Most food service businesses probably don’t even consider attempting to install their own grease trap, at least when it comes to the big underground grease traps. Under-sink grease traps are a slightly different story.

You can find those smaller grease traps for sale online or at restaurant supply stores. Many of these grease traps aren’t even that expensive or bulky. Many people have installed garbage disposals in their own kitchens at home. Is a grease trap really all that different?

Yes – if you’re doing it right.

Things that Make Grease Trap Installation Complicated

• You’ll likely need a cleanout tee/plug and a flow control valve (installed before the cleanout tee and inlet)
• Grease traps require some type of vent on the outlet pipe, although the placement of the vent depends on the grease trap model
• Grease traps need to be properly positioned based on installation instructions
• It’s important the unit has adequate clearance between the removable baffle and the bottom of the sink (if it’s going below a sink)

Properly installing a grease trap isn’t as easy as just cutting a couple of pipes and putting a grease trap between them.

For example, the inlet valve that helps slow the water flow into the grease trap must be correctly positioned to prevent high flows of water from overwhelming the grease trap. There may also be an air release on the flow control valve in the grease trap towards the outlet to prevent a vacuum from forming in the grease trap.

The plumbing can get complicated based on where the unit is installed. The outlet pipe may need to be a specific height and have a minimum angle to ensure proper outflow. In many cases the pipes aren’t threaded and it’s necessary to use pipe joint compound to fit the various water inlet, outlet and sewer pipes together.

Outdoor grease traps and interceptors are even more complicated. These traps are generally very large and in many cases are buried below parking lots or behind a food service business. This might require tearing up asphalt, excavating a large enough hole for the grease trap and connecting it into the sewer system. You’d also have to do all that without hitting any other infrastructure or running afoul of any local ordinances regarding those types of jobs.

Grease traps also need to be inspected by the city during installation. To get a plumbing permit for grease trap installation you need to provide site plans, floor plans and contact information to the Site Development Division of the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. The plans need to show the location of grease traps, the types of grease traps and their model numbers.

Most food service business owners aren’t going to go through all that themselves. It makes more sense to hire a plumber who can handle those details and ensure you’re not violating any municipal rules or regulations.

If you’re just installing a grease trap in your home, especially if it’s under the sink, maybe you won’t need a plumber. Just keep in mind that things like proper venting and pipe alignment can get complicated. If you don’t install a grease trap correctly you risk having messes, flooding or other FOG-related unpleasantness.

Get Professional Grease Trap Servicing from Southern Green Industries

Many of the reasons you should get your commercial grease traps installed by licensed plumbing experts are the same reasons you should have your grease trap cleaning and servicing done by grease trap cleaning expert.

Your local FOG regulators in the Atlanta area will want proof your grease traps are being professional cleaned on a regular basis. They’ll want to see manifests from a licensed and certified grease trap cleaning and transportation company.

Cities know that improperly cleaned grease traps are more likely to let FOG get into the sewer system. They also understand that wastewater in grease traps needs to be properly cleaned and treated, which the average food service business can’t do on their own.

Southern Green Industries is committed to making grease trap servicing as easy and pain free as possible. We offer flexible scheduling as well as one-off, no-contract grease trap servicing calls. Our professional grease trap management professionals are always standing by to help with your grease trap needs.

Give us a call at (404) 419-6887 for your free quote or to schedule grease trap service.