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What is FOG? Fats Oils Grease

What is FOG?

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FOG, or Fats, Oils, and Grease, refers to byproducts that are created during food preparation, cooking, dish cleaning, and grease cleaning. It has the potential to enter wastewater and clog up the sewer system. Let’s take a look at the science behind FOG and why it’s so important to prevent build-up.

What is FOG?

As mentioned above, FOG (Fats, Oil, and Grease) is a byproduct of cooking. Many types of food and food byproducts combine to form this byproduct in the cooking process, including meats, fish, nuts, dairy products, soups, and more. FOG is sometimes referred to as brown grease. Basically, it’s the greasy gunk that is left over after you are done cooking.

FOG is made up of fatty acids and glycerol. One example of a part of a FOG compound is triglycerides. Triglycerides are found in vegetable oils and animal fats. They can be either solid or liquid at room temperature, and are less dense than water, so they float in water. At a chemical level, this chemical compound is comprised of three fatty acids and one molecule of glycerol.

Settings where FOG can be an issue

Any setting where cooking happens can lead to a high amount of FOG. We might first think of restaurants when we think of FOG. Restaurants do create a lot of it in the process of producing their products. But, there are plenty of other sources too, like hospitals, community centers, bakeries, hotels, and more. These FOG-producing entities are collectively referred to as Food Service Establishments (FSE). As a collective, FSE are very significant contributors of FOG to sewer systems.

How it affects the sewer system

If FOG is not properly removed from wastewater, its presence can wreak havoc in sewer systems. Elements of it end up clogging sewer pipes through a series of complex chemical reactions when it enters the sewer system. Basically, it breaks down and reforms to combine with other chemicals present in sewers, leading to a buildup of soap-like compounds. These blockages reduce the flow of wastewater in sewers, and if left unaddressed can completely block outflows. This means sewers can overflow and plumbing can be blocked in commercial and residential settings.

Preventing blockages

The best way to prevent these blockages from becoming issues is to prevent FOG from entering sewer systems in the first place. This is where grease traps and grease interceptors come in handy at FSE. Grease traps and interceptors are systems that help remove FOG from wastewater before that water enters the sewer system. Check out our blog post on how these two systems work in more detail.

Grease traps and interceptors are crucial for public sewer systems, and as such there are a number of rules and regulations on their use for FSE. But, the specific regulations can vary by state and locality. Working with an experienced business like Moon Grease Trap Cleaning is a great way to stay up to date on regulations and maintain clean and safe grease traps and grease interceptors.

Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have.

What happens to used grease and cooking oils? Grease trap cleaning

Used Grease and Cooking Oils

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Grease and used cooking oil: if you own a restaurant, you probably produce plenty of these as a byproduct of cooking. You may already know that grease traps are an important way to filter these out from your wastewater. But did you know that the used grease and oils they collect are actually quite useful and sought after? Let’s take a deeper dive into used restaurant grease and oils. 

Uses for Grease and Oils 

There are around 4.4 billion pounds of used cooking oil generated by the food service industry each year in North America alone. Up until the 1990’s, these byproducts were primarily used in the rendering industry. Cleaned and processed oils are useful for everything from animal feed to paint and plastics, and people in the industry pursued these uses for years. But in the 1990’s, another use emerged: biofuel. When properly cleaned and filtered, used oils and greases can be converted into valuable fuel. The rendering industry began to use the oil in mass for biofuels, with significant positive effects. For one, reusing old oils and grease is cheaper than relying on new fuel. Plus, the low carbon biofuel is just as effective as diesel fuel, but with up to 85% fewer carbon emissions.

With a clear benefit to reusing these oils, an industry continued to develop. There have actually been government mandates for refineries that require a certain amount of biofuel to be added to petroleum fuels too. These factors and others have led to a high value on used restaurant oils and grease. 

The Rise of the Grease Thief

With soaring value came an opportunity for unsavory thievery. More and more people with an eye for the rising market value began to steal used restaurant grease. They found plenty of opportunity, with lots of businesses storing their byproducts in traps or interceptors outside their buildings. When unsecured, this makes for an easy target and payday on this new liquid gold. 

Of course, selling requires a buyer. Unfortunately, there seem to be plenty of people willing to look the other way on the source of used oils and grease. While many biofuel companies perform their due diligence to vet potential sellers, some have not worked hard enough to help weed out illegitimate sales. Companies have faced some pressure to start examining sources more rigorously. 

What This Means for Restaurants

Fortunately, there’s a lot restaurants can do to help prevent this theft. Monitoring trap and interceptor levels between servicing is an important way to tell if there has been any theft. Plus, they can even install fences and other security measures to obscure access and ensure protection. They can also move their infrastructure to indoor traps to add a lot of security. 

