Grease Pit Maintenance:Reasons Why Your Grease Pits Preventative Maintenance

08 May 2023

Many commercial buildings take advantage of kitchens so they can prepare, cook, and serve food to employees or customers. And since these kitchens generate fats, oils, and grease or FOG, they must take advantage of grease pits.

Grease pits, also known as grease traps or interceptors, are vital to commercial kitchens since they can collect FOG that is often produced during food preparation and cooking processes. They allow wastewater from sinks, dishwashers, and other kitchen equipment pieces to flow into the pit. The pit will then slow the wastewater down so that the FOG can be separated from it and float to the top of the pit.

The separated elements will then be trapped in the pit, while the water flows out continuously to an outlet pipe. The way grease pits operate intends to save the sewer system from clogging and other issues that can affect its function.

The Lack of Grease Pit Maintenance

Without maintaining the grease pit regularly, commercial buildings may attain issues and problems that can affect their overall operations. Some of the negative effects of a poorly maintained or serviced grease pit are as follows.

• Bad Odour: The accumulation of FOG in the grease pit is highly expected as it is the main function of the system. However, the lack of regular maintenance may only solidify these elements. As time passes, the piled-up FOG elements may rot, emitting a bad odour that can deter people from entering the property or establishment. For food service businesses, this issue can only give them a bad reputation. They may even lose customers.

• Costly Damages: FOG, alongside food remains, often possess chemical compounds. Once they are left in the grease pit for too long, they will eventually break down until they form hydrogen sulphur gas and convert it into sulfuric acid. This acid can be toxic, damaging the steel and other parts of the grease pit. Replacing the damaged parts, unfortunately, can cost a lot of time and money.

• Drain Issues: A grease pit works with the drain system to effectively get rid of wastewater from a property. Now, if the grease pit is not maintained optimally, it can easily affect the operations of the drainage, which may force the wastewater to overflow and spill backward.

• Hefty Penalties: The health department and other related regulatory bodies always ensure that properties will follow the standards and regulations related to cleanliness and hygiene of business operations. Once a property does not maintain the grease pit, it may be forced to impose hefty penalties and fines on the business. Worse, they may suspend the operation of the business or even shut it down completely.

Grease Pit Maintenance Advantages

Tons of advantages are expected with grease pit maintenance. Some of them are the following.

• Improve Kitchen Hygiene: Grease pits that are maintained regularly can prevent bacteria, mould, and other harmful microorganisms from accumulating, which ensures that food, utensils, and others will not be contaminated and generate foodborne illnesses.

• Avoid Clogs: FOG build-up in grease pits can cause clogs in the sewer system, which can cause backups, overflows, and costly repairs. Grease pit maintenance can prevent clogging on the system, deterring pests and foul odours from infiltrating the property.

• Prevent Costly Repairs: Grease pit maintenance can also be advantageous to business owners as it can save them some money. Since FOG elements will not build up on the grease pit anymore, any cases of corrosion, leaks, and others will decline significantly, which likewise prevent costly repairs of the system.

Regular maintenance of grease pits is essential for compliance with local regulations, preventing clogs in the sewer system, improving kitchen hygiene, and preventing costly repairs, Hence, a maintenance plan and schedule must be set to avoid generating any issues.

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