Blocked pipes and drains

[MarieinLA]

My shop has been open for over a year now and every 2 to 3 months, my pipes need to get snaked because all the flour/grease/cocoa/chocolate that makes it's way into them blocks them, even when we make concerted efforts to sweep/dump it in the trash instead of down the drain. I've tried using the bio enzymatic stuff to keep them clean but it doesn't seem to help much. Besides buying my own snake, anyone else out there have to deal with this and figured out a better solution to keeping your pipes clear? I'd love to hear it...

Thanks.

[etalanian]

There's something called a "greasetrap" that can be obtained from a plumbing supply company. We used one in my bakery and didn't have problems with grease backing up the plumbing. They're not cheap, I think mine cost over a thousand dollars. I don't know how much they are now.

Eileen

[chefpeon]

I was going to mention the "grease trap" too......it may be expensive, but in my opinion, essential.

The grease trap will definitely keep your pipes clear......but the only downfall with a grease trap, is cleaning it. It is probably the most disgusting job on the planet. The smell coming from that thing is probably the only smell I've ever encountered that made me gag.

Usually that job is relegated to the dishwasher, but everytime I make one do it, they either,

A) quit

B) ask me, "I'm not going to have to do that again, am I?"

or

C) ask for a raise.........

Actually, in some areas, rendering plants will send a truck in to pump out the grease trap on a monthly basis. That's kind of a better deal, and you don't have to keep hiring dishwashers.....

[alanamoana]

most restaurants that i've worked in have had a service come to clean out the grease traps like once a month or something like that. this could end up costing you just as much as the snaking. of course if you can get your own people to clean out the trap (a really disgusting and unfair job if you ask me...i'm the kind of person that doesn't want any of my employees to have to do anything that i wouldn't do myself...and i wouldn't clean out the grease trap, i just don't get paid enough) then it wouldn't matter.

[Pam R]

Yep... we call our plumber and they send somebody out to clean it. I'm surprised you don't have one though.. Are you sure you don't have one that just hasn't been cleaned out?

[MarieinLA]

thanks everyone - i do have a grease trap (they would never have given me my permits without one) but i didn't know i had to clean it (some of you out there are probably cringing right now). I remember specifically asking the plumber what i had to do to maintain it and he said nothing, besides pour water down the floor drain where it is so the odor doesn't seep up, which we do. Could there be a kind that doesn't need cleaning? probably not...i'll check into it first thing tomorrow...

thanks again.

[jackal10]

Hot soda solution or dishwaher detergent.

Plumbers use concentrated sulphuric acid, with care, but you should eb able to get it as drain cleaner from a plumbers supply.

[jackal10]

Hot soda solution or dishwaher detergent.

Plumbers use concentrated sulphuric acid, with care, but you should eb able to get it as drain cleaner from a plumbers supply.

[artisanbaker]

sysco liquid fire (!!!!)

[Pam R]

Hmm.. you may need to scoop stuff out of it - rather than pouring stuff into it. I don't know if all traps are created equal - but ours needs to be emptied.

[K8memphis]

Offer the cleaning of the trap as a bonus every month or whatever. Supply goggles and respirator and you can get disposable over alls and shoe covers. Get some good gloves. It's gotta be cheaper than the snake outs. How long does it take to do??

It's hard to breath out of those masks though. Have them get well acclimated to breathing out of it.

How much is it worth??? $100 to $150??? More??? That's gotta be cheaper than calling out a plumber for snaking.

Just a thought.

[alanamoana]

thanks everyone - i do have a grease trap (they would never have given me my permits without one) but i didn't know i had to clean it (some of you out there are probably cringing right now).  I remember specifically asking the plumber what i had to do to maintain it and he said nothing, besides pour water down the floor drain where it is so the odor doesn't seep up, which we do. Could there be a kind that doesn't need cleaning?  probably not...i'll check into it first thing tomorrow...

thanks again.

←

doesn't this kind of piss you off? the plumber didn't say that you had to clean the grease trap and he's charging you an arm and a leg to snake every few weeks...hmmmm...even if it is a different plumber, it's a total scam that they don't make any connection between the drains clogging and the grease trap not being cleaned out. gah!

and yes, you do have to empty it, not add more stuff.