Don’t forget- just as security is crucial, so is a regular maintenance schedule! Moon Grease Traps offers servicing for grease interceptors and traps at any establishment. From a single grease trap, to one per sink in larger establishments, to an outdoor interceptor, we have you covered. Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have!

What's the difference between a grease trap and a grease interceptor?

Grease Traps vs. Grease Interceptors

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Grease traps and grease interceptors are grease collection systems that many establishments use. There are a few key things that differentiate the two systems. Here’s a look at some key similarities and differences.

Grease traps

Grease traps are typically small metal boxes located inside of the business they are used for. They help remove greases and solids from wastewater before it enters the wastewater disposal system. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) that are commonly disposed of in food-producing businesses can build up in wastewater treatment facilities and septic tanks. When unaddressed, this can overwhelm infrastructure and lead to the release of untreated sewage. These oils can also cool and solidify, combining with other solids in the waste system to block pipes. Grease traps help prevent all of this from the getgo by removing FOG before they enter the system. 

Since grease traps are small, several are often used in larger establishments, one per sink. Liquids from sinks flow into the traps, and solids that are more dense than water drop to the bottom while greases (less dense than water) float to the top. The remaining water, which is mostly grease free, is then piped into the waste system. Businesses typically service grease traps on a monthly basis. Health code regulations specify cleaning schedules and procedures. 

Grease interceptors

Grease interceptors perform the same function as grease traps. However, they are much larger, with a single interceptor serving an entire establishment. Given the size of the interceptors, they are often located outside of a business and accessed through a maintenance hole cover. 

The function and mechanics of grease interceptors are similar to those of grease traps. Dirty water from a business flows into a large container that separates out solids and grease. Interceptors do this with a series of retention reservoirs and baffles (walls). They then pipe cleaned water into the waste system. Given their large size, grease interceptors are usually cleaned once every two or three months. 

Cleaning Grease Traps and Interceptors

Both the floating FOGs and the solids at the bottom of the grease traps and interceptors must be regularly disposed of. Professionals like Moon Grease Trap Cleaning can thoroughly pump out, clean and dispose of all grease, wastewater, and solid material from your grease trap system. Plus, they can help keep track of your maintenance schedule and adherence to regulations. 

It’s important to regularly schedule cleaning for both types systems. For one, properly functioning systems prevent a negative environmental impact from sewage overflow or blockage. Plus, it can save time and money by preventing a backed up system that can shut down business. Professionals can also make recommendations about cleaning commercial kitchens to mitigate the impact of FOGs on your grease trap or interceptor system and the environment. 

Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have.

Grease Cleaning Service Available in Louisville Kentucky

10 Things to Look For in a Grease Trap Cleaner

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10 Things to Look For in a Grease Trap Cleaner

If you’re new to grease trap cleaning, the process of maintaining your business’s grease traps can seem overwhelming and complex. However, by hiring a professional grease trap cleaner to do the job, you can rest assured that your business will remain up and running. Here are 10 things to look for in a grease trap cleaner:

1. Specializes in Removing Grease.

As a grease trap cleaner, Moon Grease Trap Cleaning is comprised of experienced and professional experts. Our technicians are trained to thoroughly remove, clean and dispose of all grease, wastewater, fats and oils from your system.

2. Knowledgeable about Industry Standards.

For any business that prepares food, it is mandatory by law to have a grease trap installed and cleaned regularly. As a Kentucky Restaurant Association Member, Moon Grease Trap Cleaning stays up to date with the latest regulations and always follows the industry’s best practices when servicing grease traps.

3. Maintains Records on Your Behalf.

We know what it’s like to run a business. When you hire Moon Grease Trap Cleaning, we’ll keep every record of a grease trap cleaning on file so you don’t have to.

4. MSD Certified Grease Trap Cleaner.

We work directly with the Metropolitan Sewer District so you can rest assured that your business is compliant with local, state and federal laws.

5. Provides Annual Service.

Moon Grease Trap Cleaning schedules routine grease trap cleanings so your business regularly meets area regulations.

6. Can Clean on an As Needed Basis.

Some businesses require more servicing than others. If the scale of the operation requires it, Moon Grease Trap Cleaning can provide service on an as needed basis to help prolong the life of your equipment and prevent costly repairs.

7. Locally Owned & Operated.

Moon Grease Trap Cleaning is owned and operated right here in Louisville, Kentucky. We visit and enjoy area businesses ourselves and understand the importance of maintaining sanitary conditions. As a result, you can always count on Moon for timely and friendly customer service.  

