Grease Traps

Grease traps are plumbing devices used to reduce (by approximately 90%) the amount of grease, fats, and oils that enter septic systems and wastewater treatment facilities. Small amounts of grease and oil are normal in wastewater and are broken down by microorganisms. However, large amounts of oil and grease, most commonly from food production in kitchen and restaurants, may lead to serious problems. Excessive grease can result in numerous environmental issues, while congealed grease in plumbing systems may cause blocked drain pipes and sewer back-ups. Grease traps are not appropriate for removal of solid debris from water, and solid material should not be permitted to enter the grease trap. For applications in which solids are present, a solids interceptor, which prevents small solids from entering the drainage system, is recommended in conjunction with a grease trap.

Grease traps are constructed from a variety of materials, including stainless steel, plastic, and cast iron. Grease traps are available in an assortment of sizes, varying by flow rate (rate of water flow through the grease trap measured in gallons per minute) and grease retention capacity (amount of grease the trap can hold measured in pounds). The capacity is always twice the flow rate. For example, a 4 GPM trap has a rated capacity of 8 pounds. Grease traps can be located above ground, below ground, inside the kitchen, or outside the building. They must always be installed so that there is easy access to the cover for removal and cleaning. It is recommended to clean the grease trap when a grease level of 2"-3" is obtained. The quantity of grease in the water and the capacity of the grease trap determine how frequently this level is reached.

We offer a wide selection of Zurn and Canplas grease traps and solids interceptors, with the Zurn GT2700 series of grease traps being the most popular. In order to select the appropriate grease trap for your application, you only need to know the size of the sink for which the grease trap will serve. Simply plug the dimensions of the sink into our convenient here.