Not sure how often to clean
Frequency depends on trap size, menu and volume. We measure grease and solids at each visit and adjust the interval to what we find.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning in Evanston, IL
Grease traps and interceptors sized, installed, cleaned and kept on schedule for restaurants and food-service kitchens in Evanston.
- Serving restaurants and kitchens in Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- Work scheduled around service hours
- Paperwork ready for inspectors
Grease trap problems we handle in Evanston
Every kitchen that washes greasy pans sends fats, oils and grease toward the sewer, and the trap or interceptor is what stops them. In Evanston we size and install grease traps, clean and maintain them on a schedule, and keep the service records the sanitary district or village asks to see.
Staff cleaning the trap themselves
If staff are scooping the trap into the trash, there's no record and a real mess. Regular service gives you clean traps and documentation.
School, church or daycare kitchen trap
Community and school kitchens are often missed until a backup. A regular visit with records keeps them off the problem list.
Notice from the village or sanitary district
FOG programs can issue notices when grease shows up in the sewer downstream of your building. We inspect the trap, clean it and set up a maintenance schedule with records.
Sewer or rotten-egg smell in the kitchen
Grease and food solids left too long in a trap turn rancid. Regular cleaning and a tight, gasketed lid usually end the odor.
Grease clogs in the sewer line
Grease that escapes the trap cools and hardens in the pipe. We jet the line clean and fix the trap problem that let it through.
Health inspector asked about the grease trap
Health inspectors may ask where the trap is and when it was last cleaned. We keep a dated service log you can show on the spot.
Sinks and floor drains backing up
When the three-compartment sink or floor drains back up during service, the trap is often full or the line past it is coated with grease. We clean the trap and clear the line.
What we handle on site
- Site visit and trap locationA look at every grease-producing fixture and where it drains, plus the trap itself.
- SizingWe calculate the size from your sinks, flow and menu, not a guess.
- Permits and plan reviewWe file the plumbing permit and match the trap to what the plan reviewer and FOG program expect.
- InstallationUnder-sink traps set and plumbed, or in-ground interceptors excavated, set and connected.
- Cleaning and pump-outSmall traps cleaned on site; larger interceptors pumped by licensed waste haulers.
- Inspection of baffles and outletWith the trap empty we check baffles, walls, lid gasket and the outlet line.
- Line jettingGrease-coated drain lines downstream of the trap cleared with hydro-jetting when needed.
Equipment and options
In-ground grease interceptorsGravity interceptors for high-volume kitchens, serviced by pump truck.
Poly and coated steel trapsPolyethylene traps don't rust; coated steel is common in older installs.
Under-sink trap or interceptorIndoor traps suit lighter grease loads; interceptors suit busy kitchens and many fixtures.
Gasketed lids and access risersTight-sealing lids keep odor in; risers bring buried interceptors up to grade for service.
Under-sink grease trapsSmall indoor traps for cafes, bakeries and kitchens with limited grease.
Before and after: kitchens near Evanston
Before
AfterGrease Trap Installation & Cleaning in a restaurant kitchen, Evanston
The site: a restaurant kitchen in Evanston. The main complaint was a grease trap that kept backing up the prep sinks. After: the same interceptor pumped and the lid closed, service hose coiled on the truck. Work included installation, cleaning and pump-out, plus line jetting.
Before
AfterGrease Trap Installation & Cleaning in a bakery kitchen, Skokie
The site: a bakery kitchen in Skokie. What bothered the owners most: a grease trap that kept backing up the prep sinks. After: the same interceptor pumped and the lid closed, service hose coiled on the truck. The job covered sizing, installation, plus line jetting.
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning in Skokie →
Before
AfterAn Evanston restaurant kitchen: before and after
The same hood degreased to bare stainless with an inspection sticker area.
Commercial Hood Cleaning in Evanston →
Before
AfterAn Evanston 1920s bungalow: before and after
Soft sage-green inset-style cabinets with unlacquered brass hardware, honed white marble-look quartz counters, a white handmade-look square tile backsplash, restored oak strip floor and schoolhouse pendant lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Evanston →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a prewar brick bungalow in Evanston
The same doors sprayed in soft white, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Evanston →Scheduling around service
- Call or book a visitTell us about the kitchen, the backup or notice and when the trap was last cleaned.
- Inspect the trapWe open the trap, measure grease and solids and check its size and condition.
- Written estimateA clear written quote for the work and the recommended schedule.
- Clean, pump or installThe trap is cleaned or pumped, repaired or replaced, often before or after service hours.
- Log and scheduleRecords for your files and a cleaning interval that fits your kitchen.
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning questions from Evanston businesses
What does grease trap service cost?
Trap size, how full it is, access, line jetting and how often we visit drive the price. We give a written, itemized estimate after inspecting the trap.
What records do inspectors want?
A maintenance log with service dates and what was done, and for pumped interceptors the hauler's manifests.
Can I clean my grease trap myself?
You can, but inspectors will ask for the log and how the waste was disposed of. Many kitchens hand it off to keep that consistent.
Can you service the trap outside our hours?
We work around your service, including early mornings and closed days.
What's the difference between a grease trap and a grease interceptor?
A trap is usually a small indoor unit at the sink; an interceptor is a large tank, often outdoors or below grade, for higher volumes.
What is the Evanston building department phone number?
Permits go through Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services), phone (847) 448-4311. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a Evanston-registered contractor for grease trap service?
All contractors working in city limits must register with the City; annual fee General Contractor $150, Trade Contractor $125. We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Evanston?
Yes. Our crews work across Evanston — ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208 — and nearby Skokie, Glenview, Park Ridge.
Working in Evanston
- Downtime costs you covers, so Evanston work is booked around your slow days and closing times.
- Permits, plan review and inspections go through Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services) and the fire department when the job needs them.
- Insurance certificates, site access and landlord requirements are sorted out before work starts.
ZIP 60201ZIP 60202ZIP 60208
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning nearby
Other kitchen services in Evanston
Commercial Kitchen Hood InstallationType I and II hoods, grease duct, fans and makeup air, built to NFPA 96.
Commercial Hood CleaningHood, duct and roof fan degreased to bare metal, after hours.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.