is why it’s important to regularly hire grease trap cleaning services to keep a sanitary and safe environment.

Why You Need to Clean Your Grease Trap:

Due to the nature of grease traps, they need annual deep cleaning and maintenance. The EPA discovered that grease is the primary cause of sewer blockages; even if accumulated grease doesn’t escalate to overflowing sewers, it can still interrupt wastewater utility operations and result in increased maintenance and operation requirements. To save yourself some stress, in the long run, hire a grease trap cleaning service.

When Does Your Grease Trap Need Cleaning?

A good rule of thumb is that a grease trap cleaning service should be used once every three months. To decide whether it should be one month or three, follow the one-quarter rule, which states that once one-quarter of your grease trap has been filled, it is time for a thorough cleaning. The reasoning behind the one-quarter rule is that your grease trap is no longer effective once it has filled one-quarter of the tank. If your grease trap isn’t cleaned out at this point, it will allow grease to escape into the sewer, and the chances of overflows and blockages increase drastically.

Who Can Clean Your Grease Trap?

Drane Ranger is a grease trap cleaning service that will meet all your grease trap cleaning needs. We offer numerous services, including quarterly maintenance plans or regular disposal and cleaning. Drane Ranger offers complete grease trap cleaning services in Houston, including getting rid of that grease trap odor to ensure that your grease traps remain effective and sanitary!

Like grease, grit build-up needs to be cleaned regularly. Grit is dirt and sand and, although it may seem harmless, needs to be disposed of safely and properly, just like grease. Drane Ranger provides grease and grit trap cleaning services, collecting and disposing of it safely and properly.

What is a grit trap?

A grit trap is the first essential step to wastewater treatment. Typically, establishments such as car washes, auto repair shops, and manufacturing facilities will have grit traps. Grit traps use two chambers, one primary and one secondary, to separate oily petrochemicals and solid wastes (dirt, sands, and solids) from water. These protect public sewer systems from being inundated with all the junk that collects in the water at businesses like these, whereas grease traps help to collect liquid fats and prevent them from flushing downstream. Food businesses, like restaurants, always have a grease trap.

Why do you need to clean your grit trap?

Using grease and grit trap cleaning services is essential and helps keep costly repairs to a minimum. Having grit and debris reduces process capacity and increases maintenance costs. Grit traps help keep oil, debris, and dirt out of our wastewater collection systems. A grit trap maintenance program is essential to prevent the escape of large quantities of solids. If you aren’t maintaining your grit trap, you risk having it back up either because it needs to be cleaned or because of a blockage. These types of issues can result in costly repairs for your business.

Grit and other solid materials are a costly component of both process water and wastewater, clogging systems, reducing efficiencies and causing abrasion damage and wear that leads to increased cleaning, maintenance, and repair. Grit and debris can be passed downstream and cause big problems. Effective grit removal eliminates abrasive solids and sand before they have the chance to cause major and costly damage. Grease and grit trap cleaning services performed on a regular schedule will ensure things run smoothly.

How often do you need to clean a grit trap?

The City of Houston requires a quarterly pumping schedule and will fine any establishment that is non-compliant. The City reserves the right to conduct site inspections and take samples if needed. The general rule when it comes to grease and grit trap cleaning services is about once a month. However, higher volume establishments will require more frequent cleanings. Don’t get caught between service providers or trying to stretch the time between grit and grease trap cleaning service to save a buck – it’s not worth it!

Are you searching for grease and grit trap cleaning services? Drane Ranger has everything you need to process your general wastewater needs. Drane Ranger is committed to the safe, responsible, and sustainable treatment and disposal of all non-hazardous wastewater. The city of Houston requires cleaning of all traps and, with over 35 years of experience in the Houston area, Drane Ranger is the best choice for grease and grit trap service. Call for a free quote today!

Over time, kitchens will generate dirt and waste from cooking, especially liquid waste such as fat, oil, and grease (FOG). Unlike at home, where you would simply pour FOG into a container for disposal, cooking in a commercial kitchen is slightly more challenging. When waste builds up, it can become a big problem if you don’t have a proper grease trap maintenance service in place, searching for grease trap service near me is a great place to start.

What is a grease trap?

A grease trap, also known as a grease interceptor, can vary in size from small to very large. It is typically connected to a sink, and its purpose is to prevent FOG from ending up in the sewer system. Grease traps can be found in kitchens, especially commercial kitchens.

Why do you need a grease trap?

