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Grease traps are common in restaurants, but did you know you can also install them in your home? If you’re a regular home cook, and you want to prevent clogged pipes, a grease trap could be the perfect addition to your plumbing.
What Is a Grease Trap?
A grease trap, or grease trap interceptor, is a device that connects to your plumbing and separates fats, oils and grease from your wastewater. That way, these substances are less likely to build up in your pipes and cause clogs, backups and other plumbing problems.
Do you need a grease trap at home? You might consider it if you spend a lot of time cooking. Even if you frequently wipe the grease out of pots and pans before washing dishes, trace amounts can still accumulate in your plumbing over time.
How Does a Grease Trap Work?
The main component of a residential grease trap is a small tank. Water flows down your drain and into the tank, where it starts to cool. As it does, the fat, oil and grease particles solidify and float to the top. Meanwhile, solid particles sink to the bottom of the tank, and the cleaner water flows out into your pipes.
Some grease traps have baffles, or dividing walls, that separate the tank into several parts. This multi-compartment system gives the water extra time to cool, allowing even more fats and solids to separate out of the water.
Grease Trap Installation
In a home setting, grease traps are usually installed under the kitchen sink. However, if you’re concerned about fats and oils going down other drains, you can also install a whole-house model.
The grease trap is typically installed under the drainpipe in your kitchen sink, right after the P-trap. This reduces the distance that greasy water has to travel, preventing buildup. Then, you can connect the other side of the trap to the pipe that carries wastewater into the sewer. Some grease traps also require a water connection.
How to Clean Out a Grease Trap
Grease trap cleaning processes vary by model. Unlike restaurants, which often use grease trap pumping, you can do it by hand. Smaller units can often be removed from your plumbing temporarily — then, you can empty and solids and solid fats. Alternatively, you can open the lid and scoop out the fat and solids without removing the unit.
Once the grease trap is empty, it’s important to clean it thoroughly with soap and water. This helps prevent odors and buildup over time.
How Do Grease Traps Help Your Plumbing?
Grease traps help your plumbing by keeping food particles, fats, oils and grease out of your pipes. Without a trap, these substances flow through the plumbing in your home and into the sewer main. As they flow, small particles can get caught on the walls of the pipes. This causes fatty buildup over time that blocks the flow.
When fats block your pipes, they can cause unpleasant and expensive plumbing disasters. In the early stages, you might notice that your sinks and showers drain slowly. Or, you could experience odors coming from your drains, damaged plumbing or pests.
In the worst-case scenario, fat can cause a complete blockage of your pipes. This can create sewer backups, where raw sewage or wastewater flows back into your home through drains, sinks, showers and toilets.
Grease traps help prevent these issues and save you from property damage and costly emergency calls to your plumber. Although you need to buy the trap and pay for installation, the upfront investment is small compared to the potential costs of grease buildup, especially if you love to cook.
Installing a Grease Trap at Home
If you’re considering installing a grease trap in your home, it’s a good idea to consult with a professional to choose the right model and installation type. At Anton’s Plumbing, Heating/Cooling & Energy Experts, we can streamline the process and help keep your pipes protected.
