Need to replace your concrete grease trap but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Want to build one yourself but don’t know how to? Well, don’t worry, because in this article we are going to be showing you exactly how to build a concrete grease trap. With the help of this, you will be able to take care of the environment as well as the plumbing in your area while saving a lot of money.

How To Build A Concrete Grease Trap? What Are Its Pros And Cons?

What is a Grease Trap?

A grease trap is a device that collects the wastewater from kitchen sinks and separates the grease and fats from it before letting it flow into the sewers. The reason this process is important is that even though oils and grease might be liquid when you dispose them in your sink or wash them off your dishes, they can later solidify in pipes and cause a blockage. Furthermore, this grease is dangerous to the environment, and so even if it doesn’t cause a blockage in your pipes, it will inevitably flow out into a stream or river and pollute it.

The way a grease trap separates the grease from water is due to its simple design, consisting of a tank with two chambers that hold water and a few pipes that direct it in and out of the tank. Basically, when the wastewater from your sink or dishwasher enters the tank and into the first chamber, all the oils and grease float to the top due to having a lower density than water.

Then, due to the positioning of the pipe in the wall dividing the two chambers, the water from the lower and middle sections of the tank flows into the second chamber. This water is free from all sorts of grease and oils as they have been resting on its surface. And finally, this water is allowed to flow out of the take through an outflow pipe into the public sewer system.

How to Build a Concrete Grease Trap?

To build a concrete grease trap from scratch yourself, first of all, you need to set the dimensions of your trap by deciding how big you want the trap to be. The bigger the trap is, the more volume it will have to hold the waste; therefore its size depends on the amount of wastewater that is produced by your house, restaurant, or apartment building on a daily basis.

Once you have decided on the size of the grease trap, you are going to build the outer casing of the grease trap. For this, you need to build a rectangular box out of concrete, with the base being twice that of its height. Then inside the box, you need to build a baffle wall. This needs to be constructed vertically in a way that it divides the area in the casing into a section with one-third of the total volume and another section with two-thirds of the volume. The larger section is called the primary tank, and the smaller one is called the secondary tank.

While making the casing, you need to make holes on either side of the box for the inlet and outlet pipes and one on the baffle wall for the crossover pipe. You also need to make two large holes on the top of the box for each section that will serve as access doors for the inside of the grease trap for maintenance purposes. When making the holes for the pipe, you need to make sure that you get the dimensions exactly right so that the pipes fit perfectly in them without the water leaking through them.

Once the box is ready, you can move on to fitting the pipes in them. In the baffle wall, fit in the crossover pipe. This can be a single pipe placed in an angled way with one of its ends facing downwards in the primary tank and the other facing upwards in the secondary one. But if you don’t have the appropriate hole for this, then you can use a tee pipe attached from the primary tank’s side. Then connect two straight pipes to the tee pipe, with the top one jutting out of the surface of the water and grease and the bottom one just a bit above the base of the tank.

Next, inside of both of the sections of the tank, attach a tee pipe to the sides where you have made the hole. Then, attach a long tube, going staring down and stopping a little bit above the floor of the tank, to each of the tee pipes. Next, you can attach two more pipes to the outside of the trap through the two tee pipes.

The one connected to the tee pipe inside the primary tank will serve as the inlet pipe, and the one connected to that in the secondary tank will act as the outlet pipe. And now, your grease trap is ready for installation. And for that, all you need to do is connect the pipes carrying the wastewater from the kitchens to the inlet piper and the pipe leading to the sewer to the outlet pipe.

Pros of Concrete Grease Traps

There are various reasons why you should build concrete a grease trap for either domestic or commercial purposes. The first of which is that it is a worthy investment and saves you a lot of money. This is because, with the help of a grease trap, all the grease and fat do not enter your plumbing which prevents the grease from solidifying and blocking one of the pipes. This saves you the frequent call to the plumber to have your pipes unclogged.

