Grease Trap Removal

Grease traps catch fats, oils, and grease before they get into your plumbing and sewer lines. Over time they fill up and need to be pumped out and cleaned. If you run a restaurant or any kind of commercial kitchen, this is not something you can skip — most local health codes require regular service, and inspectors do check.

How grease trap removal works

A technician shows up with a vacuum truck, pumps out the grease and wastewater, scrapes down the walls and baffles, then hauls everything to a licensed disposal site. The whole thing usually takes 30 to 90 minutes. Bigger traps or ones that have been neglected take longer.

How often should you clean a grease trap?

Every 1 to 3 months is the standard range. Kitchens that do heavy frying — think fried chicken spots or fish-and-chips places — usually need monthly service. Lower-volume operations like sandwich shops or cafes can sometimes go quarterly. Check with your local health department, because some jurisdictions spell out exact schedules.

Types of grease traps

Indoor grease traps

These are the smaller units that sit under sinks or somewhere in the kitchen. They hold 20 to 50 gallons and fill up fast, so they need cleaning more often. You will see these in smaller restaurants, cafes, and food trucks.

Outdoor grease interceptors

These are the big underground units — 500 to 2,000 gallons. They handle the volume from larger commercial kitchens, hotels, and food processing operations. Service visits are less frequent but cost more because there is a lot more to pump out.

What affects grease trap service cost

• Trap size: More gallons means more time on site and more waste to haul
• Service contracts vs. one-off calls: Signing up for regular service almost always gets you a better per-visit rate
• Where you are: More providers in your area usually means better pricing
• How long it has been: A trap that has not been touched in six months is going to take more work than one on a regular schedule
• Disposal fees: The waste has to go to a licensed facility, and that processing cost gets passed along
• Emergency calls: After-hours service costs a lot more — plan ahead if you can

Health code compliance

Most cities and counties require food service businesses to keep grease traps maintained and to hold onto service records. If you fall behind, you are looking at fines, possible forced closure, or sewer line damage that costs way more than the cleaning would have. Stay on a regular schedule and keep your receipts.

For federal guidelines on fats, oils, and grease management, the EPA NPDES program has the details.

Signs you need grease trap service

• Kitchen sinks are draining slow
• Bad smells coming from the drains or around the trap
• You can see grease sitting above the 25%% line in the trap
• Gurgling noises from the plumbing
• It has been more than 3 months since the last service