Grease traps for sewers: types, selection rules + installation procedure

Fat elements contained in wastewater can block the pipe, causing clogging. Fatty acids tend to corrode the metal and destroy the pipeline, due to which the sewage system becomes unusable.

Grease traps for sewers, which are installed in a riser to the place of discharge of used water, will help to solve this problem. In this material we will talk about the design features of these devices, their types and features that you need to pay attention to when choosing a grease trap for the home.

Design and principle of operation of the device

The main function of the grease trap is to filter sewage from grease, oil and particulate matter that pollute the environment.

The equipment consists of a number of elements, these are:

• instrument compartmentin which fat and oil are collected;
• flask from 2-3 branches, designed for sedimentation of wastewater;
• exhaust pipeconnected to the sewer system;
• intake manifold;
• sealed removable coverpreventing odors.

Sewer grease separator consists of a one-piece sealed enclosure with a lid. The removable lid allows you to carry out preventative maintenance if necessary or to perform manual tank cleaning.

2 pipes are connected to the body - input and output. The tank is divided into 2 or 3 compartments that communicate with each other and are designed to separate oil, grease, and solid inclusions.

From the last compartment, defatted and treated effluents are discharged into the sewer.

The simplest, cheapest grease trap models have 1 camera and are installed under the sink

Any sewage grease trap model works on the principle of gravity.Particles of fat and oil accumulate on the surface of the filter, as they are much lighter than water.

Then they fall into a special sump, from there they are easily removed manually, using special equipment or special equipment.

Special enzymes are usually added to the device to break down stored fat. They can significantly increase the time between cleaning the device.

Purpose and benefits of grease traps

More sophisticated models of fat traps are used in large enterprises and are designed to effectively treat wastewater from particulate matter, grease-containing and oily impurities.

According to sanitary standards in meat and dairy industries and at public catering establishments, the installation of grease-collecting equipment in the sewage system is mandatory.

Industrial devices are installed at the outlet of a treatment plant that performs primary wastewater treatment.

The installation of a fat trap will protect the sewage system of any catering or production facility from contamination with grease and oil inclusions

Industrial devices have been developed by manufacturers so that clean water, cleaned of impurities by separation and further removal of the oily component of the waste mass, enters the sewer system.

The installation of a grease trap will prevent the failure of the sewage system due to the effects of fat deposits. It also protects the environment from the release of harmful impurities that could cause irreparable damage to the environment.

Such separators are indispensable not only in production but in everyday life. They reliably protect sewer pipes from the occurrence of grease valves or congestion. At the 1st stage, the device receives household water, separates fat and oil accumulations.

At the 2nd stage, the final separation of body fat and the withdrawal of effectively purified water into the sewer system are observed. The device retains non-emulsified fats and removes them from wastewater.

The grease trap installed under the sink is often used in home kitchens, cafes, restaurants, pastry shops and fast food establishments.

Using grease equipment has several advantages:

• Equipment tightness. Due to the tightness of the housing eliminates the possibility of ingress of foreign liquid into the filter.
• Practicality and versatility. It is possible to install various additional devices. The sensor for the accumulation of harmful substances is in special demand.
• No unpleasant odors. Due to the tightness of the case, odors that usually occur during the breakdown of fats do not penetrate into the room.
• Easy installation. Installing fat traps for the room does not require special skills and is performed in 4 stages.
• Ease of maintenance. To clean most models of fat traps does not require much effort, it can be done manually, using improvised tools.
• Reasonable cost. Devices have a low price compared to other types of filters.

In addition to these advantages, the device that collects fat also has a long service life. All equipment is made of high-quality and wear-resistant materials, which guarantees its durability.

An important plus of using a grease trap is the conservation of the environment, which is especially true in modern times

Types of grease traps by purpose

Household equipment is installed under the sink in homes, apartments and small catering establishments - in bars, restaurants, cafes, pastry shops and canteens.

There are 2 main types of fat traps:

• household appliance;
• industrial.

They are mandatory elements of the sewerage systems of restaurant-type establishments. Devices filter the fat that forms after washing dirty dishes.

Household grease traps are cleaned by hand and used at a flow rate of up to 1.5 cubic meters / hour.Industrial traps of fatty impurities are installed in industries, in the drains of which there is a significant amount of fatty, oily and other impurities.

The use of an industrial device for catching fat is mandatory at large enterprises, if the water consumption is more than 2 cubic meters per hour. Their cleaning is carried out automatically - using special mechanisms.

How to choose a grease trap?

Each buyer independently chooses the model of the grease trap, depending on the requirements for the device and financial capabilities. Regardless of the model you like, it will be possible to solve the urgent problem of accumulation of fat and oil impurities, which can lead to clogging of the sewer system.

Grease traps by installation type

There are several criteria for choosing a special fat trap.