Another advantage of having a concrete grease trap is that concrete is much sturdier than many other materials that grease traps can be made out of. Because of this, it is guaranteed to withstand tough use and so, can last for a few decades. Because of this, concrete grease traps also require low maintenance to keep working well.

Concrete is also environmentally safe due to being made from natural materials. And so, even if the grease traps start to deteriorate a little over time, it proves no harm to the environment. Furthermore, as it is safe and non-toxic, the water that it holds does not absorb any sort of toxic materials from it, and therefore safe to let flow back into rivers and streams.

Having a grease trap, in general, is very environmentally friendly. This is because it prevents the toxic fats and grease from passing through the sewage system and into rivers or streams. Also, the grease and oils gathered in your grease traps can be harvested and used as a source of fuel to generate power or can be turned into mulch to fertilize crops.

Cons of Concrete Grease Traps

While concrete grease traps have various great qualities, there are also a few downsides to using one. The first of this is that concrete is porous; therefore, many bacteria from the wastewater in the concrete traps can seep into its walls and start to build up there. And so, over time, a large build-up of bacteria can then cause the walls of the trap to erode.

Another disadvantage of concrete grease traps is that concrete changes shape with temperature, expanding in summers and contracting in winters. This can cause the grease trap to develop cracks and become useless over time. And so, using a concrete grease trap might not be the best option for places with extreme temperatures.

Lastly, concrete grease traps are extremely heavy, especially the larger ones built for commercial use. And so if they get really old and damaged, replacing them would prove to be quite difficult and expensive. This is because the whole process would require heavy machinery and a lot of manual labor.

FAQs

How often does a concrete grease trap need to be cleaned?

A concrete grease trap needs to be cleaned after every one or two months. Otherwise, the buildup of grease and oils can lead to the formation of various acids that can result in corroding the grease trap. Furthermore, this buildup can also reduce the performance of a grease trap.

How long does a concrete grease trap last?

Concrete grease traps can last around 10 to 30 years under proper care and maintenance, which includes frequent emptying the tanks, routinely cleaning, and so on. Although these concrete grease traps can last a shorter period of time if they are in a place with extreme summers and winters as concrete changes shape with the temperature that can cause it to crack.

Wrapping Up

Grease traps are extremely important when it comes to protecting the environment as well as your plumbing from harmful grease deposits. And one of the oldest and most common types of grease traps is the concrete ones. This is because they are quite durable and are a great option for commercial areas like apartment buildings where large traps with a lot of capacity are required. And as they are quite expensive, you can save a lot of money if you know how to build a concrete grease trap yourself.

Get rid of unpleasant odor and flooding grease content by securing the lid of tank by these grease trap cover gaskets.

Proper maintenance and appropriate handling are required for the effective working of grease traps. For this purpose, it is necessary to purchase the best grease trap cover gasket. The gasket is basically a mechanical seal that fills the extra space between mating surfaces. It seals and prevents the leakage of grease content under compression by filling the irregularities.

It is always a great idea to spend your bucks on the best and long-lasting products which work efficiently. This article will discuss five top-notch grease trap cover gaskets that are essential if you have a grease interceptor at your place.

All these products are readily available on Amazon from where you can purchase easily. So let’s discuss these products one by one:

Grease Trap Cover Gasket

Product	Reviews	Price
1 Endura 3920A-5	Read Reviews	Price
2 Grease Interceptor Cover	Read Reviews	Price
3 Neoprene Rubber	Read Reviews	Price
4. VANKEY Wire	Read Reviews	Price
5. KAMaster Wire	Read Reviews	Price

1. Endura 3920A-5 Lid Gasket

The first product on our list is manufactured by Endura. It is a top-quality product that is made up of foamed silicone material. Silicone is an excellent material that comes with the best prevention or sealing properties.

This material is widely used for cushioning and sealing. It resists the liquid content or dust particles efficiently. The best material construction is one of the reasons why we prefer this product. It is important to consider the build quality of a grease trap cover gasket.

