How To Skim Grease Off Septic Tank? (Solved)

A septic system pumping and disposal may help to remove grease and fat, but this should be done by a professional septic tank service company. If grease and fat is not removed from your septic system in time, your septic pipes may have to be dug up and replaced.

What will dissolve grease in septic tank?

Run hot water down the drain and into the sewer line to slightly loosen the grease. Pour the enzyme solution into the sewer line. Enzymes are natural living bacteria colonies that eat grease. Once introduced into your sewer system, they will continue to reproduce and grow.

Does grease hurt a septic system?

It can cause serious damage to your septic system. Grease. Clogged pipes may lead to your septic system backing up and, in turn, cause serious damage to it. Simply pour all grease in a can to solidify and then it throw away.

Does Ridex dissolve grease?

RID-X® contains cellulase enzymes, the only enzyme that can digest paper. Breaks down grease. RID-X® is designed to attack grease in your septic tank, breaking it down to slow the accumulation of the greasy scum layer, which, if left unchecked, can compromise the function of your septic system.

What helps break down grease?

Vinegar. Just soak a sponge or rag in vinegar, and use it to wipe down the greasy surface. It’ll cut through the grease and grime in one easy step. Vinegar should only be used on non-porous surfaces such as metal, glass, or sealed countertops.

What eats grease in a septic tank?

Green Gobbler ENZYMES for Grease Trap & Sewer – Controls Foul Odors & Breaks Down Grease, Paper, Fat & Oil in Sewer Lines, Septic Tanks & Grease Traps (1 Gallon) Learn more about free returns.

How do I get rid of sludge in my sewer line?

Vinegar and Baking Soda Mix 1/3 of a cup of vinegar with 1/3 of a cup of baking soda and pour the fizzy mixture into the clogged sewer drain immediately. If you don’t know how to unclog main sewer line, take advantage of vinegar to eliminate the grime, grease, and hair in the pipe.

How does grease get in septic tank?

The main reason FOG buildup occurs in a septic tank is because you are in the habit of disposing of cooking oil or grease in your home’s plumbing drain system. When the scum layer becomes too thick, it will begin to push down on the liquid waste layer, which is where the exit drains are located.

Can you put bacon grease in a septic system?

3. Keep kitchen grease, such as bacon fat and deep fryer oil, out of your septic system. It is not broken down easily by your system, can clog your drain field, and cannot be dissolved by any readily available solvent that is legal to introduce to groundwater.

How do you ruin a septic tank?

9 Ways You’re Destroying Your Septic Tank

Flushing Paper Products.

Pouring Grease Down the Drain.
Using Too Much Drain Cleaner.
Introducing Additives to Your System.

Flushing Cat Litter.
Neglecting to Pump Your Tank Regularly.
Planting Trees and Shrubs on Your Drain Field.

Washer Lint Overload.

How often should a 1000 gallon septic be pumped?

For example, a 1,000 gallon septic tank, which is used by two people, should be pumped every 5.9 years. If there are eight people using a 1,000-gallon septic tank, it should be pumped every year.

How long does it take for Ridex to start working?

The enzymes in RID-X^® begin working as soon as they come in contact with water. The bacteria take 2-4 hours to germinate and then begin to break down solid waste. If the temperature and conditions are favorable, then the bacteria will multiply to the maximum level that the environment will allow in about 2-4 days.

How do I clean my septic tank naturally?

You can mix about a 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons lemon to make your own natural cleaning agent. The baking soda will fizz up to help get the dirt and grime in your tub and drains. It’s a great cleaner and your septic system will thank you!

What is the most powerful degreaser?

WD-40 Industrial Strength Cleaner and Degreaser You can use it on many surfaces including stainless steel, glass, and aluminum. Beyond the kitchen, this product cuts tough grease on commercial appliances too. It’s one of the strongest degreasers you will find today for your kitchen surfaces.

How do you remove old hard grease?

A mixture of dish soap, kosher salt, and baking soda can help remove dried grease. You may also want to use a mildly abrasive sponge (rather than a rag) to help lift off the grime.

Does vinegar dissolve grease?

Greasy Stovetop Vinegar’s acidity helps cut through grease easily. Spray some vinegar and water mix onto a splattered stovetop, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then scrub down with soapy water. It should wipe right off. If not, leave it to sit a bit longer.

