6 August 2025

The challenge of grease traps in summer: maintenance to counteract the increase in grease and odors caused by the heat

With the arrival of high summer temperatures, grease traps are subjected to extraordinary stress. The seasonal organic load of oils and greases from industrial kitchens, cafeterias, and food processing plants tends to exceed design limits, increasing the risk of clogs and unpleasant odors. A targeted maintenance program is not an option, but a necessity to maintain efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance.
 

The summer challenge: why maintenance is essential

With rising summer temperatures, grease traps find themselves operating under particularly critical conditions, severely testing their efficiency and durability:

• Reduced viscosity of greases and oils
  Above 30°C, the fluidity of oils and greases increases, making it more difficult for drops to form that rise to the surface, with the risk of a greater amount of oily substances leaking from the grease trap.
• Bacterial proliferation and increased odors
  High temperatures favor the growth of anaerobic bacteria and the production of foul-smelling gases (sulfides and mercaptans). Without adequate emptying frequency, the risk of nuisance emissions doubles.
• Increased hydraulic and organic load
  During the summer, many industrial kitchens and canteens increase preparation shifts or organize additional services (lunches, events, catering), increasing the volume of gray water loaded with food residues. The internal residence time is reduced, generating turbulence that ultimately carries grease toward the drain.
• Risk of blockages and spills
  An excessively thick oily mat (more than 10–15 cm) or a muddy bed that has not been adequately removed can clog the overflow devices, with the risk of contaminated wastewater flowing back into the drainage circuit, resulting in flooding, system shutdowns, and fines for non-compliance with UNI EN 1825 regulations.

For all these reasons, maintenance becomes the cornerstone of summer management: only a regular maintenance plan ensures that hydraulic and organoleptic parameters are kept within design limits, preventing inconveniences, unexpected costs, and environmental risks.

 

Essential summer maintenance

During the summer, it’s crucial to monitor both grease deposits and the internal condition of the grease trap to prevent clogging and unpleasant odors. First, every 2–4 weeks, it’s a good idea to measure the thickness of the grease trap using the dedicated dipstick or the viewer on the lid: exceeding 10 cm compromises the overflow mechanism and exposes you to the risk of grease being carried over. At the same time, at least once a month—or more frequently if the organic load is particularly high—it’s necessary to completely empty the tank, using authorized pumps or vacuum trucks and following the disposal procedures required by regulations

Each emptying session is an opportunity for a thorough internal inspection: by opening the lid, the operator checks the integrity of the bulkheads, seals, and baffles, replacing any worn components to prevent leaks and infiltrations. To complete the maintenance cycle, weekly measurement of the wastewater temperature—by placing a digital thermometer at the inlet or along the discharge pipe—helps identify peaks above 30°C, a threshold beyond which the effectiveness of gravity separation significantly decreases. If the measured values are consistently too high, it may be appropriate to consider installing cooling systems or mixing with colder water.

Finally, monthly cleaning of the pipes and baffles with high-pressure jets or HDPE-compatible descaling products prevents the formation of deposits and blockages, ensuring a consistently uniform flow. Recording the date, operator, and measurements for each intervention allows for a useful history to be created, helping to optimize maintenance intervals and respond promptly in the event of recurring anomalies.
 

Activity	Frequency	Description
Check oil level	every 2–4 weeks	Check the level oil lower than 10 cm from the top.
Tank emptying	Every month	Remove sludge from the bottom with special pump.
Inner inspection	At each empting	Inspection of bulkheads, seals, and deflectors; replacement of worn components to prevent leaks and infiltrations.
Check the temperature value	Weekly	Check temperature to avoid temperature higher than 30 °C: gestire picchi oltre 30 °C.
Clean the hose and pipe deflectors	Monthly	High pressure water jet to prevent oil accumulation.
Registration	Every time	Create a report with data operator and frequency.

 
In addition to these precautions, it’s important to rely on reliable grease traps, like the all-Italian ones from DiCamillo Serbatoi, which, with over 60 years of history and a UNIEN ISO 9001:2015-certified quality system, guarantees CE-marked products, tested in the workshop, and guaranteed for two years. Contact us today for a personalized consultation.