Moreover, it is a versatile product. You can use it for various tank sizes, i.e., 15 – 20 – 25 tank sizes. There is a meager chance of damage or deterioration because it is a sturdy yet elastic material dealing with external pressure and temperature fluctuations. The best part is that if it gets damaged anytime, then you can easily replace it.

The Endura grease trap cover gasket is a premium product that offers high performance. It provides an unassailable and airtight seal between the cover of the grease trap and its tank so that the grease content will not flow out.

It also helps keep the odor inside the tank, making your grease interceptor suitable to be placed inside your kitchen, usually under the sink.

In summary, this product is highly recommended because of its exceptional build quality. It offers great sealing and resistive properties, making it the best performing option in today’s market. It is a long-lasting option to spend money on!

 

2. Grease Interceptor Cover Gasket

Here comes another grease trap cover gasket manufactured by a leading brand called Jay R. Smith Manufacturing Co. The company is known for producing top-quality products related to plumbing and engineering.

At first, we really liked to appreciate the overall look of this grease interceptor cover gasket. It comes in decent white color that has enclosed the grayish foam-like structure, which provides cushioning.

As we mentioned above, the build quality of a cover gasket is a prior consideration because it is related to several factors like durability, suitability, and more. In this way, we highly recommend this product. There is a lot more to say about specifications, so let’s dig in!

This is a premium grease trap cover gasket that comes with an instruction guide. This guide helps the user in placing the gasket on the cover or lid of the grease interceptor.

Along with that, the size of a gasket is also important to set it properly. This grease trap cover gasket is 7 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches in size and weighs 1.91 pounds in terms of dimensions. Some users may find this a little heavier than other similar products in the market.

Over and above that, it is a versatile product suitable for almost every size of grease trap. It comes in a suitable size and offers great performance. It can provide sealing properties against water, solid as well as gaseous compounds. It is based on an airtight mechanism that makes it a perfect option for grease trap cover.

All-inclusive, this grease trap cover gasket is another perfect choice to seal the tank that contains grease, fat, and oil content. It offers great versatility and durability. We prefer this product because of its airtight mechanism.

 

3. Neoprene Rubber DIY Gasket

Presenting you another high-quality grease trap cover! This grease trap cover gasket is made up of popular neoprene material. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber material commonly used because it is highly flexible, resilient, resistant, and durable. It can stop liquid materials like water, grease, and other solvents.

Moreover, the neoprene is capable of withstanding compression and external temperature changes. Unlike sponge and foam, it is a solid material that is smooth in texture.

Besides, it offers high-end sealing properties. It provides resistance against abrasion and grease content. The best thing about this product is that it offers enormous versatility. This gasket is 3/16 in thickness. It is easy to cut and customize, which makes this gasket suitable for every sized grease interceptor.

The durability and sturdiness make it the first choice for users who don’t want to replace the gaskets repeatedly. It can withstand extreme temperature or pressure conditions.

Moreover, if you find any difficulty with the product, then feel free to contact the manufacturers. The producers have made this product with a 100% guarantee.

The Neoprene grease trap cover gasket is made up of good quality material that stops the solvents. It is a resilient and durable material which is easy to cut and fix. People complain about this gasket’s toughness, but in our opinion, it is always a good idea to choose a product that is not too flexible.

 

4. VANKEY Wire Mesh Gasket

The fourth product on our list is VANKEY gasket. It comes with a length of 150 inches that is enough to surround the cover. It perfectly seals the cover and stops the solvents and grease content from flowing out. The best thing about this gasket is that it has extraordinary resistive properties.

The VANKEY is made up of glass fiber material. The glass fiber material is extremely useful because of one main reason that it can cope with extreme temperature conditions. It is a highly resistant material perfect for covering and providing sealing properties to cover a grease interceptor.

Additionally, it is a wire mesh gasket. It not only comes with exceptional protective properties but also has adhesive characteristics. Unlike other usual cover gaskets, it is effortless to install and stick. We recommend this product to beginners because it is effortless to use and handle.