According to the installation method, the separators are divided into 2 types:

• installed on the street;
• used indoors.

There are separate models for each installation method. It’s rare to find “mixed” solutions that are installed both on the street and indoors.

Grease traps of any kind are mounted in the sewage system. In catering establishments and in meat, dairy and fish processing enterprises, the use of separators for separating fat is a prerequisite.

Indoor devices are easy to install and affordable.

Household fat separators can be installed in various ways:

• in a separate room;
• under the plumbing equipment;
• in the basement.

The choice of the best option depends on several criteria: on the dimensions of the equipment and the convenience of its use.

Street grease traps are made of more durable materials, since they must effectively resist the external pressure of the soil.

Installing such a fat separator is a complex and multi-step process. At the first stage, earthwork is carried out, then the site is concreted and only then can we proceed to installation.

Therefore, for the installation of fat catchers usually contact specialized companies.

The throughput of street fat separators is much greater than that of indoor grease traps

What material is the equipment made of?

The housing of the grease traps can be made of plastic, fiberglass or stainless steel.

Plastic grease traps are characterized by properties: attractive appearance and low throughput. They are mainly intended for domestic use, so they are installed indoors.

Advantages of plastic fat separators:

• Environmental friendly material. Plastic is considered safe for the environment and people.
• Practicality. The material allows manufacturers to manufacture devices in standard sizes and taking into account individual customer requirements.
• Ease of maintenance. Equipment can be cleaned manually using improvised tools.
• Durability. Plastic has a long service life, the device can last up to 30 years.

For the correct operation of fat traps, it is recommended to use a level sensor for fat and oil deposits or other additional devices.

Plastic fat separators are aesthetically pleasing and compact. They can be installed in rooms of any purpose.

Fiberglass is made from fiberglass and a binder polymer. Fiberglass grease traps are distinguished by excellent strength indicators. Due to this, they can be installed both indoors and outdoors.

The main advantages of a fat separator made of reliable fiberglass:

• Resistance to aggressive environment. Devices are resistant to extreme weather conditions and harmful chemicals.
• Increased durability. Grease traps made of fiberglass have established themselves as strong and reliable equipment.
• Light weight and easy to maintain. Fiberglass grease separators are easy to clean.

Fiberglass grease trap design can be horizontal and vertical

The fat layer accumulates inside the device to a certain level, is easily pumped through the hatch

Equipment for the separation of fat made of durable stainless steel is the most expensive among different models. It can be installed outdoors and indoors.

Some manufacturers make separators for fatty impurities from galvanized steel. The quality characteristics of such devices are lower than that of stainless steel appliances.

The stainless steel fat separator installed in the room looks aesthetically pleasing. The equipment not only effectively performs its direct functions, but also stylishly decorates the interior

Grease traps made of stainless steel are distinguished by high hygienic properties, excellent performance, and a long service life. It is also worth noting the high anti-corrosion qualities of stainless steel separators.

Operational properties of separators

Grease traps vary widely in power and performance. Devices with a capacity of 0.1 to 2 l / s are considered household equipment.

All devices with a capacity of more than 2 l / s belong to industrial devices. Fat separators provide effective wastewater treatment from fats up to 20 mg / l.

Full operation of the fat separator is possible if the performance of the device corresponds to the amount of effluent from the sewage system

Productivity of the equipment should correspond to the quantity of sewage entering the device or be higher than this value.

Grease traps also vary in the way they are cleaned. It happens equipment:

• manual cleaning;
• mechanized cleansing.

In most cases, low-throughput manual fat separators designed by the manufacturer for indoor installation.

They are constantly monitored, filter cleaning is carried out manually using improvised means.

Grease cleaners for mechanized cleaning are, most often, industrial grease separators with high performance. Typically, devices are equipped with sensors that indicate the need for cleaning.

The cleaning procedure is carried out using pumps or specialized vehicles.

Equipment Installation Technology

The installation process of the fat separator can be carried out in various ways. The optimal type of installation must be selected depending on the type and characteristics of the grease trap. Consider several options for installing separators.

Installing a street grease trap

The installation procedure for an industrial fat trap is complex and time-consuming. Therefore, most buyers of traps prefer to entrust the installation of equipment to specialists.

In order to complete the installation yourself, it is necessary to carry out a number of preparatory work:

• We select a place for installation. When choosing, you should take into account the features of the layout of the site, as well as the possibility of performing landscape work in the future.
• Determine the size of the pit for mounting the device - its depth should be such that the cover of the grease trap is about 4 cm higher than the surface of the earth.
• Digging a hole. At the very bottom, we equip solid formwork, into which we will pour a mixture of sand and cement. For sandy soils and loams, a solution prepared in a ratio of 1: 5 is optimal.
• We wait until the solution hardens., at a minimum it is 14 days.