Large establishments such as restaurants and cafeterias in schools will generate large amounts of waste. This waste, if not dealt with, can accumulate in the sewer pipes and create larger problems including restricted wastewater flow, blocked drain pipes or sewers, and foul odors. The FOG that these types of kitchens produce is far greater in volume and frequency compared to smaller kitchens, so it’s important that the grease trap is regularly cleaned by a ‘grease trap service near me provider, to ensure pipes and the things they connect to remain functional and safe.

How does a grease trap work?

In simple terms, a grease trap functions by cooling warm or hot greasy water. The cooling of FOG allows for the separation of different layers of waste and the grease and oil in the water float to the top of the trap. The cooler water, minus the grease, continues to flow down the pipe to the sewer.

Why does a grease trap need maintenance?

If you aren’t maintaining your grease trap, you risk having it back up, either because it needs to be cleaned or because of an outlet blockage. These types of issues can result in costly repairs for your business. Grease trap maintenance performed on a regular schedule will ensure your drains are running smoothly. The general rule when it comes to grease trap cleaning is about once a month. However, high volume establishments like a restaurant will require more frequent cleanings. It’s more crucial to note when the quantity of grease within the trap hits the 25% mark. It’s at this point that the grease trap is no longer able to perform adequately, and FOG will escape into the sewer line.

Searching for grease trap service near me? Drane Ranger has everything you need to process your general wastewater needs. We are committed to the safe, responsible and sustainable treatment and disposal of all non-hazardous wastewater. Kitchen grease is the number one cause of blockages in pipes and sewer lines, so grease trap maintenance is a must. The city of Houston requires cleaning of all traps, and with over 35 years of experience in the Houston area, Drane Ranger is the best choice for grease trap service near me. Call for a free quote today!

If you are running a business that includes a commercial-sized kitchen, like a restaurant or a bar, are you keeping your grease trap or interceptor properly maintained and cleaned? If you are having strong odors coming from your drains or having your plumbing back up, you may want to search for a “grease trap service near me” or risk losing business. FOGs (fats, oils, grease) can cause major issues with your pipes, and municipal sewer if you aren’t properly maintaining your system.

What is a Grease Trap?

A grease trap or grease interceptor is designed to limit FOGs from making it to the municipal sewer system and water treatment facilities. They work by routing your drains through a system that will separate grease and oils from wastewater. The tank is filled with water, and when your wastewater enters, the grease will float to the top, solids will sink to the bottom, and just wastewater without FOGs will make it through. You should search for a “grease trap service near me” to maintain your interceptor.

Is Grease Really a Problem?

Grease can be a huge problem, both for your business’s plumbing and for the sewer systems of the municipality. Without a grease trap to capture FOGs, you’ll start to have a buildup of grease in your plumbing, which over time will restrict the flow of water going out to the sewers, causing backups in your sinks, floor drains and dishwashers. It isn’t just your drains you have to worry about though, municipal sewers can also get backed up with FOGs over time, with the number of households and businesses that empty their wastewater into the sewers every day. If a clog happens, and it is found out that your business has contributed to the issue, you can be heavily fined. Make sure the grease interceptor you do have is cleaned out regularly to avoid backups by contacting grease trap cleaning service.

Does Your Business Need a Grease Interceptor?

Grease traps and grease interceptors are similar devices, just different sizes. A grease trap will generally be inside your restaurant under the sink and can handle below 50 gallons per minute. However, if you have a larger business, you will need a grease interceptor, which handles more than 50 gallons per minute and is installed underground outside your business. If you don’t know what size of system you need, search for a “grease trap service near me” and get their professional opinion.

How Do You Maintain Your Grease Interceptor?

Just because you have a grease interceptor, doesn’t mean you should be pouring grease, or solids down your drain, they are designed to capture residuals only. So to keep your interceptor running smoothly, make sure you scrape off any plates and pans before washing them. For smaller traps, clean them before and after work every day, and for interceptors with a capacity of 100 gallons or less, once a week in between pump outs from a “grease trap service near me”. Recycle any waste cooking oils you can to avoid pouring them down the drain.

How Often Should You Schedule Servicing?

You should consult the local municipality for your local regulations of how often you are legally required to pump out your interceptor. However, the running rule is to pump out a system that is ¼ full.

Grease Trap Service Near Me

If you are looking for a “grease trap service near me” in the Houston area, contact Drane Ranger today for a consultation and quote.

If your business uses cooking oil, fats or other types of grease, then you’ve got a commercial grease trap. Every restaurant has one, and cleaning it out is a difficult job. Why put your business or your restaurant staff through the hazards? There are service providers available to do exactly this job for you, with all the necessary equipment and training. Here are the top five advantages of hiring commercial grease trap cleaning services.

