Grease-trap Maintenance
Grease-trap Maintenance | Commercial Plumbing | Plumbing | Sequatchie
Running a restaurant, cafeteria, or industrial kitchen in Sequatchie means your grease trap can’t miss a beat—and neither can you. HEP’s dedicated grease-trap specialists bring decades of commercial plumbing experience to every service call, arriving with hydro-jetting equipment, eco-friendly cleaners, and the know-how to keep wastewater flowing and inspections hassle-free. From scheduled pump-outs to emergency backups, we tackle the messy work quickly so your staff can stay focused on great food and happy customers.
As a locally owned company, we understand the county’s ordinances and health-department requirements inside and out. Our technicians document each visit, provide digital service records, and offer proactive maintenance plans that help you avoid costly fines or shutdowns. If you need a trusted partner who treats your kitchen like their own, call HEP today and enjoy Sequatchie’s most reliable commercial plumbing support—24/7, rain or shine.
FAQs
Why do Sequatchie commercial kitchens need regular grease-trap maintenance?
Local health codes (including TDEC Rule 0400-40-01) require food-service facilities to keep fats, oils, and grease (FOG) out of public sewers. When a trap fills up, FOG solidifies in drain lines, causes backups, produces foul odors, and can trigger costly fines or shutdowns by inspectors. Scheduled maintenance prevents plumbing emergencies, extends the life of your trap and pumps, and keeps your restaurant, school, or plant in full compliance with Sequatchie County regulations.
How often should my grease trap be cleaned under Tennessee and Sequatchie County rules?
The 25 % rule applies: when grease and solids take up a quarter of the trap’s liquid capacity, it must be emptied. In practice, most commercial kitchens in Sequatchie have their indoor traps pumped every 30-60 days and larger outdoor interceptors every 90-120 days. Factors such as menu type (fried foods vs. deli), trap size, and daily meal volume can shorten or lengthen the interval. We offer free flow-rate calculations to set a schedule that satisfies both code and your budget.
What is included in your professional grease-trap service, and will it disrupt my business?
Our licensed technicians arrive with a vacuum truck, pump out all contents, scrape walls and baffles, jet-wash inlet/outlet lines, and run a compliance inspection (checking gaskets, flow control, and cover). Waste is manifested and hauled to an approved TDEC disposal facility. A typical indoor cleaning takes 45-60 minutes and can be done before opening or after closing to avoid downtime. Outdoor interceptor service may take up to two hours but rarely requires your kitchen to shut down.
What warning signs suggest my grease trap needs immediate attention?
• Slow sink or floor-drain flow • Gurgling noises in plumbing lines • Grease sheen or solids in the dish pit • Persistent sewer odors in the kitchen or parking lot • Grease level visibly over the 25 % mark when you open the lid If you notice any of these, call us. Ignoring them can lead to a complete blockage or an environmental spill, both of which are far more expensive to fix.
How much does grease-trap pumping and maintenance typically cost, and what factors affect the price?
Most Sequatchie customers pay $95–$145 for indoor trap cleaning and $275–$450 for outdoor interceptor service. Price varies by: 1. Trap/interceptor capacity (gallons) 2. Accessibility (inside a pit, behind equipment, or in a parking lot) 3. Frequency of service (contract rates are lower) 4. Disposal volume and current landfill fees 5. After-hours or emergency scheduling We provide a written, all-inclusive quote before any work begins—no hidden environmental or fuel surcharges.
Do you offer after-hours or emergency grease-trap service in Sequatchie, and how fast can you respond?
Yes. Our 24/7 emergency crew is based less than 15 minutes from downtown Dunlap, allowing us to reach most Sequatchie County sites within one hour. Night, weekend, and holiday service keeps your business open and avoids health-code violations. We arrive with full pumping, jetting, and camera-inspection equipment so that most backups are cleared during a single visit.