How to Clean Grease From a Septic Tank

Decorative Casting Forms for Perimeter Lids Elevated Lid Casting Decks are available in either standard or traffic-rated configuration. Other pre-cast materials can be utilized on the Deck, which is not simply limited to septic tanks. Additional information may be found at

Sewage treatment systems are a very vital part of your property and of your house. In order to have a fully operating septic system, it is critical to properly care for and maintain the tank and plumbing lines. FOG (fat, oil, and grease) buildup in your septic tank may have a significant impact on its function and, over time, may prohibit it from effectively breaking down solid waste.

Grease Buildup in a Septic Tank

Because you are in the habit of disposing of cooking oil or grease in your home’s plumbing drain system, FOG accumulation in an aseptic tank is the most common reason for this occurrence. Cooking garbage may appear to be the most convenient method of disposal, but what you may not understand is that once it settles in your septic tank, it will harden, forming a barrier on top of the waste already in the tank. It is common for your septic tank to have a FOG layer present. This is referred to as the scum layer in your septic tank, and it includes fats and oils.

The scum layer is only a problem if it grows so thick that it interferes with the proper operation of your septic system, which is rare.

When the scum layer grows excessively thick, it will begin to press down on the liquid waste layer, which is where the exit drains are located, causing the liquid waste layer to collapse.

FOG Removal From a Septic Tank

To ensure that your tank remains in good working order, have it pumped on a regular basis by a professional sewage removal firm. The business will remove all of the trash and scum accumulation from your tank, leaving you with a completely clean and new one. Waiting too long to have the tank emptied might result in foul gas entering the leach field, which may need the excavation of your complete sewage system in order to repair clogged pipes. If you want to break down any oil and grease accumulation, do not flush harsh chemicals that promise to break down scum down the toilet or down the drain.

If you use chemical additives, you will be able to repair the problem temporarily, but you will be generating worse difficulties in the long run.

Rather than just pouring cooking oil or grease down the drain, the most effective approach of preventing FOG accumulation in your septic tank is to properly dispose of any cooking oil or grease.

Once the bottle is completely empty, you can dispose of it in your garbage can.

In the event that you solely prepare plant-based dishes, you can dispose of your cooking oil in your own compost pile.

Septic System Dangers: Grease and Fat

Grease and fat pose a threat to the septic system. Grease and fat are two of the worst things that you can send down your drains and into your septic system because they attract bacteria. A residential septic system is intended to manage the normal sewage and household waste generated in a home or apartment. How much garbage can be managed successfully and efficiently depends on the number of people who live in your home, the quantity of water that is used, and the products and chemicals that are flushed down your drains, among other factors.

Using a complete preventive maintenance program, homeowners can keep track of how much grease is accumulating in their heating and air conditioning system.
Grease and fat accumulate in your septic system in several ways.
The bottom layer is referred to as “sludge,” and it is made up of sewage waste that has not yet been broken down by the system as it should.

The middle layer is composed primarily of liquids.
When oil and fat are introduced into your home septic system, they end up in this section of the system.
If this layer grows too thick, the wastewater will be unable to drain from the septic tank and proceed on to the leach field for the last step of treatment in the sewage treatment system.

Following their passage through these pipes, grease and fat will enter the leach field, clogging up the drain holes and pipelines that lead to the leach field on their route.

In an ideal situation, it should be removed before it becomes too thick and reaches the leach field.

It is strongly suggested that you hire a professional septic system servicing firm to take care of this for you instead.

Never use any chemical additions in your septic system that claim to break down or remove grease, as this will harm the system.

If you want to maintain your home septic system operating clean and clear, your best chance is to prevent oil and fat from entering it in the first place.

Enlisting the help of a professional service provider and enrolling in an ongoing preventative maintenance program can also help to reduce the likelihood of grease and fat build-up occurring at all in the first place.

Household septic systems are intended to manage an average volume and kind of grease and fat in the tank.

In addition to the concerns that might arise as a result of grease and fat reaching the leach field, the following issues and damage can occur:

Grain buildup in your home’s pipes is similar to the health concerns about oil and fat in the human body. Grain may solidify inside of your home’s pipes, causing a blockage even before it reaches the septic system. This is similar to what happens when you have an obstruction in your heart: the grease makes it more difficult for the water to flow out of your home and into your domestic septic system. Despite the fact that a clog in this location will not cause harm to the septic tank at this time, it will cause the pipes to backup on a regular basis. In the event that you make extensive use of grease and oil in your house, you should consider installing a grease trap to capture some of the grease before it reaches your pipes or septic system. Solids are not properly broken down, and they are not eliminated from the tank and into the leach field as is required by design. But, a modest amount of grease, oil, or fat will not hinder the natural breakdown process inside the home septic system
However, an excessive amount might create a great deal of trouble. Solids from other sources in the tank, such as normal household trash and toilet paper, can form bonds with the grease and fat, making it more difficult for it to breakdown and biodegrade. A hard shell of grease can form in a tank, preventing wastewater and other elements contained within the tank from being able to escape the system effectively.

