FOG – or Fats, Oils and Grease – is a term used to describe the material that makes up Fatbergs in drains and sewers. Simply put, this material is composed of fats, oils and grease that have been washed down the drain from kitchens, restaurants and other venues where a variety of oils and animal fats are used in the food preparation process.
However, the build-up of FOG can cause several problems for business owners, homeowners and even the general public, which can result in thousands of pounds in damages, flooding and bad smells. The importance of preventing the build-up of FOG is tied directly to understanding what it truly is.
Thankfully, there are ways to combat FOG, whether it’s through a new grease trap installation or just better kitchen practices and training. Aqua Mundus has broken down the necessary information in this helpful blog, providing you with the tools you need to better protect your property.
Problems caused by FOG
FOG often slows the flow of wastewater through the drainage system, causing backups and overflows. As the grease cools down, it solidifies and coats the inside of pipes and drains. This tends to result in serious plumbing issues, especially as the FOG creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
These bacteria develop and cause foul-smelling odours, which can then lead to health hazards, as well as serious drain blockages. With an increase in blockages in drainage and sewage systems, congealed FOG can cause sewage overflows, which in turn, can contaminate water supplies and create a public health hazard.
Blockages caused by FOG and the way it builds up in the pipes can also lead to further damage to pumps and other equipment often used in the public sewer system. This build-up reduces the efficiency of the equipment, increases operation cost and maintenance
With all these issues and knock-on effects caused by FOG, it’s important to know what can be done to fix the problems that arise.
How to Prevent Blocked Drains
Thankfully, there are precautions you can take to prevent your drains from blocking. As a leading independent grease contractor, it’s important for us to provide the correct information that can help protect you, your business or your home.
We’ve broken this down into three simple steps:
1. Correct Training for Employees
Ensuring that all staff, household members and those that will be dealing with cooking oils and animal fats are properly trained and informed. Always make sure that you don't pour cooking oils or grease down the drains, as this will solidify over time and block the drainpipe.
Giving staff appropriate training on how to correctly dispose of FOGs will help to prevent any blocked drains and therefore reduce any unnecessary costs you could incur. When it comes to correct drain protection, knowing is half the battle.
2. Grease Trap Installation
The best solution to protecting your pipes is to make sure that you have a good quality grease trap in place. A grease trap is specifically designed to separate FOG that is contained in the kitchen waste water. This prevents any FOG from entering the sewers, controlling the flow of water by separating the grease.
With a large range available to suit all requirements and budgets, our grease traps provide an environmentally friendly waste management solution that offers protection while reducing the risk of blockages and unnecessary repair costs.
3. Proper maintenance and service
Depending on your facilities, as well as your initial budget, your grease trap will eventually need to be cleaned. Passive grease traps, like the Trapzilla High Capacity Interceptor, will require emptying when the FOG storage capacity inside the unit is reached.
At Aqua Mundus, we offer our expert grease trap services across the country, with planned maintenance and reactive repairs for all makes and models. Our in-house certified engineers provide routine cleaning and pump outs to ensure that your grease trap functions to the highest level.
Protection from FOG with Aqua Mundus
As an independent wastewater treatment company, we specialise in grease management and protecting your facilities from FOG. It’s crucial that if you operate in a commercial kitchen or a similar setting, you take the necessary steps to protect your drains. A grease trap installation is the best preventative measure.
Aqua Mundus offer a range of grease traps, from 20 litres to 5,000 litres, we can fit any make, model and size, all at an affordable price. Our grease trap services are available nationwide, and our years of expertise will guarantee you and your drains the highest protection possible.
Contact us today to book your free site survey.