Grease Trap vs. Oil Interceptor
What They Are, How They Work and How They’re Different Grease traps were invented in the 1880’s, and the technology has reminded nearly unchanged ever since. Whether the unit is a grease trap or grease interceptor, the technology works the same. Fats, oil and grease (FOG) float to the surface, leaving the wastewater to flow into the sewage system. According to Universal Plumbing Code, “a grease trap/grease interceptor is a plumbing device that is installed in a sanitary drainage system to ‘trap’ or ‘intercept’ non-petroleum FOG from a wastewater discharge.” Wastewater flows from the sink of drain into a tank. As the wastewater cools, the FOG hardens and the food solids (sludge) settle. The FOG fills the grease trap from the top down, displacing the wastewater from the middle of the grease trap and into the sanitary sewer or septic system. A grease interceptor works the same way, but at a larger scale The difference between a grease trap and a grease intercepto...