It’s easier to outsource it

Unless your grease trap is fairly small, cleaning it yourself will be time-consuming, messy, and possibly hazardous. In fact, some states require the grease trap cleaners in restaurants to have special licenses. That alone is a good reason to hire a commercial grease trap cleaning service. In addition, cleaning is not enough. The second part of the problem is disposing of the grease. When a service cleans and vacuums the trap, they also take away the grease for proper disposal.

It will happen more regularly

Commercial grease traps need emptying fairly often. Once every four to six weeks is typical in a busy restaurant, and it needs to be maintained and emptied regularly. One of the biggest advantages of hiring commercial grease trap cleaning services is that this maintenance will happen on schedule. The service that you hire will keep records and clear documentation of when it was last cleaned and when it will require cleaning again. Keeping records of the volume in the trap and the frequency that the grease trap fills up is useful information and ensures compliance with regulations.

It will be much cleaner

The trap doesn’t just need emptying; it needs emptying and cleaning. To cut down on odors, and improve hygiene throughout the restaurant. A clean trap will not cause problems. Another advantage of hiring cleaning services is that they will take the time to empty it, vacuum it out, and scrub into all the corners. The commercial grease trap cleaners can give it a good scrub and polish sometimes to get it really shining!

It will save money

Grease trap cleaning services have the right equipment to handle the large commercial grease traps found in big restaurant kitchens. They make sure that the grease trap is completely clean and empty so that drains won’t clog, sewers won’t back up and the restaurant will be clean and odor free. There won’t be plumber fees to fix clogs and backups.

The top advantage of hiring commercial grease trap cleaning services

This isn’t an easy job or a pleasant one. The service performs the job, so you don’t have to worry or put your employees to the task. The grease trap ensures that your sinks and drains are not clogged with grease, and as long as the grease trap is working right, then your pipes will not be clogged and causing problems. Give peace of mind and have it done regularly by services like Drane Ranger who have the skills and the know how to keep your traps effective and your kitchen safe and sanitary.

Did you know that you are required under Houston regulations to empty your grease traps quarterly? If you want your business to stay open, then you need to look into grease trap cleaning services to ensure you remain in compliance with your local regulations. Those regulations, however, aren’t the only reason you should want to keep those grease traps clean and well-maintained. By nature of their function, things can start going badly if your grease traps aren’t looked after.

Here are a few of the issues you can avoid by keeping those grease traps clean and clear.

1) Bad smells can turn customers away at the door

Your drains take in a lot of fats, oils, and grease from food waste, and those don’t just wash down the drain and disappear problem-free; they accumulate in your grease trap, and if they are left sitting there, they can start to accumulate an odor—one that is probably going to start costing you customers after a while. A grease trap cleaning service can help keep those odors to a minimum, so your customers are only smelling your restaurant’s deliciously appetizing cooking when they walk through your doors.

2) Sanitation issues could result in the temporary or permanent closure of your facilities

If your grease traps aren’t properly maintained, you can be deemed non-compliant by the Health Department during an inspection, and that can result in penalties, including fines, suspension of operation, and even revocation of your operating license. Finding professional grease trap cleaning services and having them regularly clean, inspect, and maintain your grease traps will minimize the chance of fats, oils, and grease overflowing into the municipal sewers from your restaurant, and that will keep the Health Department happy and your restaurant in business.

3) Expensive repairs

Cleaning and maintaining your grease traps regularly also constitute preventative maintenance, which could save you the costly repairs to your tank. As those fats, oils, and grease sit in your grease trap, they will eventually begin to break down, resulting in the buildup of hydrogen sulfur gas. Not only does this smell unpleasant, but it will also turn into sulfuric acid, which is highly toxic and corrosive. The gases could cause damage to the steel and concrete walls of the grease interceptor, leaving you in need of expensive repairs or even a completely new tank. This will cost you both time and money, and it is easily preventable if you hire grease trap cleaning services.

Of course, there are other benefits to hiring grease trap cleaning services, too.

In addition to the fact that hiring grease trap cleaning services will help you prevent a number of issues that could seriously hinder your business (and its profit margins), there are a few other benefits. For instance, hiring grease trap cleaning services to regularly clean and maintain your grease traps means you are getting consistent assurances that your grease traps are working properly. You also are putting yourself in regular contact with (and building trust with) a company that you can most likely call if anything does go wrong with your system—and that could save you critical time if you need an emergency repair.

Don’t leave your restaurant vulnerable to its grease traps; visit us at Drane Ranger  and follow this page today to get set up with professional grease trap cleaning services.