Comprehensively, this product is a great value for money. It is the best grease trap cover gasket which offers top-notch resistance and protection. The best thing about this grease trap cover gasket is that it comes with adhesive properties, making it suitable for every user.

 

5. KAMaster Wire Mesh Gasket

The last on our list is a KAMaster wire mesh gasket for a grease interceptor’s cover or lid. This is a best-working grease trap cover gasket categorized in this list for many reasons, as discussed below.

It is made up of fiberglass mesh material that can withstand external extreme conditions like high pressure or very high temperature. On top of that, it is a durable product that lasts longer than its market competitors.

Moreover, the KAMaster wire mesh gasket comes with top-notch sealing properties. We really like to appreciate its airtight mechanism, which will not let any material, even gases, move outside. This makes it suitable for those who are complaining about the odor from their grease trappers.

Furthermore, the KAMaster is enlisted in the best grease trap cover gasket category because of its self-sticking properties. It is adhesive in nature which gives you the ease of application. Thus, it is best suited for every level user.

In conclusion, the KAMaster grease trap cover gasket is a perfect choice to seal the tank containing oil, fat, or grease content. It is suggested because of its adhesive and protective properties. It is suitable for every type of user, even beginners.

 

FAQs

How often should a grease trap be cleaned?

Cleanliness and good maintenance is the key to the long age of your device or equipment. Thus it is necessary to clean your grease trapper as a whole every month. However, if you failed to manage time for this, then do it once every three months.

Why does my grease trap smell?

Usually, the grease interceptor produces a smelly odor because of the decomposition of food material. This solid material is deposited at the bottom of the interceptor; to get rid of that, it is a good idea to fix a gasket on the cover of the grease interceptor.

Where is a grease trap usually installed?

The grease interceptors are usually installed under the sink of the kitchen. If you have several sinks at your place or multiple running kitchens, then place a large grease interceptor outside your home. It is always suggested to think and plan before installation because replacement is not a good idea.

Conclusion

Grease, oil, fat, or waste material is a great mess we all want to get rid of. For this purpose, we have got an option to install a grease interceptor, especially if we are running a restaurant or several kitchens in our household.

Grease traps are an eco-friendly and budget-friendly option, but people feel an unpleasant odor at their place after purchasing these traps. Also, the tank containing all the waste is at risk of flooding. We have presented the best grease trap cover gaskets, which come with great sealing properties to fix all that problems.

All the aforementioned products are best performing and great in their own ways but if you don’t have enough time to read the whole article, then take a look at this compacted summary of three top choices in this category:

• Endura 3920A-5 Lid Gasket because of versatility. It is suitable for almost every sized grease trap. It comes with a good airtight mechanism and premium quality performance.
• Neoprene Rubber DIY Gasket because of its durability and premium quality construction. It comes with great resistive properties.
• KAMaster Wire Mesh Gasket because of its self-sticking properties. It is adhesive, which makes it easy to apply and handle.

In the end, all these grease trap cover gaskets are great in performance and selected on certain criteria. We always prefer build quality and performance over anything, including price. All these items are perfect, but you have to consider your needs and preferences first. We hope this information would be enough for you to select the best grease trap cover gasket!

Cooking with oil, fat, and grease content can be messy. If this content is left unchecked and accumulated as waste, it will become gross and expensive to undo.

Therefore, it is always a great idea to install a grease trap. After purchasing the best grease trap, many questions arise about installation and requirements. Are you concerned about Grease Trap installations and budget information?

If yes, then you’re in the right spot. This article will discuss all the details related to Grease Trap installation, requirements, and costs.

Before installing the Grease Trap, you also need approval from your area’s water authority and waste inspection department. After that, the installation typically varies. Some grease traps involve drainage designing or a unique venting system for proper installation.

How to Install a Grease Trap?

