Grease Trap Services Seattle

Seattle Grease Trap Laws

Are Your Grease Traps in Seattle Sized and Maintained According to Your Local Code?

Seattle grease trap laws aim to mitigate the risks of water contamination. There are different ways to reduce the risk of contaminating the city’s water system, and one is by requiring commercial kitchens to install grease traps.  

But if you’re wondering whether you should install a grease recovery device in your facility, you only have to ask one question. Are you producing fat, oil, and grease (F.O.G.) in your kitchen? If yes, then a grease trap installation is in order.  

Local regulations should be observed when installing and keeping your grease trap. Don’t worry because we will lay out what you need to know in simple terms.  

First, we need to understand why local regulations compel food service establishments to put in the appropriate grease trap and to maintain it regularly. The main reason is that grease is a major cause of back-ups of sewers. Congested sewers drive sewage back into residential and commercial properties. This is a community health issue. Thus, states have established regulations to keep FOG from getting into the sewers. If you’re an owner of a restaurant or a catering business, you’re responsible for knowing and abiding by these regulations.

Sizing your grease trap

Local codes dictate that you should have an appropriately sized grease interceptor. Grease trap sizing in Seattle is tricky. Hence, most restaurant owners just consult a professional to make accurate sink flow rate calculations.  

Sizing details vary from state to state and from city to city. For instance, in Tampa, Florida, the size of your grease interceptor should depend on the number of seats in your dining area and the number of hours your establishment is open. The location of your food service establishment also matters.  

Restaurants can do with small grease traps installed along the drain lines. Large food chains may install bigger units outdoors. Commercial food service entities almost always requires large outdoor interceptors.

Grease trap maintenance in Seattle

Local regulations also mandate regular maintenance of grease traps. Part of maintenance is checking the depth of grease layer in the interceptor. Once the oily sludge reaches a quarter of the total depth of the effluent in the trap, it’s time to take the grease out. How often this happens depends on how big and busy your restaurant or kitchen is. You may need Seattle grease trap cleaning once every three months or once a month. You may contact Seattle Grease Trap Services to have your interceptors checked and cleaned if you don’t have a designated staff skilled to handle the task.  

Failure to clean your grease trap causes accumulation of grease and then subsequent leaking of grease into the sewers or waste water treatment facilities. You are in effect violating laws on grease trap maintenance and, thus, may be penalized accordingly. Violation of grease trap laws can make you liable for fines as low as $500 up to as much as $10,000 per day. The more grease you pass into the sewer, the bigger your fine. 

Don’t be the next restaurateur liable for violating grease trap laws in Seattle. Call us at 206-880-7424. schedule a consultation. We will see if you have an appropriate grease trap for your restaurant or if your interceptor needs due maintenance. 

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