Are Grease Traps Required By Law in Manitoba?

Does your restaurant need a new grease trap installation? Call King's Services at 431-813-5843 for an appointment!

Running a restaurant isn't an easy endeavor. From satisfying customers to keeping up with regulations, there are countless things restaurant owners worry about. One of those things is abiding by local laws.

Many restaurant owners find themselves asking, "Are grease traps required by law?" In Manitoba, all commercial, institutional, and food service kitchens must have grease traps.

If you need to install, repair, or maintain a grease trap, call King's Services. To learn more about the importance of grease traps and why Manitoba requires them in all restaurants, keep reading!

What Is a Grease Trap?

A grease trap is a plumbing device that collects grease, oil, and fat before it goes down the drain. Every time you wash dishes, warm fats, oils, and grease enter the drain. When they eventually cool down, they stick to the inside of your pipes. Grease traps stop these materials before they enter the pipe below the sink and cause harmful clogs.

Why Are Grease Traps Required By Law in Manitoba Restaurants?

So, why are grease traps required in restaurants in particular? Small amounts of grease, fat, and oils can all enter the water system through residential properties, so why does the law only apply to food service?

The simple answer is volume and frequency. The amount of grease and fat entering drains from a food service establishment is far more than that of a private residence. Most home cooks prepare only three meals a day, whereas restaurants cook hundreds to thousands of meals a day.

The amount of grease, fat, and oil a restaurant kitchen produces is far too damaging to be freely entering the pipes. Without a grease trap, all of this fat and oil creates clogged drains and pipes. The result is a costly repair service that no restaurant owner wants to face.

Aside from costly repairs, there are several other negative consequences of not having a grease trap. When your pipes have a severe clog, sewage backs up and out of the drain, leading to foul odours throughout your establishment. This is the last thing anyone wants in their restaurant!

Another reason restaurants need grease traps is to create a healthier facility. When fats and oils build up in your drains, they can draw in vermin. This exposes staff and customers to harmful bacteria, creating a serious health hazard.

Types of Grease Traps

If your restaurant needs new grease traps, understanding the different types of interceptors is important. There are three main types of grease traps: hydromechanical grease traps, passive grease traps, and automatic grease removal units.

Hydromechanical Grease Traps

A hydromechanical grease trap separates fat, oil, and grease from wastewater through internal baffling, air entrainment, and hydraulic flow. These interceptors are made out of polypropylene, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

Passive Grease Traps

Passive grease traps contain several different compartments that wastewater passes through. Passive grease interceptors work by cooling down wastewater, causing fat, oil, and grease to float upwards while food waste settles along the bottom. This makes it easier to collect the fats and grease from the water.

Automatic Grease Removal Units

Also known as AGRU, automatic grease removal units use electrical and mechanical mechanisms for removing fats and oils from your wastewater. These are small grease traps, but they're very efficient. Automatic grease removal units eliminate about 99% of the fats, oils, and grease from your water and separate solid food waste for collection.

How To Maintain Your Grease Trap

Grease traps are durable pieces of equipment that last as long as 20 years with maintenance. The following are some helpful tips for extending your grease trap's lifespan and avoiding common interceptor issues:

• Reduce excess strain on your grease trap by removing large amounts of grease from dishes with a paper towel. 
• Clean your grease trap every one to three months.
• Have any issues repaired right away before they cause larger problems.

While the purpose of your grease trap is to prevent fats and oils from building up in the pipes, you still shouldn't let excess grease enter your drain. Removing large amounts of grease from your dishes before washing them helps extend the lifespan of your interceptor by reducing its workload.

Also, do not pour fats and oils directly down your drain. Instead, freeze these materials and throw them in the garbage once completely frozen.

Are Grease Traps Expensive?

A common concern for a lot of restaurant owners is the cost of equipment like grease interceptors. Installing new hardware in your facility is sometimes an expensive process. Whether you're starting a new restaurant or updating your current establishment, you may be wondering, "Are grease traps required by law expensive? 

The exact cost of your grease trap varies according to the type and complexities of installation. A complicated installation process is more costly than simply placing a standard grease trap. If there are any existing issues with your sink or plumbing, the overall cost of installation can increase.

The size of your grease trap also impacts the cost. Smeller grease traps are in the low hundreds, while larger interceptors fall somewhere in the thousands. Small food service operations usually only need a small grease trap, but commercial food preparation services require larger, more expensive grease trap systems.

Schedule Your Grease Trap Installation with King's Services

Are grease traps required by law? Yes, all commercial, institutional, and food preparation services in Manitoba must have a grease trap installed in their kitchen per the law. 

If you need a new grease trap for your restaurant in the Manitoba area? Look no further than King's Services in Winnipeg! We'll work with you to install high-quality grease traps in your restaurant, ensuring everything abides by local laws and regulations. This gives you more time to focus on training staff, serving customers, and expanding your delicious menu.

For a grease trap consultation, call us at 431-813-5843 now!