FAQ /

What Size Grease Trap Does My Twinsburg Restaurant Need?

Grease trap size is calculated based on your kitchen's fixture flow rate in gallons per minute. Summit County plumbing code specifies minimum sizing requirements. A typical small restaurant might need a 20-50 gallon indoor trap, while a high-volume kitchen may require a 1,000+ gallon outdoor interceptor.

How Sizing Works

The calculation starts with counting the fixtures that drain into the trap — three-compartment sinks, prep sinks, dishwashers, floor drains — and adding up their flow rates in gallons per minute (GPM). Summit County plumbing code maps that total GPM to a minimum trap or interceptor size. We handle this calculation during a site visit, measuring your actual fixture count and drainage configuration.

General Sizing Guidelines

These are general guidelines. The actual requirement depends on your specific fixture layout and the local plumbing code calculation. Going undersized means more frequent pumping, higher risk of overflow, and potential code violations. We typically recommend going one size up for kitchens with heavy grease output — the extra capacity costs little upfront and saves money on pumping frequency.

When Your Current Trap Is Too Small

If your trap is filling up faster than your pumping schedule can keep up with, or if you have added cooking capacity since the trap was installed, it may be undersized. Signs include needing pumping more than monthly, slow drainage even after a recent pump-out, and frequent grease-related odors. We can assess your current trap and recommend whether you need a replacement or upgrade.