Clogged Grease Trap
Clogged Grease Trap | Commercial Plumbing | Plumbing | Englewood
When the grease trap in your Englewood kitchen backs up, everything grinds to a halt—service slows, odors rise, and health-code violations loom. HEP’s certified technicians arrive fast with vacuum trucks, hydro-jetters, and the know-how to clear blockages, sanitize lines, and haul away waste in one seamless visit. We’ve helped local restaurants, cafeterias, and food-service facilities keep grease out of their pipes (and fines off their books) for more than two decades.
From emergency pump-outs at 3 a.m. to scheduled maintenance plans that prevent clogs before they start, our commercial plumbing crew is on call 24/7. Count on transparent pricing, digital job reports, and courteous pros who leave your kitchen cleaner than they found it—so you can get back to cooking, serving, and earning without the mess. Dial HEP today and let us keep your business flowing.
FAQs
What warning signs indicate that my commercial grease trap in Englewood is clogged?
Common red flags include slow-draining sinks or floor drains, foul "rotten-egg" odors coming from the trap or nearby drains, gurgling sounds, water backing up onto kitchen floors, and grease slicks appearing in the trap’s outlet tee. If you notice any of these symptoms, schedule service immediately to avoid a full sewer backup or health-code violation.
How quickly can your Englewood plumbing team respond to a grease-trap emergency?
We offer 24/7 emergency dispatch and can usually arrive anywhere in Englewood within 60–90 minutes. Our trucks carry vacuum pumps, hydro-jetters, replacement gaskets, and enzyme treatments, allowing us to diagnose, pump, and clear most blockages on the first visit.
What typically causes grease trap blockages in restaurants and other commercial kitchens?
The main culprits are excessive fats, oils, and grease (FOG) that solidify, food solids settling at the bottom, detergents that emulsify grease and push it downstream, and a lack of routine pumping. Over time these materials create thick "grease cakes" that obstruct the inlet and outlet baffles, preventing separation and causing backups.
How often should a commercial grease trap be cleaned in Englewood?
Englewood follows the 25% rule found in most Colorado municipalities: when the combined grease and solids occupy 25% of the trap’s liquid depth, it must be pumped. For busy restaurants, this usually means every 30–60 days; lower-volume facilities may stretch to 90 days. Maintaining a service log is required for health inspections.
What methods do you use to clear a clogged grease trap and prevent future issues?
1) Pump-out: We vacuum all FOG and solids, rinse the trap, and inspect baffles and gaskets. 2) Hydro-jetting: High-pressure water scours inlet and outlet lines to restore full flow. 3) Biological additives: Enzyme or bacteria treatments break down residual grease between pump-outs. 4) Preventive maintenance plan: We set up recurring service reminders, train staff on proper disposal practices, and can install automated grease-removal devices (GRDs) for high-volume sites.
Are there penalties in Englewood for failing to maintain a commercial grease trap?
Yes. The City of Englewood and Tri-County Health Department can issue fines of $100–$2,000 per day for non-compliance, require immediate closure until the trap is cleaned, and bill for any municipal sewer overflows. Proper documentation of routine maintenance is your best defense during inspections or after a sewer backup.