According to regulations put forth by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all kitchens in restaurants and commercial building must be equipped with functioning grease traps or interceptors. On top of these regulations, restaurant owners in many Ohio counties are required to have their grease traps cleaned and serviced at least every three months.

If this is your first time shopping for a restaurant grease trap, knowing what to look for and what will work for your establishment will save you money and a lot of stress down the road. Purchasing the wrong (or low quality) equipment can lead to costly grease trap repair that has the potential of even shutting down your kitchen for some time.

Here are a few things you should consider when buying a commercial grease trap.

The Size

Larger grease traps and tanks are more efficient at separating grease from water, but don’t go out and simply buy the largest tank you can find on the market. You need to make sure that the tank will be able to fit underneath the sink in your kitchen.

The simple dimensions of the tank are also not all you need to consider. Commercial grease traps are sized to account for the incoming flow of fluids. This is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). The capacity of grease traps is rated at double the flow rate (for example, a 20 GPM grease trap will have a total capacity of 40lbs).

Make sure that you have an adequately sized trap. Otherwise, you will be scheduling grease trap cleanings much more often than you may like.

What it’s Used For

You should consider how the trap will be used. Is the trap meant for a sink? A dishwasher? Remember all dish machines must have their own grease trap that is separate from the sink line.

While you can use a single grease trap for multiple sinks, remember to calculate the additional flow from the added sink when deciding which grease trap size suits your needs.

Don’t Forget to Have it Serviced

The most important part about having a grease trap is to keep it clean and well-maintained. Grease trap cleaning will allow you to avoid having to replace the system frequently. It will also allow you to avoid fines from the city, which can be levied in the event that your grease trap leaks or fails.

Contact our team today to set up your next grease trap cleaning.