Maintaining Your Residential Septic System is Important. To avoid problems with grease and fat, as well as other problems that can lead to septic system failure, it is important to get your system tested on a regular basis. A preventative maintenance program administered by a competent septic system repair and inspection firm is essential to ensuring that the system operates correctly. In addition to Massachusetts Title V inspections and Rhode Island Town inspections, All-Clear SepticWastewater provides preventive maintenance program services, repairs, assessments, and more to clients throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

a link to the page’s load

Fat, oil and grease are really bad for your plumbing and septic system

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are derived from a variety of sources, including cooking oil, lard, beef fats, salad dressing, mayonnaise, gravy, margarine, butter, sour dressing, and other condiments. If FOG is dumped down the drain, it may build up in the pipes and create a variety of issues. As FOG accumulates in plumbing, it interferes with the flow of water through the system, which can result in the backup of untreated wastewater into the system. Manholes that are blocked with FOG have the potential to overflow onto yards, parks, storm drains, and roadways, resulting in the pollution of both surface and groundwater sources.

How FOG affects the septic system

Septic systems are intended to break down just tissue and waste; they are not intended to break down anything else. This is one of the primary reasons why fat, oil, and grease (FOG) should be kept out of the food supply chain. Most of the time, FOGs are not degraded by the bacteria in the septic tank, but rather float to the top of it and create the scum layer. The scum will climb to the outlet and begin to force some of the FOG out of the tank if the scum builds up too much in the tank. It is extremely damaging to the aerobic stage of wastewater treatment, which is found in the leach field, when it is present.

Scum is also associated with the gases that are discharged into the system, since some of the sludge particles may be transported up into the scum layer by the gas bubbles as they rise through the system.

Having airspace enables vegetative molds to speed the entrapment of rising sludge particles, resulting in the formation of a leathery scum layer that is difficult to remove by pumping.
The wastewater must be allowed to sit in the septic tank for a period of time in order for the suspended particles to settle into the sludge layer and the FOG to float in the scum layer.
However, if the scum layer becomes too thick, the amount of time that wastewater may be retained in the septic tank is significantly reduced.

As a result, wastewater will be rushed out of the tank before it has had a chance to settle. As a result, if this wastewater ends up reaching the soil before it has been thoroughly cleaned, the pathogens contained within it may cause pollution.

Measuring the scum depth

In addition to following the manufacturer’s suggested septic tank cleaning interval, you should evaluate the depth of your scum on a regular basis to verify that it hasn’t gotten too thick. Actually, the depth of the scum is extremely essential information since it may help you determine how healthy your system is and whether or not it is being pumped on a regular basis as it should be. The following principles will assist you in determining when you should plan the pumping of the tank depending on the measurements of scum depth in the tank.

Whenever the overall depth of the scum and sludge layer is equal to one-third of the total depth of the entire tank, it is recommended that you pump the septic tank.
To determine the depth of the scum, place a 3-inch piece of wood to the end of a long stick and measure it.

Make a slow, gentle movement across the layer until you notice a difference in resistance.
When you reach the bottom, place a marker at the top of the septic tank’s opening and note the length of your measuring stick from there.
The distance between the two marks you create should be the same as the distance between the bottom of the scum layer and the bottom of the output baffle (see illustration below).

Grease traps

Restaurants generate a significant amount of grease in their kitchens, which can result in a significant number of clogs and other associated concerns. Thousands of dollars are spent yearly by restaurants and other food facilities to deal with plumbing difficulties that are directly connected to FOG, according to industry estimates. The installation of grease traps in all restaurants is mandated by the government as one of the techniques for combating this problem. Grease traps are designed to catch grease before it exits the kitchen and are often positioned directly below the sink in the kitchen or on the exterior of the kitchen.

In-kitchen passive grease trap

As wastewater from the kitchen passes through the unit, these interceptors capture the grease that rises to the top of a tiny baffled tank where it is collected. The grease that has accumulated in passive grease traps in the kitchen will have to be physically cleared from the area. As a result, they should be cleaned on a regular basis (daily or weekly depending on their size and amount of FOG generated).