Before stepping towards the installation procedure, you need to know that you can’t do it by yourself if you lack the basic skills required to install a grease trap.

In this case, you need to hire a professional plumber who can do this task perfectly. However, we never suggest that because it is always a good idea to learn new skills.

On the other hand, if you have such skills, it is not difficult to perform. A grease trap should be installed so that it is accessible to you so you can clean it and remove the content when it fills up.

The frequency of grease traps varies with the area of installation. The frequency is higher in commercial areas while it is lower in homes.

Steps to Follow in Installation of Grease Trap

In the first step, you need to address the location you like to install a grease trap. As we mentioned earlier, the location is significant when it comes to grease trap installation.

In our opinion, the best place to install a grease trap is below your kitchen sink because of greater convenience. If there are several sinks in your home used regularly for cooking and other purposes, you should install a grease trap outside your home.

After choosing the accurate location for grease trap installation, it’s time to connect a grease trap. Before starting this step, we always recommend reading the instruction manual given by grease trap manufacturers.

If you have lost your manual book, then you can also find it online on the official website of grease trap producing companies.

The installation varies from one model of the grease trap to another. Still, in this section, we will be covering the general method that probably goes for every model except for some minute differences in steps.

In general, there are three connections in a grease trap. Each connection is designed for a purpose which will be explained further.

The first connection in a trap connects the water source or sink to the trap body. By water source, we mean wastewater. Then, a second connection is particularly designed to form a connection between the trap and holding tank vent. Before connecting the trapping device, make sure to clean out the vent.

You can also find this point in a manual book. Thirdly, there is one last connection. You can find this connection on the lower right side of a grease trap. This connection is secured to a separate pipe which leads the way to the sewage system.

After adequate installation, there are some points which a user needs to know. To help the equipment work more efficiently, it is suggested to pour hot water on greasy liquid or foods that contain grease or fat content. It helps the content to move down the drain easily.

Cost Required for Grease Trap Installation

When it comes to the grease trap, the installation cost varies with the size. For example, if the grease trap is large, the installation will cost more, but if you plan to install a small-sized grease trap, it will cost less.

According to the estimate, the average cost required to install a grease trap of 10 to 100 gallons is $250 to $1500.

On the other hand, if the grease trap is large, i.e., 750 to 1500 gallons, then the estimated cost required for its installation is between $4000 to $8500. You also need a grease recovery device that costs $3500 to $6000 estimated.

Cost Required to Replace a Grease Trap

People often ask how much it costs to replace a grease trapper. Here are the answers you need to know! The replacement of grease trap costs more or less the same as the initial investment required for grease trap installation. That’s because it is always crucial to install the grease trap properly for the first time.

Overall the installation or replacement cost depends on different factors: the size of a grease trap, plumber, or even state. While the cost of tools and equipment needed to install a grease trap doesn’t vary greatly.

In total, a grease trap replacement budget involves local labor cost, cost of materials and equipment required to replace or install a grease trap, cost of machinery and components for surface preparation, and clean-up budget.

The overall budget for installing a grease trap also includes some documentation procedures.

For example, preparing the authorization documents (permit) required for installation, inspection charges, and contractor fees. On average, an estimate reveals that a small-sized grease trap installation costs between $250 to $1500.

In summary, replacing a grease trap or installing it may seem expensive as a whole, but that’s nothing if you compare it to the cost you need to shell out if you have to replace the accumulative grease content with other methods.

In our opinion, it is always a great idea to install a grease trap at an accurate location for the first time so that you don’t need to replace it.

FAQs

How long does it take to install a grease trap?

The installation of a grease trap requires less labor. There is no need to hire professionals if you know about installing machinery like grease traps.

It is a good idea to install one large grease trap that is enough to store the produced content rather than installing small traps, which require more service and cost. In terms of estimates, installing a grease trap can be done in less than 24 hours.

What are the requirements for grease traps?

Make sure that the grease trap must have the capacity to store at least a thousand liters of grease. This is because it is a minimum size to trap the grease content efficiently.

