Grease interceptors are an important component of any commercial kitchen as they remove fats, oils, and grease (collectively called FOGs) from your wastewater before it is allowed to enter the municipal wastewater system. It is important to properly maintain your grease interceptor to ensure its proper functioning and in this week’s blog we outline how they work, common problems they face, and the products and services we offer at Tanks Direct to keep your grease interceptor in its best shape. Learn more, below.

Grease interceptors: What They Are, What They Do, and Why You Need One

The grease interceptor is designed to separate fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) as well as solid debris from your wastewater before it enters the municipal wastewater system which is not equipped to handle these substances. You will find the interceptor located in both aboveground and underground storage tanks, between the drain and sewer system. A flow regulator/diverter prevents too much water from overwhelming the interceptor and mixing with the debris and FOGs that the interceptor is designed to separate. After your wastewater has entered the grease interceptor, it starts to cool down which causes the FOGs to solidify and float to the surface of the water. Debris sinks to the bottom, leaving a middle layer of clean water that can be safely discharged into the municipal sewer system.

After this process, the clean water enters the grease interceptor’s second compartment which is separated by a crossover pipe. If any FOGs have made it through to this point, they then rise to the surface. The clean water below is drained through an outlet pipe.

As you can imagine, grease interceptors are prone to a number of problems that cause them to work less efficiently. The interceptor’s lines can easily become clogged, which can lead to unpleasant and messy overflows. Your grease interceptor must also be emptied and cleaned periodically to prevent clogs.

At Tanks Direct, we offer a variety of services to install and maintain your grease interceptor. These include:

• Strainer baskets
• Solid Removal Systems
• Gravity Grease Interceptors
• Grease Recovery Devices
• High-level audible alarm systems aka “FOG Watch Systems”

To learn more about our grease interceptor products and services, please contact us today!