If they are not cleaned on a regular basis, FOG will build up in the traps and be driven into the septic system. Clean and well-maintained FOG removal systems may remove up to 95% of the FOG from the air.

Pre-cast in-ground concrete grease traps

Pre-cast concrete grease traps function in the same way as in-kitchen interceptors, with the exception that they operate on a much larger scale. Pre-cast in-ground grease traps with capacities ranging from 750 to 2000 gallons are the most prevalent. As a result of their size, they are capable of withstanding more FOG, but this also means that they are more expensive to acquire and install. These grease traps are great for large restaurants and are often cleaned on a regular basis by grease pumping firms.

Automatic grease trap

The primary distinction between automated grease traps and the other two types of traps is that automatic grease traps are meant to automatically remove FOG on a timetable that is specified. Because of the automated cleaning mechanism, these traps are quite effective. They are successful at removing at least 98 percent of the FOG present in the wastewater. Because they have the characteristic of automatically eliminating FOG, they are often smaller in size and may thus be readily accommodated in the kitchen space available.

Conclusion

It is not recommended to dump oil or grease down the sink. When cleaning the dishes, scrape away any fat and oil from the plates before starting to wash them. Instead of putting cooled leftover fats down the drain, you may place them in a plastic container and keep them in the freezer until they are ready to be disposed of. Once the container is completely filled, close the lid and throw it away in the garbage.

What will dissolve grease in a septic tank?

The Best Way to Remove Grease from a Septic Tank

Drain the contents of your septic tank. As a result, this is the most efficient method of removing everything and starting with an efficient septic system that is free of undesired grease and sludge
Install agreasetrap, also known as agreaseinterceptor, on your computer. 1 cup of a commercial acid-based drain cleaner should be poured down the kitchen sink

The use of concentrated liquid bacterial enzymes breaks down grease, paper, and fat oil in drain lines (septic tanks), grease traps (RV boat tanks), and sewer lines (drain lines). More! Controls the odors from the sewer! Also, what is the source of the grease accumulation in the septic tank? If this layer grows too thick, the wastewater will not be able to drain from the septic tank and proceed on to the leach field for the final step of processing before being released back into the environment.

Is grease harmful to the septic system as a result of this?
It will not decompose in the same manner that water and garbage will.

Backing up of your septic system due to clogged pipes can cause major harm to your system and warrants immediate attention.
Make use of a pipe cleaner or a snake to clean your pipes.

Combine one pound of powder detergent and three gallons of boiling water in a large mixing bowl. Keeping the container close to the drain and pouring carefully will help to avoid scorching your hands

Drain openers made from baking soda and vinegar are also helpful. If you have a grease blockage, you may also use salt and baking soda to dissolve it.

Amazon.com: Green Gobbler ENZYMES for Grease Trap & Sewer – Controls Foul Odors & Breaks Down Grease, Paper, Fat & Oil in Sewer Lines, Septic Tanks & Grease Traps (1 Gallon) : Health & Household

a rating of one out of five stars DO NOT PURCHASE UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE ENTIRE REPORT, AND THEN ONLY AT YOUR OWN RISK On June 7, 2021, a review will be conducted in the United States. DO NOT MAKE A PURCHASE! Make a phone call to a plumber! Draino is a great tool! Anything besides using this things should be done! I’ve purchased this product in the past and it has worked wonders on my bathroom sink.

Anything larger than this is not suitable for this product! I’m waiting to hear back from the plumber to find out how many thousands of dollars it will cost to remedy this. I’ll post an update after everything has been resolved.

Top reviews from the United States

On May 22, 2020, a review will be conducted in the United States. 128 fl oz. in size (Pack of 1) Purchase that has been verified So, one day, out of nowhere, I discover a drain fly in my kitchen. Then there’s another one. One can be found in my bathroom. It appeared out of nowhere. I’d never had them before in the two years I’d been in this apartment, and I’d never had them in any prior apartments, so I didn’t have a tried-and-true solution to try, and I couldn’t tell you where they were coming from or why they were there.

Despite the fact that I was still doubtful of everything, I decided to give it a go based on the numerous excellent reviews, and IT WORKED.
In the meanwhile, and even a week before I was really going to use it, I just poured many buckets of bleach down each drain, reasoning that bleach kills and cleans all kinds of things.
(Note: Do not combine bleach with other home chemicals; exercise caution when doing so.) Then I placed little teacups filled with apple cider vinegar and a drop of soap next to my garbage disposal and in the center of my bathroom to act as deodorizers.

