Interceptor overdue for pumping
An overdue interceptor is the start of most grease backups. We get it pumped, inspected and back on a schedule.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning in Highland Park, IL
Grease traps and interceptors sized, installed, cleaned and kept on schedule for restaurants and food-service kitchens in Highland Park.
- Commercial kitchens across Highland Park ZIP 60035
- Nights, early mornings and closed days
- Coordination with the fire and health inspectors
Grease trap problems we handle in Highland Park
Every kitchen that washes greasy pans sends fats, oils and grease toward the sewer, and the trap or interceptor is what stops them. In Highland Park 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.
New restaurant needs a trap or interceptor
Before a new kitchen opens, the plumbing plan has to show grease treatment. We size, permit and install the trap or interceptor that fits the menu.
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
Hardened grease in the building drain needs hydro-jetting, not a snake. Afterward we check the trap so it doesn't build back up.
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.
Landlord requires grease maintenance records
Shared sewer lines in strip centers make grease every tenant's problem. Landlords often want proof each kitchen services its trap, and we provide it.
Damaged lid, baffles or rusted trap
Broken baffles, corroded walls or a cracked lid let grease pass straight through. We repair what we can and replace the trap when it's beyond that.
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.
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.
- InstallationNew traps installed with proper venting, flow control and access for cleaning.
- Cleaning and pump-outGrease and solids removed, the trap scraped and baffles cleared.
- Inspection of baffles and outletWith the trap empty we check baffles, walls, lid gasket and the outlet line.
- Service log and manifestsEach visit is recorded with date, measurements and work done; pumped waste is documented with the hauler's manifest.
Systems and components
Gasketed lids and access risersTight-sealing lids keep odor in; risers bring buried interceptors up to grade for service.
Under-sink grease trapsCompact hydromechanical traps that sit under or next to a sink and are cleaned often.
Under-sink trap or interceptorIndoor traps suit lighter grease loads; interceptors suit busy kitchens and many fixtures.
Flow control fittingsA fitting that limits flow so the trap can do its job.
In-ground grease interceptorsLarge outdoor or below-slab tanks that hold more grease and are pumped less often.
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning before and after — Highland Park homes
Before
AfterGrease Trap Installation & Cleaning in a bakery kitchen, Highland Park
A bakery kitchen near Ravinia District, a typical kitchen for Highland Park. What bothered the owners most: a full interceptor and a sour smell by the back door. Finished kitchen: the same interceptor pumped and the lid closed, service hose coiled on the truck. On site this meant installation, cleaning and pump-out, plus service log and manifests.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a restaurant kitchen in Northbrook
A restaurant kitchen near Downtown Northbrook, a typical kitchen for Northbrook. The main complaint was a FOG notice and no maintenance records. The result: the same interceptor pumped and the lid closed, service hose coiled on the truck. The job covered sizing, cleaning and pump-out, plus service log and manifests.
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning in Northbrook →
Before
AfterCommercial Hood Cleaning in a restaurant kitchen, Highland Park
What changed: the same hood degreased to bare stainless with an inspection sticker area.
Commercial Hood Cleaning in Highland Park →
Before
AfterA Highland Park postwar bi-level: before and after
Cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with matte black pulls, bright white quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a postwar Cape Cod, Highland Park
Finished: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Highland Park →How the project goes
- Call or book a visitTell us about the kitchen, the backup or notice and when the trap was last cleaned.
- Inspect the trapA look inside the trap and at the lines around it.
- Written estimateYou get an itemized estimate for cleaning, repair or a new trap.
- Clean, pump or installWe do the work around your hours and leave the area clean.
- Log and scheduleRecords for your files and a cleaning interval that fits your kitchen.
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning questions from Highland Park businesses
What does grease trap service cost?
We price after seeing the trap, and the estimate is itemized and in writing.
What can't go down a grease trap?
Don't pour used cooking oil down the sink; scrape plates before washing and keep food solids out of the drain.
What's the difference between a grease trap and a grease interceptor?
People use the words loosely, but in general traps are compact and indoors and interceptors are large and serviced from outside.
How often should a grease trap be cleaned?
Small under-sink traps in busy kitchens often need cleaning every few weeks; large interceptors go longer between pump-outs. We set the interval from measurements.
What records do inspectors want?
Inspectors usually ask when the trap was last cleaned and how the waste was handled. Our log answers both.
Do I need a Highland Park-registered contractor for grease trap service?
The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- We plan Highland Park jobs around your service hours, including early mornings, nights and closed days.
- We coordinate with the Highland Park building department and the fire department so inspections don't hold up your opening.
- Insurance certificates, site access and landlord requirements are sorted out before work starts.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Grease Trap Installation & Cleaning nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
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.