At Garrett Precast, we manufacture high-quality precast concrete products, including grease trap tanks. We understand how these tanks work inside and out thanks to our expertise and industry experience. In this blog post, we’ll look into the benefits of grease trap tanks and outline the four steps on how they work.
Importance of Grease Traps
- Prevents Drain Clogs and Backups: Grease trap tanks keep fats, oils, and grease from entering the plumbing system. Therefore, they reduce the risk of blockages that can lead to expensive repairs and downtime.
- Protects the Environment: These devices stop grease from entering the sewer system, thereby preventing pollution in local waterways.
- Ensures Regulatory Compliance: Many local governments require businesses, especially restaurants, to have grease traps installed. Staying compliant helps you avoid fines and potential business interruptions.
Step 1: Wastewater Flows into the Grease Trap
It all starts when wastewater from the kitchen flows into the grease trap. This water contains food particles, fats, oils, and grease. As the wastewater enters the trap, it slows down. This slowdown gives the trap enough time to start separating the substances. The heavier food solids sink to the bottom while the lighter fats and oils rise to the top. Think of it as a holding tank where gravity does most of the work.
Step 2: Separation of Solids and Grease
Once inside the tank, the natural separation process begins. Grease floats because it’s lighter than water, and the solids settle at the bottom. In between the top grease layer and the bottom sludge layer is a layer of relatively cleaner water. This middle layer is what eventually gets discharged to the sewer system. But make no mistake—what stays behind can add up fast if the trap isn’t cleaned regularly.
Step 3: Retention and Storage of Waste
The whole purpose of the grease trap is to trap the grease, and that’s exactly what happens next. The FOG stays inside the trap, building up slowly over time. The solids remain at the bottom, forming a sludge layer that needs to be cleaned out periodically. If the trap is too small or not cleaned often enough, it can overflow or clog. A properly maintained trap keeps things flowing without any issues.
Step 4: Clean Water Exits to Sewer Line
After the separation is complete and FOG is held back, the cleaner water in the middle exits the grease trap and continues on to the main sewer line. This is the only portion of the wastewater that should leave the trap. The final discharge may still contain some microscopic particles, but the heavy-duty waste remains inside. That’s what protects your plumbing system and keeps your kitchen compliant with local waste regulations.
Note: If you operate a restaurant or commercial kitchen, regular grease trap maintenance is just as important as knowing how it works.
Contact Garrett Precast For Quality Grease Trap Tanks
Garrett Precast is a top-rated precast company that’s dedicated to manufacturing superior-quality precast concrete solutions. We manufacture and supply grease trap tanks, retaining walls, septic tanks, septic tank lids, septic tank risers, seawalls, lift stations, concrete parking stops, and more. Our products are crafted with quality and customer satisfaction in mind.
