Food service businesses in Scarborough rely on grease interceptors to keep fats, oils, and grease from entering the municipal sewer system, and the City of Toronto's sewers bylaw generally requires food service establishments to maintain these devices and have them serviced on a regular basis. We clean and pump out grease traps and larger grease interceptors for restaurants, food courts, and commercial kitchens across the city.
A neglected grease trap doesn't just risk a bylaw issue, it can also lead to slow-draining kitchen sinks, odours in the kitchen, and eventually a full backup that shuts down food prep entirely. We schedule grease trap service around your kitchen's slower hours where possible, so cleaning doesn't interfere with prep or service times.
We've serviced grease traps for restaurants along Kingston Road, in the plazas near Agincourt and Malvern, and in food courts throughout Scarborough, so we understand the range of trap sizes and configurations found in commercial kitchens here.
Signs You Need Grease Trap Cleaning
Signs your grease trap or interceptor needs cleaning:
Slow-draining kitchen sinks
Water taking longer than usual to drain from prep sinks or the three-compartment sink often means the trap is filling with grease.
Foul odour near the trap or drains
A sour or rotten smell near floor drains or the grease trap area usually indicates trapped grease is breaking down.
Grease visible at the trap's surface
If you can see a thick grease layer near the top of the trap when checking it, it's likely due for a pump-out.
It's been longer than your service interval
If it's been a while since the last cleaning, grease and solids may have built up beyond what a quick check would reveal.
Backups in the kitchen drain line
A grease trap that's too full can cause wastewater to back up into sinks or floor drains during busy service periods.
Increased pest activity near the trap
Grease buildup can attract pests, and noticing more activity near the trap area is worth checking into.
How We Do It
Our grease trap cleaning process:
Step 1: Locating and opening the trap
We locate the grease trap or interceptor, whether it's under a sink or in-ground outside the building, and open it for inspection.
Step 2: Assessing grease and solids buildup
We check how full the trap is with grease and solids to confirm cleaning is needed and estimate how much needs to be removed.
Step 3: Pumping out the trap
We pump out the accumulated grease, solids, and wastewater from the trap using equipment suited to the trap's size.
Step 4: Cleaning the trap interior
We scrape and clean the interior walls and baffles of the trap to remove hardened grease that pumping alone won't clear.
Step 5: Inspecting components
We check the trap's lid, baffles, and connections for damage or wear that could affect how well it functions going forward.
Step 6: Documenting the service
We provide a record of the service date and what was found, which can help with your own maintenance records.
Grease trap service for Scarborough food businesses
Restaurants and food courts along Eglinton, Lawrence, and Kingston Road generate significant volumes of kitchen wastewater during peak hours, and a trap that's overdue for cleaning tends to show problems fastest during a Friday or weekend rush. We try to work around these busy periods so your kitchen isn't caught off guard.
The City of Toronto's sewers bylaw sets out general expectations for food service establishments to maintain grease interceptors and prevent grease from entering the sewer system. We're glad to talk through what a reasonable cleaning interval looks like for your specific kitchen based on its volume and trap size.
Why Choose Scarborough Plumbing
Familiar with food service kitchens
We service grease traps of different sizes, from under-sink units to larger in-ground interceptors used by busier restaurants.
Scheduled around your kitchen hours
We aim to carry out cleaning during slower periods so it doesn't interfere with meal prep or service.
Thorough cleaning, not just pumping
We clean the interior of the trap in addition to pumping it out, since hardened grease on the walls and baffles reduces how well the trap functions.
Straightforward service records
We document each visit so you have a record to refer back to for your own maintenance planning.
Grease Trap Cleaning FAQs
How often should a grease trap be cleaned?
This depends on your kitchen's volume and the size of the trap, but busier kitchens generally need more frequent service than smaller, lower-volume operations.
Can you clean the trap while we're open?
In many cases yes, especially for smaller under-sink traps, though we try to schedule around your slower hours to reduce any disruption.
What happens to the grease you pump out?
The pumped-out waste is removed from the property and disposed of appropriately, separate from your regular kitchen operations.
Is there a bylaw requirement for grease traps in Toronto?
The City of Toronto's sewers bylaw generally requires food service establishments to maintain grease interceptors, though the specifics that apply can vary by property, so it's worth confirming what applies to your business.
What happens if the trap isn't cleaned regularly?
Buildup can lead to slow drains, odours, and eventually backups in the kitchen, which can disrupt service and create a mess that's harder to clean up.
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Questions? Call (647) 249-7335 or send the form below.