Grease Trap Cleaning in Amarillo, TX
For restaurants and commercial kitchens in Amarillo, proper grease trap maintenance isn't optional—it's required by law. The EPA identifies fats, oils, and grease (FOG) as a major cause of sanitary sewer overflows, which is why Texas and local municipalities require businesses to maintain their grease traps properly.
At Amarillo Septic Services, we provide reliable, compliant grease trap cleaning for restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, and food processing facilities throughout the Texas Panhandle. We help you stay compliant with health codes while keeping your kitchen running smoothly.
Industry Standard
The 25% Rule
Grease traps should be cleaned when FOG accumulation reaches 25% of the trap's capacity—the widely adopted industry standard.
Typical Cleaning Schedules:
- High-volume: Monthly or more
- Medium-volume: Quarterly
- Lower-volume: Every 90 days
Who Needs Grease Trap Cleaning?
Any business that produces fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in food preparation is required to have and maintain a grease trap or interceptor.
Restaurants
Full-service restaurants, fast food establishments, and cafes with commercial kitchens.
Hotels & Motels
Lodging facilities with on-site kitchens, breakfast services, or restaurants.
Schools & Cafeterias
Educational facilities, hospitals, and institutional kitchens serving meals.
Food Processing
Bakeries, butcher shops, food manufacturing, and processing facilities.
Texas Grease Trap Regulations
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulates grease trap and interceptor installations, while local municipalities including Amarillo enforce their own FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) programs under state guidelines.
State Requirements
- Food establishments must prevent FOG discharge into public sewers
- Grease traps must be properly sized for facility needs
- Regular maintenance and documentation required
Local Enforcement
- City of Amarillo enforces FOG program requirements
- Health department inspections verify compliance
- Maintenance records must be available for inspection
Stay Compliant
Specific cleaning frequency must be determined by your local jurisdiction's requirements and your facility's usage patterns. We can help you understand your obligations and set up a maintenance schedule that keeps you compliant.
Professional Grease Trap Cleaning
Proper grease trap cleaning requires complete removal of all contents—not just skimming the top. Here's our thorough process.
Visual Inspection
We assess grease and solids accumulation to confirm cleaning is needed and check the overall condition of your trap.
Complete Removal
We pump out ALL contents—liquids, grease, and solids. Partial pumping is not proper maintenance.
Scraping and Cleaning
We physically remove grease adhered to walls, baffles, and components that pumping alone can't reach.
Tank Washing
Thorough washing of the trap interior ensures all FOG residue is removed for optimal performance.
Component Inspection
We check for damage, proper baffle function, and structural integrity while the trap is empty.
Documentation
We provide required maintenance records for your files and health department compliance.
Consequences of Neglecting Your Grease Trap
Failing to maintain your grease trap doesn't just risk fines—it can shut down your business.
Health Violations
Failed health inspections can result in citations, fines, and in severe cases, mandatory closure.
Plumbing Backups
Overflowing grease traps cause slow drains, foul odors, and sewage backup into your kitchen.
Municipal Fines
Discharging FOG into the sewer system violates local ordinances and can result in significant fines.
Sewer Line Damage
Grease that reaches the sewer system can cause blockages, making you liable for cleanup costs.
Pest Problems
Accumulated grease attracts flies, cockroaches, and rodents—a health code nightmare.
Business Reputation
Foul odors and health violations damage your reputation with customers and the community.
Why Amarillo Businesses Choose Us
We understand that your business can't afford downtime or compliance issues. That's why we focus on reliability, professionalism, and helping you stay compliant.
Flexible Scheduling
We work around your business hours to minimize disruption to your operations.
Compliance Documentation
We provide all required paperwork for health department inspections.
Scheduled Service Plans
Set it and forget it with our preventive maintenance programs.
Emergency Response
When problems can't wait, we're here to help with rapid response service.
Serving Texas Panhandle Businesses
We provide commercial grease trap cleaning throughout a 50-mile radius from Amarillo.
Keep Your Kitchen Compliant
Don't risk health code violations or kitchen shutdowns. Contact us today to set up a grease trap maintenance schedule that keeps your business running smoothly and in full compliance.
Request Your Free Estimate
Fill out the form below and we'll get back to you within 24 hours with a detailed estimate.
Prefer to call? Reach us directly at
(806) XXX-XXXX