The grease trap within a septic system performs a critical job: it prevents greasy substances from entering the septic tank and causing backups. Grease and septic systems don’t mix.
But even with a good grease trap, problems will still arise if too much grease is sent down your drains and if the trap is not periodically cleaned and serviced.
Quality Septic Inc. of Plant City, FL, would like to share three of the most common signs and signals that tell you it’s time to have your grease trap professionally cleaned.
1. Sinks that back up
A single backed-up sink doesn’t necessarily mean there’s trouble with your grease trap or septic system. The most likely cause is within the plumbing that serves only that sink. What you want to keep an eye out for is slow draining from all the sinks and tubs in your home.
When a grease trap becomes clogged, sewage from the house can’t properly flow through it and into the rest of the septic system. Slow sink drains are among the most common early signs that something is amiss with your septic or grease trap. If this is happening to you, call for service.
2. Odors in and around your home
Another early sign that your grease trap may be clogged is the smell of raw sewage in your home or out in your yard near the septic tank.
Nothing smells like backed-up sewage, so this is a sign that you won’t be able to ignore for very long. As bad as the smell is, if you act on it quickly, it’s unlikely that major septic repairs will be necessary to solve the problem.
3. It’s been more than six months since your last grease trap cleaning
Keep the dates of all your septic services on a calendar. If you find that it’s been more than six months since your grease trap was last cleaned and your tank pumped out, this is a signal to schedule a visit from your septic crew.
At Quality Septic, we’ll tell you after a few visits what the optimal schedule for cleaning and service is, based on the condition of your system and your use of it.
Slowing down grease trap issues
Grease trap cleaning is the best way to prevent grease trap issues from happening. You can aid in the process by making sure everyone knows not to dump large amounts of grease into them.
Keep a metal container handy to pour excess cooking grease, then dispose it the way you dispose other trash. It’s even a good idea to use a paper towel to wipe out greasy cookware before washing it.
Florida grease trap cleaning
Call the Florida septic experts for all your grease trap cleaning and other septic system needs. You’ll get a prompt response by calling (813) 754-9891. You can also reach out with our handy contact form.