For those working in the Hospitality and Facilities Management industries; fats, oils and grease (FOG) blockages may well be as infamous as they are to us at commercial drainage experts, Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield. According to Southern Water, more than 3,000 homes are flooded in the UK each year because of fats, oils and grease blockages – with £90m spent per annum clearing these. These types of drain blockages can also prove harmful to the environment, such as pollution in local rivers and streams.
(Pictured: Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield attending a callout to a blocked drain)
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A sure fire way of businesses reducing their chances of FOG blockages occurring would be to have a grease trap installed. Any business operating a commercial kitchen or canteen would only benefit from installing a grease trap. There are of course different kinds of grease traps, that Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield are happy to install, service and maintain where necessary. Should you operate a grease trap that requires emptying, please take a look at our article on how we can help you.
With regards to helping keep your domestic property free from any FOG blockages, check our article here on 2 easy ways to avoid blocked drains.
(Pictured: a hardened FOG blockage removed from a pump station)
The GreaseShield® System
On the other hand, there are more sophisticated grease traps on the market, such as the GreaseShield® system, manufactured by EPAS (Environmental Products and Services Ltd.)
The GreaseShield® is a fully automated grease trap. Like all others, it works by separating and removing FOG and solids, however it is self-cleaning and eco-friendly, with no chemicals required to run it. It can also be used in conjunction with the following applications:
- Combi-ovens
- Sinks and pot washes
- Dishwashers
- Wok stations
- Rotisseries
There are 3 stages to GreaseShield® operation process:
Stage 1. Removal of solid waste
As waste enters the GreaseShield®, solids are caught by a filter screen. Solids then travel along an auger and are dewatered. They are then deposited into the solid waste container attached to the machine.
Stage 2. Removal of fats, oils and grease
The FOG is removed by a rotating drum. This drum is made from an oleophobic material meaning it attracts the fats, oils and grease but repels water. As the drum rotates, FOG is wiped off by a silicone rubber blade. It’s then deposited into the FOG collection container. Thermal energy in the waste actually prevents the FOG from solidifying allowing for a smooth process.
Stage 3. Self-cleaning
The GreaseShield® has an innovative and unique self-cleaning system. As water enters the grease trap, it backwashes the filter screen to prevent build-up of solids. The greywater is continually circulated to prevent build-up of silt and foul smells. No chemicals are required for the self-cleaning process, nor is there any need for staff members to access the inside of the grease trap or clean it.
Case Study
(Pictured: The Co-operative Bank HQ in Manchester)
Following on from a “major drainage incident” at Co-operative Bank HQ in Manchester, Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield recommended a GreaseShield® system be put in place to be able to effectively deal with waste volumes from their staff kitchen.
Ben Downer, Hard Services Manager at the Co-operative Bank described the service provided to The Co-operative as “first class”:
“Following a major drainage incident, Metro Rod identified a critical need at the Co-operative Bank HQ in Manchester to divert waste water from the staff restaurant kitchens via a grease trap before entering the building sewage system.
After dealing with the initial incident and assessing the waste volumes & limitations of the kitchen layout their proposed solution was the Grease Shield® system.
Their estimating team advised on the power requirements and their lead engineer Nick Broadbent carried out several pre-work surveys to ensure downstream pipe work was flushed, plumbing connections matched the unit and advised on modifications required to the pot wash station to receive the new unit. The out of hours installation was a complete success and Nick was back on site the following day to train the site engineer and catering staff on the operation and daily maintenance routine.
Once again Metro-Rod Manchester’s customer service has been first class.”
(Pictured: the GreaseShield® system installed by Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield at The Co-operative Bank HQ)
Take a look at Metro Rod Manchester’s sector-specific case studies in Retail, Education, Manufacturing, Facilities Management, Social Housing, Sports Stadiums and Construction by clicking the relevant title.
More information
For more information on how Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield can assist you with grease trap installing or the rest of our full range of drainage solutions, visit our website here.
You can also see our areas of coverage here. For Manchester and Stockport, click here. For Macclesfield and surrounding Cheshire, click here.
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(Pictured: a Metro Rod Manchester and Macclesfield engineer carrying out high pressure water jetting on blocked drains)
Freephone: 0800 66 88 00
Phone: 01625 879035
Email: manchester@metrorod.co.uk
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