However, the size varies greatly. The maximum size of a grease trapper is up to 5000 liters. We always suggest purchasing a large-size trap if you can because it offers easy to pump out and clean.

Where is a grease trap usually installed?

Choosing an accurate location to install a grease trap is a crucial step. The hydro-mechanical grease interceptors are typically installed under the sink or on the kitchen floor.

In this way, the grease traps clean and pumps out the oil content frequently. However, if you have multiple sinks at your place, you should place a grease interceptor outside to collect all the fat content.

Are grease traps a legal requirement?

Any person can install a grease trap even in the household because it is a user-friendly and eco-friendly option. However, if you’re running a business which contributes to environmental pollution by producing excessive grease or fat content, then it is necessary and also a legal requirement to install a grease trap.

We always prefer installing a grease trap that minimizes the waste content from the start. Rather, you will have to solve it when it becomes gross.

How much does it cost to have a grease trap cleaning?

The grease trap cleaning includes pumping and cleaning out. If a grease trap is maintained properly regularly, it costs $175 to $475 on average. However, the grease traps, which are not serviced regularly, can cost you triple the normal price.

Do homes have grease traps?

Grease Trap is a device that collects all the fat, oil, or grease content from the medium. Typically, these devices are used in restaurants to remove the content from drainage systems. It can also be used in residential homes and for houses with multiple or busy kitchens.

Conclusion

A grease trap is simply a plumbing fixture that pumps out the medium’s oil or fat content like a sewer waste system. The interceptor is a beneficial and valuable addition to a kitchen. It can effectively remove the grease content.

This device is very crucial to install especially if you’re running a restaurant. If you’re worried about installment requirements and costs related to grease traps, then you should have a look at this article. Overall, having a grease trap is a budget-friendly as well as an environmentally friendly option.

Have you been wondering why your grease trap smells so bad, making you nauseated to the core? Well, it should if it’s kept unclean for long. All that solid food particles will gather and decay till they give off a foul smell. Grease traps are essentially harmless and have so many benefits if you think of them.

They are eco-friendly and don’t even cost you a fortune. Moreover, they are easy to install and protect your kitchen drains from getting clogged. Let us discuss in detail why does a grease trap smells so bad and what can you do to prevent the bad smell.

How Does a Grease Trap work?

A grease trap functions on the mechanical gravity separation method. It has a stainless steel box shape in which one end of the grease trap is connected to the wastewater supply and the other to the drain system.

It comes with baffles and filters that retain water for a long time. What actually happens inside the grease trap is wastewater enters, and the FOGs accumulate on top when the water cools down.

Due to the difference in gravitational pull, the oils and grease remain on top while the solid waste food particles gather down. The wastewater gets free from FOGs and solid food particles and goes to the drain.

Why the Bad Smell?

Despite all the benefits of grease traps, one drawback that no one can stand is the rotten food smell that lingers in its surrounding area. It’s pretty obvious that the smell comes from the solid food particles that are devoured by bacteria.

To put it simply, the bacteria decompose the food that is accumulated at the bottom, and the emission of nitrates and sulfates takes place, which is why you smell rotten egg-like malodors around the grease trap location.

Now, it’s a natural and essential process that has to occur and cannot be stopped. If you actually somehow try to stop the process, the food waste will continue to grow and will have nowhere to go.

There are, however, certain ways which help you in malodors management. Cleaning is the first thing you need to do to get rid of the foul smell.

What Works Best to Eliminate the Smell from Grease Traps?

The thought of cleaning your grease trap with a disinfectant may pass your mind. That might not be the best idea you can carry out as you don’t want to disrupt the natural decomposition processes.

While it may seem gross, the most simple task you can do is clean the grease trap regularly. It might be the last thing in the world you would want to do as it isn’t easy to stand the off-putting scenario of an open grease trap.

It depends on the size of your grease trapping unit to clean it regularly. A bigger grease trap doesn’t fill up quickly, so you can clean it out every 3 to 4 months.

