5 Signs Your Grease Trap Needs Servicing (Before It Becomes a Disaster)

suttonscleaning
Nov 15
2 min read

Running a café, restaurant, or commercial kitchen means you’re constantly dealing with fats, oils, and grease - and your grease trap is working hard behind the scenes to keep wastewater flowing properly. But when was the last time it was serviced?

Ignoring your grease trap can quickly lead to foul odours, slow drainage, and even business interruptions. Here are five signs it’s time for a professional grease trap clean.

1. Unpleasant Odours

If you notice a sour or greasy smell coming from your drains, floors, or sinks, it’s a clear sign your grease trap is full. As trapped fats and solids decompose, they release strong odours that no amount of cleaning can mask.

2. Slow or Backed-Up Drains

When grease builds up, it restricts water flow through your pipes. If your sinks are draining slower than usual - or you’re seeing wastewater back up — your trap is likely due for a clean.

3. Visible Grease or Overflow

A visible layer of grease around your trap lid or in your interceptor chamber means solids are no longer being contained properly. It’s both unsanitary and a major warning sign of overflow risk.

4. Council Compliance Notices

Local councils require regular grease trap maintenance for food businesses. Missing your scheduled cleanings could result in fines or non-compliance warnings — easily avoided with scheduled servicing.

5. It’s Been More Than 3 Months

Even if you don’t notice symptoms, most commercial kitchens should have their grease traps serviced every 3 months to maintain hygiene and compliance.

💧 The Sutton’s Cleaning Service Difference

At Sutton’s Cleaning Service, we’ve been helping Sunshine Coast and Gympie food businesses stay clean and compliant for over 30 years. Our team provides: