Grease Trap Maintenance Checklist for Kitchen Managers

Pumping the unit is our job. Keeping it from failing early is largely a kitchen-floor habit, and it costs nothing except consistency. This checklist is written for the person who actually runs the kitchen day to day.

Every shift

• Scrape and dry-wipe plates, pans and grill surfaces into the garbage before they reach a sink.
• Use sink strainers on every prep and dish sink, and empty them into the garbage rather than rinsing them through.
• Never pour fryer oil, drippings or pan grease down any drain, floor drain included.
• Keep used cooking oil in its collection container, with the lid on.

Every week

• Look at how fast prep and dish sinks drain, and note when they slow down.
• Check for odour near floor drains or the interceptor access point.
• Confirm the unit's lid area is clear and reachable, not stacked with stock or equipment.
• Remind new staff about the scraping and strainer routine — turnover is the usual reason it slips.

Every month

• Check the date of the last service against your planned interval.
• Note anything that has changed in the kitchen: new fryer, longer hours, a busier menu, an added tenant.
• Confirm the service record from the last visit is in your file, not sitting in someone's inbox.

What belongs in your maintenance file

• The date of each service and which unit was serviced.
• What was removed and the condition the unit was in.
• Measurements, so the fill rate can be seen over time.
• The recommended interval and any change to it.
• Notes on repairs needed, such as a damaged baffle, tee or lid.

What not to do

Additives and enzyme treatments do not remove fats, oils and grease from the site — at best they move the problem further down the line, which is exactly what pre-treatment exists to prevent. Partial skimming has the same flaw: the grease cap comes off and the settled solids that block the outlet stay behind.

When to call instead of waiting

Slow drains during peak service, odour that does not clear, gurgling floor drains, or grease visible at the outlet side of the unit are all reasons to move the service up rather than wait for the scheduled date.