The Function of Grease Traps
Required equipment for all commercial kitchens, grease traps and interceptors separate fat, oil and grease (known in the industry as FOG) from dirty water before it enters the municipal sewer pipes.
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Significance
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FOG causes most sewer line clogs, which can send raw sewage spilling into streets and buildings. Besides presenting a health hazard, overflowing sewer lines can be expensive to repair and clean up.
Function
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Fat, oil and grease weigh less than water. Grease traps and interceptors hold wastewater in a tank so FOG can float to the top and heavier solids can sink to the bottom. The grease-free water then exits the separation chamber at a lower point opposite the inlet.
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Features
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Some grease traps and most interceptors contain two holding tanks, which may increase the amount of FOG removed from the wastewater before it enters the municipal sewage system. Others use air to augment the gravity-induced separation of FOG from the wastewater.
Size
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Small grease traps can be installed either above or below floor level near the drains or pipes that discharge into them. Large-capacity grease traps, called interceptors, will usually be installed underground outside the building where the effluent pipe connects to the main sewer line. The volume of wastewater produced determines the size of the grease trap needed to effectively treat the wastewater coming from a commercial kitchen.
Considerations
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Grease traps and interceptors won't work properly unless employees in food service establishments routinely scrape food scraps and grease solids into the garbage, not down the drains. Grease traps and interceptors also need regular cleaning to remove the accumulated FOG solids.
Warning
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Some companies market enzymes and bacteria that allegedly break down or consume excess FOG in plumbing lines and grease traps. However, many municipalities have banned their use, claiming they interfere with the proper function of the grease trap or interceptor.
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