Grease Trap Servicing

Grease Trap Servicing

Grease trap servicing is the difference between a grease management system that protects your drainage  and one that becomes the problem. In busy commercial kitchens, fat, oil and grease (FOG) builds up fast. Without routine servicing, grease traps lose capacity, start to smell, overflow, and allow grease to pass into pipework  leading to blocked drains, kitchen downtime and costly reactive call-outs.

At ICE Drainage, we provide planned grease trap servicing for restaurants, hotels, pubs, cafs, takeaways, staff canteens, food production units and multi-site hospitality groups. We tailor service frequency to your kitchen output and provide clear reporting that works for facilities management and compliance records.

Call ICE Drainage on [PHONE] or email contactus@icedrainage.co.uk to set up grease trap servicing.

Grease trap servicing for commercial kitchens

A grease trap (or grease separator) is designed to capture FOG and food solids before they reach the main drainage system. But the unit only works properly when its serviced on schedule.

Regular servicing helps you:

• Reduce the risk of blocked drains and kitchen backups

• Control odours and improve hygiene in service areas

• Protect internal pipework and underground drainage

• Reduce emergency call-outs and unplanned closures

• Create auditable maintenance records for landlords, insurers and FM teams

If youve had repeat FOG issues, servicing is the first step in getting control  and its often far cheaper than repeated reactive drain cleaning.

Whats included in our grease trap servicing

Our servicing is designed to be practical, consistent and easy to manage across single or multiple sites.

1) Inspection & performance check

We assess the condition and performance of the grease trap, including:

• Grease and solids levels

• Condition of lids, seals and access points

• Internal baffles / components (where applicable)

• Signs of bypass, poor separation or restricted flow

• Odour issues and likely causes

2) Emptying / pump-out

We remove accumulated grease and settled solids to restore working capacity.

3) Cleaning & wash-down

We clean internal surfaces to reduce residue build-up and odours, helping the unit operate effectively between visits.

4) Refit & functional verification

We reassemble correctly and confirm:

• Secure lids and seals

• No obvious leaks n- Flow is restored and stable

5) Service reporting (FM-friendly)

Where required, we provide service notes suitable for facilities management records  including observations, recommendations and any follow-on actions.

Need urgent support? If your grease trap is overflowing or causing drainage issues, call [PHONE] for a rapid response.

How often should a grease trap be serviced?

Theres no one-size-fits-all schedule. Servicing frequency depends on:

• Number of covers / meals served

• Type of food prepared (high grease output increases loading)

• Dishwashing and pot-wash volumes

• Grease trap size and design

• Staff practices (scraping, dry wipe-downs, avoiding pouring oil)

As a practical guide: if youre noticing odours, slow drainage, gurgling, or repeat internal blockages, your trap is likely overdue  or undersized.

Well recommend a realistic servicing interval after the first visit, based on your sites actual loading.

Planned grease trap servicing (PPM) vs reactive clean-outs

Planned servicing (recommended)

Planned servicing is best for:

• Hotels and restaurants with consistent output

• Pubs and venues with peak periods

• Multi-site groups that want standardisation

• Facilities management providers managing multiple tenants

Benefits include predictable costs, fewer emergencies, and better asset protection.

Reactive clean-outs

Reactive clean-outs are usually triggered by:

• Overflowing grease trap

• Strong odours

• Blocked sinks / floor drains

• Landlord or inspection pressure

Theyre sometimes unavoidable, but if youre repeatedly calling out for emergency cleans, a planned schedule will almost always reduce overall cost and disruption.

Grease trap servicing for facilities management & multi-site operators

If youre managing multiple kitchens, consistency matters.

We support FM teams and multi-site hospitality groups with:

• Standardised servicing schedules across your portfolio

• Out-of-hours attendance where feasible

• Site-by-site reporting and recommendations

• Escalation support for reactive drainage issues n- Integration with broader drainage maintenance programmes

If you need a single contractor for grease management, reactive call-outs, and planned drainage maintenance, we can deliver a joined-up solution.

Common issues we identify during servicing

Routine servicing often reveals underlying causes of repeat problems, such as:

• Grease trap undersizing (fills too quickly)

• Poor location (too far from source, difficult access)

• Damaged or missing baffles / internal components

• Poor ventilation causing odours

• Incorrect pipework configuration causing bypass

• Grease already established in downstream pipework

If needed, we can recommend follow-on works such as:

• High-pressure water jetting of kitchen waste lines

• Internal pipework cleaning / descaling

• CCTV drainage surveys to confirm condition and restrictions

• Grease trap replacement or upgrade

Best-practice tips to reduce FOG loading

Servicing is key, but you can also reduce grease entering the system by:

• Scraping plates and pans before washing

• Dry wiping greasy surfaces before rinsing

• Using sink strainers to capture food solids

• Never pouring cooking oil down sinks

• Training staff on FOG control procedures

Were happy to advise on practical changes that reduce servicing frequency and improve drainage reliability.

Why choose ICE Drainage?

Hospitality sites need a drainage partner that understands service pressure and the cost of downtime.

With ICE Drainage, you get:

• Commercial-first servicing designed around live kitchens

• Flexible attendance to minimise disruption

• Clear reporting for FM and compliance records

• Reactive support if you need urgent assistance

• Wider drainage capability (jetting, investigations, repairs, PPM)

Grease trap servicing FAQs

Is servicing different from emptying and cleaning?

Yes  servicing is the ongoing programme. It includes emptying and cleaning, plus inspection, performance checks, and recommendations to keep the system working long-term.

Can you service grease traps out of hours?

Where feasible, yes. Well plan visits around service times to reduce disruption.

What if our grease trap still smells after servicing?

Odours can be caused by poor ventilation, residue in downstream pipework, or an undersized unit. Well flag likely causes and recommend next steps.

Set up grease trap servicing

If you want fewer blockages, less downtime and a cleaner, more reliable kitchen drainage system, planned grease trap servicing is the smart move.

Call ICE Drainage on [PHONE] or email contactus@icedrainage.co.uk to set up a servicing schedule or book an initial site visit.