What a grease trap does and why it fills
A trap slows wastewater so grease floats to the top and solids sink to the bottom. Cleaner water flows out the middle. The trap does not destroy grease. It stores it, and when the storage is full, the grease passes through and coats the line beyond.
Kitchens that fry food, wash greasy pans and run dishwashers all day fill traps faster. The schedule that works depends on the volume of cooking and the size of the unit, not on the calendar alone.
Grease interceptors are sized and installed under the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and plumbing and drainage institute standards, and cleaning logs should be kept the way the City of El Reno asks.
Signs it is time to clean
| Sign | What it means | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Slow kitchen drains | Trap or line is partly blocked | Schedule cleaning |
| Rotten odor from a drain | Trapped grease is decaying | Clean and check the baffles |
| Grease visible at the outlet | Trap is overloaded | Clean right away |
| Backups in floor drains | Line beyond the trap is clogged | Jetting and a camera look |
| Inspector notice | Records or levels out of limits | Clean and keep the log |
What to do when the kitchen is already backing up
Protect the kitchen and the customers
Wastewater with grease is slippery and unsanitary, so treat a backup as a food safety problem.
- Stop dishwashing and close the affected sinks.
- Move food and equipment away from floor drains.
- Block off the wet area so no one slips.
- Call the 24/7 line and say what is backing up.
Kitchen backing up?
Call the 24/7 line. A licensed plumber can be scheduled the same day when available.
El Reno kitchens and the sewer
El Reno's food scene, from the diners on Route 66 to the Fried Onion Burger Day Festival on the first Saturday in May, runs on griddles and fryers. That volume of grease has to go somewhere, and the city's sewer mains are shared by every business on the street. A trap that is cleaned on time protects your kitchen and the public line.
Ask the City of El Reno at 405-262-4070 about requirements for food service grease control, including whether an interceptor is required and what records the city expects. Keep cleaning logs, since an inspector may ask.
Habits that make a trap last
- Scrape plates and pans into the trash before washing.
- Never pour fryer oil down any drain. Use a sealed container for pickup.
- Use strainers in every sink and empty them.
- Keep a written cleaning log with dates.
- Train every shift on what goes in the drain.
What affects the cost
Grease trap questions
Our line is open 24/7. A licensed plumber is scheduled the same day when one is available. A kitchen backup is treated as urgent.
It depends on cooking volume and size. Many kitchens clean on a schedule of weeks or months. Ask what the city expects.
Often. Requirements vary. Ask the City of El Reno at 405-262-4070.
They are similar. Interceptors are usually larger and sit outdoors or underground.
The line past the trap may be coated with grease. Jetting and a camera check can help.
Related services
Business plumbing
Commercial plumbing covers restrooms and water heaters.
Drain lines
Drain cleaning clears kitchen lines.
Main line
Sewer line cleaning handles the building sewer.