If this waste is filtered through normal means, the oil will be separated from any solid waste and trapped between the drain pipes and the solid waste tank, because oil is heavier than water. Over time, it will build up and become solid once more, causing unnecessary clogs that can shut down your entire system.

Oil and grease, especially if they originate from food processing, can cause far more damage beyond just clogging up the works. If left to settle within the septic system, the grease can become rancid, as the parts of it that was once flesh begins to decompose. At minimum, if it gets flushed into the water supply, it can pollute it and cause harmful bacteria to grow within the pipes. More importantly, it can also cause harmful toxins to build up within the septic system itself, usually in the form of toxic gases that can be a serious health risk to anyone exposed to them. All of this can be easily avoided by simply installing Miami grease trap interceptors to keep grease and oil from reaching the septic tank or waste disposal systems in the first place.

How They Work

An interceptor is simply a box-shaped device that is installed between the kitchen drain and the main sewage system. It is designed to filter and trap the heavier oil and grease from the water that flows through it and will hold it there until the opportunity for cleaning grease traps presents itself. Usually made of either plastic or metal, the smaller versions for the home should be cleaned on a regular basis, especially if you do a lot of cooking with greasy food, mostly because of the potential for bacteria growing within the drain and pipes.

In commercial venues, the interceptors should be installed wherever the potential exists for grease or oil disposal, like sink and floor drains. Some types of food, especially poultry, will turn rancid in grease form faster than others, and the first clue is usually a horrific smell. With regular cleaning of these interceptors, you should not have that problem and in a commercial venue, neglecting that duty could cause you to violate municipal health codes if found during an inspection.

Cleaning Methods

The smaller home installed grease traps are built so that they can be easily removed, and cleaned out by hand. Be sure to remove all solid matter from the grease trap, and dispose into a trash receptacle and taken outside of the home. Then, scrub the interior of the interceptor with antibacterial cleansers, dry and replace. An alternative method to do this, if you do not want to do it yourself, is to schedule it to be cleaned along with your septic system by local professionals.

For larger units, there are two methods of cleaning grease traps, either by skimming or pumping. In the skimming method, they remove as much of the solid waste as they can, leaving the discarded oil behind in the trap. The pumping method is much more sanitary and removes both solid and liquid waste completely from the drain system introduced regularly, after cleanings.