Neither the toilet nor the bathroom sink appeared to be a source of the noises.
So that’s how you catch the ones that venture out on their own.
Probably more than was intended, but it’s still there.

It completed the task.

Despite the fact that I own a gallon of Green Gobbler Fruit Fly Gel, I have yet to use it.

This is something I would buy again.

(Pack of One) 128 Fl Oz Size: 128 Fl Oz (Pack of One) Verified Purchase I was a little hesitant about getting a septic treatment and drain cleaning from a company I was unfamiliar with, but this product is well worth the money.

I used around two-thirds of the bottle in total.

In addition, we haven’t neglected our septic system in the least; we literally just snaked and totally emptied the system three months ago!

Size: 128 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified PurchaseReviewed in the United States on August 24, 2018Size: 128 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2018 After purchasing an ancient farm, we discovered that it had a lot of grease in the drains, which the plumber informed us about.

When I inquired about obtaining a degreaser, he responded that we may experiment.
I have no doubt that this product got to work straight away and that it has most likely removed the oil from the surface.

So far, everything is going well.
Verified Purchase Size: 128 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase Early Reviewers Will Receive Bonuses (Can you tell me what this is?) First and foremost, the solution smells incredibly fresh and effectively removes any odors from your drain.
After three usage, my drain is significantly improved!

I got another bottle because it is also excellent for pipe maintenance.
Verified Purchase Size: 128 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase My bathroom had a really weird smell for several months, and no matter how frequently I cleaned it, the stench would not go away.

I’m a little embarrassed by how long it took me to understand that the scent was not coming from the toilet or any hidden food, but rather from my own sink!

In just four weeks, I’ve been pouring a few ounces once a week and the stench is absolutely gone, and it was already significantly improved from the very first application.

ADD TO CART NOW BY CLICKING HERE On November 11, 2018, a review was conducted in the United States.

We recently purchased a home that had a septic tank.

The first time I did it, I dumped around 2-4 ounces down the drain and let it sit over night.

The odor is no longer present.

The product was reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2018.

It’s been about a week, and everything is going fine so far.

So far, they are more effective.

I’m looking forward to testing the other things I purchased in the near future.

It was quite haphazardly packaged, and the gallon jug tore through half of the box. Fortunately, everything was present. Size: 128 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)Verified PurchaseReviewed in the United States on February 22, 2019Size: 128 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) It was a complete success! I would strongly suggest it.

Top reviews from other countries

4.0 stars out of 5 for this product Although effective, the fragrance is really strong. On April 8, 2020, the Canadian government will review the document. 128 fl oz. in size (Pack of 1) Purchase that has been verified The aroma of the Green Gobbler is really strong. Although not unpleasant, it is potent. This may be a problem if you or a member of your household is allergic to certain odors. For several days, our main kitchen sink had been partially blocked and smelt musty. I poured the Green Gobbler down the drain into the sink.

However, we could still smell the Green Gobbler in our kitchen many hours after we had re-started using the sink and pouring water down it the following morning, which was a relief.
This was a week ago, and the drain is still working perfectly.

However, in terms of efficiency, so far, so good!
Performs the duties as stated.
128 fl oz.

When dealing with clogged pipes, the only problem is that you have to repeat the process every week or so.
Draino, for example, is far more difficult to use.

I would urge that if it is going down a major pipe that you make sure no one else is using water for the rest of the night, therefore it is preferable to pour it down before bed.

There’s a little aroma, but it’s not irritating.

On January 15, 2022, a review will be conducted in Canada.

in size (Pack of 1) Purchase that has been verified When I moved into my apartment nearly three years ago, I discovered a foul odor emanating from the kitchen sink’s drainage pipes.

With no success, I attempted to flush a gallon of bleach down the bathroom sink drain.

There is still nothing.

I’m not sure if the enzymes are no longer alive, but it had no effect whatsoever.

5.0 stars out of 5 for this product Very Impressed – It appears to have resolved my issue completely.

128 fl oz.

I treated all of the drains in the basement, and now, about a week and a half later, everything is back to normal, knock on wood.

Now it only zaps one or two per day, and the number is becoming less every day.

Who would have thought it?

128 fl oz.

At the very least, it didn’t smell foul.

The realization of a long-haired hippy freak’s fantasy! I would only change one thing about this trip: I would get the one for hair clogs to use in the bathroom instead of the one for hair dries.

