In commercial kitchens, grease traps are an essential component for maintaining cleanliness and keeping operations running smoothly. These devices prevent fats, oils and grease (FOG) from entering the wastewater system, which can cause sewer clogs and backups for not only your business but neighboring businesses and the area.

Regular cleaning and maintenance isn’t just a necessity to avoid damaging the city’s infrastructure. It can save your business money by preventing major issues and extending the lifespan of your kitchen’s infrastructure.

Cost Savings Through Regular Maintenance

One of the most compelling reasons to prioritize grease trap maintenance is the financial benefit. At first glance, scheduling regular cleanings and inspections may seem like an unnecessary cost, but it can actually save you a significant amount of money over time.

When grease traps are not properly maintained, the accumulated FOG can harden and create blockages in your sewer line. This can lead to expensive emergency repairs and potential downtime for your kitchen operations. A proactive approach ensures your grease trap and sewer line remains free of large build-ups, reducing the likelihood of unexpected and messy disasters.

Here’s how regular maintenance can save you money:

• Avoid emergency repair costs: Blockages can result in backups that require immediate trenching and sewer line replacement. Emergency services are typically more expensive than routine maintenance and may lead to damage of your business’s landscaping or parking lot.
  
  
• Extend the lifespan of your grease trap: Excessive FOG buildup can harden, block the system and reduce its capacity. Regular cleanings can also slow the progression of corrosion or rust caused by the constant exposure to FOG and water.
  
  
• Avoid fines and penalties: Atlanta businesses are subject to strict regulations regarding grease trap maintenance. Failing to comply with these can lead to fines, citations or even temporary closure of your business.

Preventing Major Sewer and Health Issues

When grease traps are not cleaned regularly, they can overflow or malfunction, leading to serious issues that affect both the infrastructure of your business and the safety of your staff and customers.

Here’s what can happen when grease traps are neglected:

• Clogged drains and sewer backups: Fats, oils and grease can accumulate in your sewer line and cause severe blockages. These blockages can result in slow drainage, unpleasant odors and, in worst-case scenarios, complete sewer backups, which can halt kitchen operations for hours or days. The cleanup can be arduous, and the entire event can negatively affect your business’s reputation in the area.
  
  
• Unpleasant odors: As grease accumulates and begins to decompose, it can emit foul odors. These smells can permeate your kitchen and dining area, creating an unpleasant environment for staff and customers.
  
  
• Health code violations: Blockages and backups can lead to unsanitary conditions, which could trigger health code violations during inspections. Violations can result in fines or, in severe cases, closure of your business until the issues are resolved.

Extending the Lifespan of Kitchen Infrastructure

Your kitchen’s infrastructure is a major investment. From plumbing systems to grease traps and kitchen appliances, everything works in harmony to keep your business running efficiently. Regularly scheduled grease trap maintenance plays a key role in preserving this infrastructure, ultimately extending the lifespan of your equipment and reducing the need for costly replacements.

When FOG accumulates in your grease trap, it not only clogs your plumbing but can also damage the grease trap itself. Over time, the grease trap can corrode or degrade due to the harsh nature of the waste it collects. Delaying replacement for as long as possible is always preferable.

Minimizing Downtime and Maintaining Productivity

• Reduce unscheduled closures: Preventative maintenance reduces the chances of unexpected grease trap overflows or sewer line backups that require closing your kitchen for repairs.

• Avoid lost revenue: Every minute your kitchen is offline due to a grease trap or sewer line issue represents lost income. Routine grease trap maintenance helps you avoid these costly interruptions.

• Improve employee productivity: When plumbing issues arise, it can slow down the flow of work in the kitchen. Regular grease trap maintenance keeps operations running smoothly and employees focused on their tasks.

Compliance with Environmental and Safety Regulations

Atlanta businesses with commercial kitchens are required by law to maintain their grease traps to a specific standard. These regulations are put in place to protect the city’s sewer system from clogs caused by FOG buildup.

It’s important to keep in mind that these are not generalized clogs that can happen anywhere. They’re more likely to develop near the source, meaning around your business or in your area if you fail to maintain the proper cleaning schedule or adhere to the 25 percent rule.

Failure to comply with grease trap cleaning regulations can result in fines, penalties and even temporary closure of your business.

By taking a preventative approach to grease trap maintenance, you ensure that your business remains compliant with Atlanta ordinances and avoids costly fines.

Invest in Preventative Grease Trap Cleaning and Maintenance in Atlanta

Atlanta food service businesses looking for a dependable grease trap cleaning and maintenance partner should call Southern Green Inc. at (404) 419-6887. We’re dedicated to prompt and thorough service that ensures businesses never need to worry about the condition or cleanliness of their grease traps.