However, the smaller-sized grease traps tend to fill up quickly, so you might need to clean it up every week. If it’s sickening for you to clean the grease trap, you can always hire a professional to do the job for you.

If you plan to clean it yourself, there are certain ways to make it squeaky clean. For instance, you can add baking soda into white vinegar and pour it into your grease trap. Now, pour a large quantity of boiling water into it to clean it from the FOGs.

FAQs

What does grease trap smell like?

Grease traps smell pretty much like frying oils, rotten eggs, and fruits/veggies that have gone bad. The foul smell is the decomposition of the solid food particles that goes from the kitchen sink to the grease trap. These food particles settle down, and the bacteria decompose them, which generates bad odors.

Can I clean the grease trap myself?

You can clean the grease trap yourself if you have the heart. All you have to do is remove the lid and clean the excess FOGs. Once you have done that, you can remove the bigger food particles and remove the rest with a vacuum. In the end, you can wash the entire unit off to make it squeaky clean.

How do you know when a grease trap is full?

When you haven’t maintained and checked your grease trap in a while, the water movement to the drainage gets slow. You might notice that the water goes down slowly from your kitchen basins to the pipe. It happens because the FOGs and solid food particles accumulate in abundance.

If that happens, the filters will get blocked, and they might also cause blockage in the pipes. This is the tie when you should clean the grease trap.

How much does a grease trap cleaning cost?

A lot of people don’t like to clean their indoor grease traps as it stinks. Therefore, a professional can clean it for you, and it comes with a cost. If you maintain your grease trap regularly, then it might cost you between $175 to $475, depending upon its size and situation.

Moreover, not maintaining your grease trap regularly will cost more money for professional cleaning.

Where to install the grease trap?

Grease traps usually go right under the kitchen basin or on the floor for proper functioning. You can also install it outside the kitchen underground to prevent it from freezing. Underground installation is only for the areas where the temperature gets freezing.

Bottom Line

In a nutshell, grease traps are essentially significant and prevent your drainage from clogging due to the FOGs. They come in various sizes, which allows you to install a specific size according to your kitchen requirement and usage.

You can use the grease traps commercially in restaurants, oil fields, industrial sites, and homes. It is important to clean the grease trap weekly, so you don’t have to face hassle when it gets filled.

The cleaning of the grease trap is simple but gross. You can always get the help of a professional to make your life convenient.

Are you thinking about installing a new grease trap in your plumbing system but don’t know what size would be the most suitable? Do you feel confused by all the different sized grease traps available in the market?

Well, in this article, we are going to be showing you ways you can calculate your grease trap size to find the one that fits your kitchen plumbing system.

Grease Trap Size Calculator What Size Grease Trap We Need?

What is a Grease Trap?

When you wash your dishes in your sink or in a dishwasher, all the oil and grease from them flows into the pipes of your plumbing, where they can cause a blockage. This is because even though the oils and grease are in liquid form as you wash them off your dishes or pans, they can later solidify after cooling down and stick to the sides of the pipes.

And so, over time, this grease buildup can become quite thick and end up obstructing the normal water flow in your pipes. Apart from causing a blockage, this grease is also dangerous for the environment if it is able to flow out into a river or a stream.

Therefore, to prevent this from happening, a grease trap is installed in the plumbing system that prevents the fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from entering your sewage.

Its design basically features a tank that holds the wastewater from your kitchen and a series of pipes that separate the FOG before letting it flow into the sewage system. The FOG left behind in the tank can be later collected to either be safely disposed of or used as fuel.

While almost all kitchens require grease traps, there is no one universal size for a grease trap. This is because kitchens built for commercial purposes, like grease traps for a restaurant or a large hotel, would have a larger production of FOG than that of an ordinary home kitchen as they are constantly active.

And so, they will produce more FOG waste as a large number of pots and pans, caked with grease and oils, are being washed in the sinks on a daily basis.

