If you run a restaurant, you need to partner with a good grease trap cleaning service so that they can service your grease trap on time.
In the US and in the UK and other countries, having a grease trap is actually a legal requirement for a restaurant business! Installing one is one thing and keeping it in top-notch condition is another thing altogether.
A grease trap is important for trapping all the grease, fats and oils so that they do not find their way to the municipal sewer.
If everyone ignores using the grease trap, the grease solidifies when the temperature drops. Over time, they cause serious clogging, which could lead to sewage flowing onto the streets.
With time, a neglected grease trap is going to fill up and start spilling over. You need to have it cleaned on time, which is why it is vital to use a recommended service.
How to hire professional grease trap cleaners
With so many grease trap maintenance services in the market, it is hard to tell the real ones from fakes.
To help you, here are five tips to help you hire the right service:
1. Compare different service providers
This is very important because there are so many fake companies that masquerade as the real deal. Before you hire one service provider, look at the range of services they offer.
The longer they have been in business the better. Also, you want to check for any reviews from the past customers.
If you find too many negative reviews, you probably want to avoid that service provider. If you find only positive reviews, beware because the company might not be genuine. No service provider can be perfect.
You can also check the Better Business Bureau to see whether there have been many complaints lodged against the business.
You might also want to ask for free, no-obligation estimates so that you can have an idea of how much the service will cost you.
Comparing costs from two or three providers of commercial grease cleaning can help you make a faster decision. However, remember to consider the features of the package that they offer. It is better to pay more for more features than less for a few features.
One more thing that you should check out is how far the company is from your business. If they are too far, they will transfer the transportation costs to you.
It is best to work with a grease trap cleaner who is as close to your neighborhood as possible.
2. Avoid the dirt-cheap service providers
While you might want to save a dollar here and there, when it comes to grease trap maintenance, you cannot have your cake and have it.
In the market, you get what you pay for. Thus, if the service provider is asking a very low price for the job, you should think twice.
Unless they are running a discount, which they should disclose beforehand, you should not get a very cheap service.
If they do not offer a professional service, you could be fined for their shoddy work. This is why you should not cut corners when it comes to getting the best service.
In the long run, hiring professionals is going to save you money because the job they do is going to last a long time and leave impressive results.
3. Good customer Service is paramount
Good customer service from the grease trap cleaning service provider means that there is someone on the other end of the phone when you call.
In some instances, your grease trap might fill up sooner than expected especially when business has been booming. That is why you might need to call your grease trap cleaner sooner than the scheduled time.
Since a filled grease trap is an emergency of sorts, you need them to respond with haste. Usually, the grease trap requires cleaning at least once in every three months. However, since there are different dynamics daily, you might need the services sooner.
If you call the grease trap cleaners, do they respond immediately? Sometimes, even responding in less than 24 hours is not enough. You need a service provider who responds immediately.
4. Their ability to advice you on installation
Probably, you need the grease trap installed as an afterthought especially if the house you are using for business was not set up as a restaurant.
Since a grease trap receives water from the sink and captures the grease, fat and oils while letting the water pass, installing one is purely a plumbing job.
The grease trap cleaner that you approach should advise you on the best trap for your business, design the best installation possible and give you helpful tips for keeping the trap working all the time.
The trap must also be installed in such a way that it is compliant with the health regulations. Failure to that, you can face fines and penalties from the local authorities.
5. Check the company’s and its operators’ credentials
Since a poorly done grease trap can actually put your business’ reputation at risk, you need to ensure that only trained technicians do the servicing.
Grease trap cleaning is a hard job with some risks. Thus, only trained professionals should empty it to avoid spillovers, accidents and other mishaps at your business.
The contents of the trap are golly to say the least. If they leak to the kitchen floor, there will be a nasty smell in the kitchen and you will lose the trust of your customers.
To avoid spills, the technicians will need to use the right solid waste handling gear. The most important thing though is to ensure that the grease is efficiently cleaned out.
Check the plumbing company’s website to see whether they have the licensing and certification to do this kind of work.
Final Thoughts
Hire the right grease trap cleaning company like Grease Collection, that can offer regular services is crucial to restaurant business. It not only keeps your premises clean, but it also keeps you compliant with the regulations.
Before you hire a service, you can ask to see a list of customers that they have worked with in the past. That way, if you need to verify whether they are as good as they claim, you can call one of their customers for reference.