8. Offers Grease Interceptor Cleaning.  

In addition to traditional grease trap cleaning, Moon also offers grease interceptor cleaning. Similar to that of a grease trap, interceptors are commonly located outside of the building and may need to be serviced as much as every 2 to 3 months.

9. No Service Request is Too Big or Small.

Whether you are a large restaurant chain, a single location restaurant, or food preparation site, no service request is too big or too small for Moon Grease Trap Cleaning.

10. Eco-Friendly Grease Trap Cleaner.

At Moon Grease Trap Cleaning, we make every effort to operate in an environmentally conscious manner. Any non recyclable material is always safely disposed of for public health and environmental reasons.

Schedule your next grease service by contacting Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have.

grease trap cleaning in lextington kentucky

Grease Trap Cleaning in Lexington Kentucky

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Are you looking for quality grease trap cleaning in Lexington Kentucky? Moon Grease Trap Cleaning offers professional grease trap maintenance to businesses in Lexington, Kentucky and has experience servicing large restaurant chains as well as food preparation sites and small eateries. 

Why Do I Need To Get My Grease Trap Cleaned?

Lexington, Kentucky is home to many restaurants and fine dining experiences. However, if not professionally maintained, fryer grease and food scraps can build up overtime in one’s grease trap system; resulting in clogged or congested pipes and costly sewer system repairs. Routine grease trap cleanings help area restaurants maintain a steady flow to the main sewer line while ensuring the longevity of any appliances connected to their grease trap. 

Grease Trap Cleaning in Lexington Kentucky

Known for following industry standards, Moon proudly services commercial food service establishments in the Lexington, Kentucky area as a Kentucky Restaurant Association member. Our grease trap technicians are trained and certified to remove, clean and dispose of fats, oils and grease from sewer systems in an environmentally friendly manner. Locally owned and operated, we consider ourselves to be experts in the industry so consumers and businesses alike have one less thing to worry about. 

Grease Trap Cleaning Regulations

Regular grease trap cleaning is required by most municipalities in order to maintain sanitary dining conditions. Moon provides each and every client with paperwork certifying their compliance with local, state and federal regulations. This ensures your business remains up and running smoothly without an untimely closure or health code violation. In case of an emergency, Moon offers grease trap cleaning on an as needed basis. However, routine scheduling is recommended every month depending on one’s size and grease consumption. 

At Moon, we understand that the difficulty of scheduling grease trap maintenance during service hours. As a result, we utilize top of the line equipment in order to get the job done quickly and quietly. To request a date of service or a free cost evaluation, call Moon Grease Trap Cleaning at 502-776-2199.

Moon Grease Trap Cleaning Company Louisville and Lexington Kentucky

Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Grease Trap Cleaning Service

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As a grease trap cleaning service with many years of experience working with restaurants and food establishments across the Louisville, Kentucky and Lexington, Kentucky region, we sometimes get asked what the benefits of hiring our services are as opposed to handling grease disposal in house.

While some businesses may opt to handle grease trap cleaning in-house, there are many benefits to hiring a company like Moon.  Follow along to learn more about the benefits of hiring a professional grease trap cleaning service to take care of your needs.

7 Benefits of Hiring A Professional To Clean Your Grease Traps

 

Let Someone Else Handle The Mess.

As you might expect, handling Fats, Oils and Grease aka “FOG” can be very messy. Fortunately we have many years of experience handling every grease trap cleaning scenario. Despite that, the job is messy and there is little way to avoid getting dirty while getting it done right.

Let Someone Else Handle The Stink.

Cleaning out grease traps is not only a messy job, but it is a smelly one too. Our grease trap cleaning pros know how to do everything possible to minimize odors during the cleaning process. They can also provide helpful tips to further assist with this in your normal operational day-to-day.

Use The Right Equipment.

Moon Grease Trap Cleaning has invested thousands of dollars in the best equipment for the job. This includes the top of the line provac machines made by Conde that we use to suction out the grease from your grease traps as well as the huge holding tanks we have on our vehicles to transport the grease for processing.

Get The Job Done At A Convenient Day & Time.

The Moon Grease Trap Cleaning team services companies at all hours of the day. Many of our customers prefer early morning appointments before customers are on the premises. Regardless of time of day, we can work to meet your schedule. This frees you up to do all the other jobs that need to get done to keep your business running effectively.

Make Sure Your Equipment Is In Good Shape.

We have seen thousands of grease traps over the years. With this experience, it is easy for us to tell if your grease trap has any potential problems. During our grease trap cleaning services, we are also inspecting your machine. You will be the first to get alerted if there are any damaged parts that need replacing.

Stay Compliant.

