Grease Trap vs Grease Interceptor: What’s the Difference?
When researching grease management for a commercial kitchen, you’ll probably come across several different terms, including grease trap, grease interceptor, grease separator and fat trap.
They all relate to managing fats, oils and grease – commonly known as FOG – but what’s the difference?
What Is a Grease Trap?
A grease trap is designed to separate fats, oils and grease from kitchen wastewater before they travel further into the drainage system.
Wastewater enters the trap, where FOG is separated and retained. The wastewater can then continue towards the outlet, while the collected grease remains inside the unit until it is removed during cleaning.
Compact under sink grease traps are commonly used in commercial kitchens where space is limited.
What Is a Grease Interceptor?
A commercial grease interceptor performs a similar job by intercepting FOG before it travels further into the drainage system.
Depending on the system involved, grease interceptors may refer to larger-capacity grease management systems, including those positioned outside or underground.
However, terms such as fat trap, grease trap, grease interceptor and grease separator aren’t always used consistently.
For this reason, it’s important to look at the actual capacity, flow requirements and installation specifications of a product rather than choosing based on its name alone.
Which Type Does Your Kitchen Need?
The appropriate grease management system depends on your individual kitchen.
Important considerations include:
- The amount of wastewater produced
- How much FOG the kitchen generates
- Available installation space
- The equipment being connected
- Required capacity
- Whether the system will be installed indoors or outdoors
A smaller café or takeaway may be able to use an under-sink unit, while larger commercial kitchens may require a higher-capacity solution.
What Grease Trap Sizes Are Available?
Grease Trap Store offers stainless steel grease traps in capacities including 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 litres.
There is also a 100 litre low-height grease trap for kitchens where vertical space is restricted.
For businesses requiring larger systems, outdoor and underground grease management solutions are also available, including 200 litre and 400 litre above ground grease traps.
Don’t Choose on Size Alone
It can be tempting to assume that the biggest grease trap is automatically the best option, but capacity isn’t the only consideration.
Flow rate, available installation space and the requirements of the individual kitchen should all be considered when choosing a commercial grease trap or interceptor.
Regular maintenance is equally important, as accumulated FOG needs to be removed to keep the system operating effectively.
Find the Right Grease Management Solution
Whether you need a compact under-sink grease trap or a larger commercial grease interceptor, the important thing is choosing a system suited to your kitchen and its requirements.
Grease Trap Store offers a wide range of grease management solutions for commercial kitchens, from smaller stainless steel traps to larger outdoor and underground systems.
Browse our commercial grease traps and find the right solution for your business.