When the preparation of the base for installation is completed, you can proceed directly to the installation of equipment. To do this, we install the body of the trap of fat on a concrete base and reliably fix the device to loops embedded in a makeshift concrete slab during the pouring period. If the loops are forgotten to put, then they can be fixed with anchor bolts.

Now, around the equipment installed in the pit, we are constructing peculiar plywood walls. This process is necessary to prevent soil shedding. If you plan to operate the separator in a cold climate, then it must be covered with insulating material. Mineral wool or polystyrene is suitable for this.

It remains to connect the fat trap to the communication networks. To do this, the equipment outlet pipe must be connected to the drainage system. Joints must be treated with sealant. And the inlet pipe of the device is connected to the sewer pipe. We place the joint of the elements with sealant.

All the free space that has formed between around the body of the grease trap is covered with soil. Usually, backfill is used, during which soil that has been dug out of this place at the stage of digging the pit should be filled into the opening.

Do not forget about the need installation of a fan riser. It is required for the removal of excess gases accumulated in the sewer system. If there will be a large load on the drainage system, it is better to install several risers at once. The fat accumulation sensor that is installed inside the equipment will warn you about the need for a cleaning procedure.

Street grease traps are often cleaned by specialists of specialized companies using pumps or special equipment

Installation and installation of industrial fat traps is recommended with the assistance of professional installers. They must also have permissions to carry out the entire spectrum of work.

Also, professional specialists have the necessary construction equipment for installation, so they can perform the necessary procedures for stable and long-term operation of the equipment.

Mounting a fat trap indoors

Installing a household separator under the sink is a simpler process than installing equipment on the street. To do this, you first have to choose the optimal location for the installation of equipment.

It should be located on an easily accessible, solid and as even surface as possible, close to plumbing equipment.

It remains to perform a series of sequential actions:

• We output the equipment outlet pipe to the sewage system. At the connection, you need to install a rubber gasket that comes with the device.
• We connect the inlet pipe of the trap to the outlet pipe of the sanitary equipment or to the pipeline (at the junction of the sink and washing equipment), not forgetting to put a special gasket.
• In the grease trap we collect the necessary amount of water to check the device for leaks.

If the test is successful, you can install a cover on the grease trap.With the installation of the cover, the installation of the equipment can be considered completed.

For more information on how to select and install a grease trap under the sink, read this stuff.

Overview of popular grease trap manufacturers

An extensive range of fat separators manufactured by foreign and domestic manufacturers is presented on the modern market. It should be noted that there are no significant differences in equipment of various companies.

Devices of any brand work on the same principle - they function due to the force of gravity. In addition to traps, many manufacturers offer additional equipment, such as a stand.

The stand is designed for use with grease traps, which are installed directly under the sink in restaurants, canteens, cafes and carving shops of large supermarkets

When choosing the optimal model, it is worth focusing on the purpose of the fat trap, as well as on the prestige and reputation of the manufacturer.

Grease traps from companies are in special demand:

• Helyx;
• Wavin Labko;
• Evo Stok;
• Flotenk;
• UE "Polymerconstruction".

Helyx - A popular manufacturer that manufactures mainly industrial vertical and horizontal grease traps. The separator is used as the initial treatment system.

It is installed at the place of production sewage, which contains contaminated and greasy effluents.

Wavin labko - Finnish developer and manufacturer of innovative electronic meters for the accumulation of fat and traps made of fiberglass, polyethylene.

Wavin-Labko EuroREK grease traps are used in restaurants, cafes, canteens, gas stations, meat processing plants and slaughterhouses.

Russian manufacturer Evo Stok manufactures equipment for various purposes from heat-resistant reinforced plastic, resistant to corrosion.

The devices are equipped with hermetic seals, which effectively prevent the penetration of unpleasant odors into the room.

Company Flotenk manufactures industrial and domestic devices from durable reinforced fiberglass

The advantages of Flotenk grease traps are aesthetics, the presence of a level indicator, the degree of purification up to 50 mg / l, and durability. The manufacturer makes vertical and horizontal traps of fatty impurities.

The grease trap from UE "Polymerconstruction" is a capacity of a spiral-wound pipe, with input and output pipes.

The discharge pipe is located at a considerable depth, so that fat is not allowed to slip through.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Useful qualities of grease traps are described in the video:

The grease trap can be cleaned on its own. How to do this, tell the video clip:

The principles of operation of greasing equipment for industrial needs are described in the video:

Grease trap can significantly reduce the risk of corrosion on pipes and clogging of the sewer system. The equipment does not require special care, it is only necessary to clean the filter in a timely manner.

A correctly selected and correctly installed grease trap will effectively purify water and protect the drainage system from global pollution.

Already have personal experience using grease traps for sewage? Tell us which device you gave your preference to, are you satisfied with its operation? Perhaps there are some features of using this device? Leave your comments, ask questions in the block below.