Therefore commercial kitchens that produce a large amount of FOG waste daily, require a larger-sized grease trap than basic home kitchens. This is because it needs to hold a larger quantity of wastewater in order to properly separate the FOG from the water without overflowing.

And so, this is why it is important to correctly calculate the size of the grease trap that you need for your specific situation.

Calculating the Size of Grease Trap You Need

In order to make sure that you get the perfect sized grease trap for your specific plumbing system, you can use a grease trap size calculator to find one that is the most appropriate.

The calculator consists of a simple formula that requires various measurements of your dishwashing system. The first step in this calculation is to measure the dimensions of your sink that you are going to be connecting the Grease trap with.

You need to measure the length, the width, and the depth of the sink, all in inches. Once you have all the measurements, multiply all three values to get the volume of your sink in cubic inches.

Next, you need to convert cubic inches into gallons, as the capacity of grease traps is measured in gallons. And so you need to multiple the value for cubic inches with 231.

Next, you need to determine the displacement, which is also known as the fill factor. This is basically the percentage of the maximum usable capacity of the sink, up to which you normally fill it up.

Usually, this is 75% of the total capacity of the sink, and so you need to multiply your previous value by 75%, or 0.75. If you are going to be using more than one sink at a time or have a double sink system, then you need to multiply the value that you get by the number of sinks.

After this, multiply the value that you got in your previous stage with the drainage period, which is the time taken for your skin to be completely drained of all of its wastewater. This period is usually assumed as one minute, but sometimes, under some conditions, it can also be taken like 2 minutes.

And so, if there aren’t any special conditions, then you should also take the drainage period as one minute and divide your latest value with it.

And so you will obtain the flow rate of your sink in gallons per meter. You can use this value to find out the dimensions for a grease trap perfect for your drainage system. To do that you need to look up a standard grease trap sizing chart and then find the dimensions of the trap that is suitable to the flow rate of your sink.

If your exact flow rate is not mentioned on the chart, then round off your value to the next biggest flow rate and choose the trap for that.

For example, if your flow rate is around 13 and the ones mentioned in the chart are 5, 10, 15, 20, and so on, then use 15 as your flow rate and choose the trap with the dimensions suitable for 15 GMP.

Along with the dimensions, many of these chats also mention the approximate weight of the trap, its liquid holding capacity, and so on. And so you will be provided with all the necessary information you need to know about what size grease trap you need. Here is list of Best grease traps.

Frequently Asked Question

What are the requirements for grease traps?

You are required to have a grease trap connected to your kitchen if you cook and serve hot foods. Furthermore, the grease trap you install needs to have enough capacity to hold all the wastewater that your kitchen produces on a daily basis. Otherwise, if the tank is too small, then it won’t be able to properly trap the grease from the water flowing into the drainage system.

How do you know when a grease trap is full?

There are various indicators that let you know when it is time to clean your grease trap; one of those is the water in the sink or dishwasher of your kitchen draining slower than normal. Bad smell coming from the drainage system is also another indicator.

Furthermore, you can also check the level of grease in your trap by dipping a long stick into the tank and observing the width of grease coating on it upon taking it out. If the width is quite thick, then it means that the level of grease in the tank is high, and you need to clean it soon.

What size of grease trap do I need?

The size of a suitable grease trap for your drainage system depends on the flow rate of your sink. And so, once you calculate that, you can easily find out the dimensions of a grease trap that would be perfect for you by consulting a grease trap sizing chart.

If the exact flow rate of your sink isn’t there, then you can use the flow rate value present in the chart that is immediately higher than your actual value.

Wrapping Up

Grease traps are an important part of the plumbing system of any kitchen that cooks and serves hot food. This is why it is important that you choose one that is the perfect size according to the wastewater produced by your kitchen so that you don’t have to deal with problems like the tanks overflowing due to being too small.

And so, in this article, you are shown how to use a grease trap calculator to find out exactly what size grease trap you need.