Grease trap cleaning is required for restaurants and food establishments in the Louisville and Lexington Kentucky region. Our experienced grease trap cleaning professionals make sure your grease trap practices are compliant with any regulations. This includes handling all required paperwork and appropriate disposal of the wastes. This saves you time and gives you peace of mind so that you can focus on other aspects of your job.

Get Grease Trap Advice From The Pros.

There are many different types of grease traps ranging greatly in size and materials. With our experience serving so many, our technicians can provide excellent grease trap related grease. This spans the gamut from helpful tips on simple things you can do to reduce the smell accumulating in your grease traps, to the best types of grease trap designs for your specific needs.

Moon Grease Trap Cleaning has been servicing restaurants and food establishments throughout the Louisville Kentucky and Lexington Kentucky area for many years. Our grease trap cleaning technicians service restaurants and food establishments of every size ranging from large national chains to one location businesses.

For additional information including a free quote, give us a call today at 502-776-2199.  We service grease traps throughout Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

 

tips for cleaner grease traps

8 Tips Every Restaurant Should Follow For Cleaner Grease Traps

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8 Tips Every Restaurant Should Follow For Cleaner Grease Traps

Regardless of the types of food and drink a restaurant offers, grease is an inevitable challenge.  Some restaurants have to deal with a lot of grease, while others manage lessor amounts.  Estimates from the National Restaurant Association (NRA) project that restaurants generate upwards of 5 billion pounds of grease a year. Knowing how to effectively handle grease to prevent problems is a very important task for every food establishment.

Every restaurant and food establishment can do certain things to help reduce the amount of fats, oils and grease that go down the drain. This is important since taking precautionary measures when dealing with grease saves restaurants time, money and hassles.

As an experienced grease trap cleaning company with many years of experience, here are our tips for cleaner grease traps!

1. Make sure your employees are informed.

Not everyone knows about the best practices to cut down on the amount of FOG that gets put down the drain. Train your staff so that they understand the problems that can happen when too much grease ends up into the sewer system. Not only can this lead to clogged pipes and the obvious problems that result from that, but this can also lead to code violations resulting in citations and fines.

2. Use the garbage disposal sparingly.

While garbage disposals are beneficial in that they can help you avoid clogged sinks, they are not meant to grind up and process large amounts of food scraps. Encourage your team to avoid using the dishwasher to manage food scraps, and use the garbage instead, or even composter.

3. Use signage.

Even people that know the rules sometimes need reminders. It is beneficial to have signage near every sink and dishwasher in your kitchen area reminding people not to put grease in the drain.

4. Train your dishwashers.

While running a commercial dishwasher may seem self-evident, it is not. Make sure to train your dishwashers on best practices. This includes wiping out any grease from pots and pans before washing. Getting rid of grease in garbage bags or even through recycling is a much more efficient approach than having your grease interceptor pumped out constantly.

5. Stay on a schedule for grease interceptor cleaning.

Even if you are following all the best practices, you still need to make sure your grease interceptors stay clean. Getting on an organized schedule is the best way to do this.

6. Schedule more regular grease interceptor cleanings if you process more grease.

The regularity of your cleanings should align with the amount of grease your food establishment processes. If you deal with a lot of grease, regular cleanings are a necessity. The frequency of your grease trap cleanings are based on things like the types of food you make, your cooking methods, the techniques you use for cleaning, whether you are sit down restaurant or carry-out only. Keep in mind that if you do not clean your grease interceptors on a regular basis, this can cause some very bad smells and lead to many other problems, too.

7. Keep detailed records of every cleaning.

Write down the grease level each time you have your interceptor cleaned and keep a log so you can see patterns and be aware if anything significant changes. Keep track of the date and time of the cleaning and the person who did your cleaning. You may want to track other things too including having an employee signature of the person from your establishment who handled the cleaning.

8. Hire a reputable grease interceptor cleaning company and be aware of what they are doing.

While this may seem obvious, not every plumbing company is as skilled at handling grease trap cleaning. Make sure you choose a company that has a lot of experience and the right equipment to take on this task. In addition to thorough grease trap cleaning, you should also make sure you receive routine maintenance services. Are your baffles in place and positioned properly? Do the covers fit securely on your grease interceptors so there is no leaking? If you have an in-ground grease interceptor, it needs to be examined regularly to make sure it is not leaking.

If you are looking for experienced grease trap cleaning in Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana, contact Moon Grease Trap Cleaning. Our dedicated team has many years of experience handling grease trap cleaning for restaurants and food establishments of every size. We’re MSD certified and have certification experts on staff. Our eco-friendly approach helps the environment while also saving you time and money. Contact us today at 502-776-2199 for a free estimate or more information.