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What Is An Interceptor (Grease Trap) and How Does It Work?
An interceptor is what people most commonly call a “grease trap” but it actually traps more than grease. It keeps solid food (bits of hamburger, noodles, corn, etc.) and FOGs (fats, oils and grease) from clogging up city sewers. It collects all the wastewater from a kitchen and holds it long enough for solids to sink to the bottom and FOGs to rise to the top. Small walls, called baffles prevent the solids and FOGs from leaving the trap.
Why Does It Need To Be Cleaned?
The trap holds less water as the solids and FOGs build up. Water goes into the sewer faster without enough time for the solids and FOGs to separate, causing sewer clogs. Also, kitchen drains are slower when there is material in the trap. This gives solids and FOGs a chance to settle in the plumping . Eventually the kitchen drains will clog up.
How Often Should It Be Cleaned?
It depends on the type and amount of food prepared, the size of the trap, and how well it is cleaned each time. Also, your town or city probably has an ordinance requiring your trap to be cleaned on a regular basis. Some ordinances require inside traps to be cleaned weekly and outside traps monthly, but this depends on each situation. We at Enviro-Choice suggest that you have your grease traps cleaned out bi-monthly, tri-monthly or bi-yearly depending on the size of the trap.