Kitchen and Cooking Practices Harmful to Your Septic System

There are certain distinctions in care, usage, and budgeting that you should be aware of, whether you’re a new homeowner with an existing septic system or considering about purchasing or building a home without sewer hookups. This document outlines three ways in which your budget will be affected if your wastewater is treated using a septic system. 1. You will not be required to budget for municipal sewer service. Because the municipal wastewater system normally processes all of the water, the cost of city sewage service is sometimes determined by how much water you purchase from the city.

A large number of homes with septic systems also rely on wells for fresh water rather than municipal water, which means you’ll likely save money in that department as well.

It is necessary to include septic maintenance in your budget.
Although you are not required to pay the city for the usage of your septic system, you will be responsible for the costs of maintenance if you want the system to continue to function properly.
It is possible that these maintenance and repair expenditures will build up over time, so you may want to consider setting up an emergency fund to cover any unforeseen repair bills.

You’ll also need to budget for the cost of a single inspection and begin saving for the cost of a tank pump.
Spreading the expenditures out over several months is the most effective budgeting strategy, even for an expense such as tank pumping that does not occur every year, because it allows you to better estimate the costs ahead of time.
You may need to set aside money for septic tank replacement.

The tank and leach field may not need to be replaced if you have a reasonably recent septic system and plan to sell your home within a few years.

If, on the other hand, your home’s septic system is more than a decade old, you’ll want to start looking into how much a new system would cost you as soon as possible.

For example, if the previous owners did not do routine maintenance or if the system was installed on clay soil, the system may need to be replaced.

It is a prudent decision to begin putting money aside in anticipation of this eventuality.

When you have a septic system, you may use these three strategies to budget differently.

Make an appointment with us right away if you’re searching for someone to pump out your septic tank or to complete an annual examination of your septic system. Our experts at C.E. Taylor and Son Inc. would be happy to assist you with any septic system assessment, maintenance, or repair needs.

Enzymes help cut through fats, oils and greases in septic tank, drain line and sewer applications

Bio – Products, PackagingMarketing ExpertsAll Rights Reserved – Lenzyme – 2010 – 2020Fats, oils and greases, collectively they are called FOG. To wastewater treatment professionals, they usually mean trouble. There are many misconceptions in the marketplace about methods and products for dealing with FOG. A better understanding of biological treatment versus chemical treatment can help you make wise decisions on behalf of your customers and your business. The main reason FOG is troublesome is that it is not water-soluble, it eventually separates from water. Grease is lighter than water, so it floats to the top. If not treated, grease molecules combine to form a hard grease layer. Or, worse yet, the grease combines with other materials such as soap residue, paper, and solids. When this happens in a septic tank, a very hard crust can form on the surface of the water in the tank. If left untreated it could flow out to the drainfield and cause drainfield backups. In a plumbing system, grease traps, drain lines, and sewers can become clogged. Usually, an overload of FOG is what causes stoppages in flow.Understanding Enzymes:Enzymes are one kind of remedy for FOG problems. An enzyme is a catalyst (something that makes a chemical reaction go faster). They are not living cells like bacteria. Instead, they are a special kind of protein, and in a way, they behave like energy. Consider a cornfield. As corn grows into a mature plant, it produces corn oil and sugars. It does this by taking carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil, then putting them together with the help of the sun’s energy, in a complex process called photosynthesis. The sugars and oil become food products, which people consume almost daily. Eventually, the materials end up in the septic tank. How does nature convert the sugar and oil back into carbon dioxide and water? With enzymes. The reverse biological process happens with the enzymes providing impetus. Enzymes are not consumed in chemical reactions, they simply help the reactions along. For example, the starch digesting enzyme amylase, from barley malt, is used in the fermentation of beer. The fermentation process lasts for days, and the enzyme is active throughout. At the same time, an enzyme is slowly depleted as the reactions proceed, just as a battery in a flashlight wears down each time the switch is turned on. Batteries come in many sizes and strengths, and the same is true of enzymes. Some last just minutes, some last for days.Enzymes help cut through fats, oils and greases in septic tank, drain line and sewer applicationsBy Glenn GajeskiPublished in the “Pumper Magazine” – AprilBut as the temperature falls farther down the line, the grease molecules come back together. The grease has not been reduced only repositioned. Many things can cause grease to break apart. Chemical drain openers cause reactions that can increase the temperature. Other chemicals, called solvents and surfactants, can actually dissolve grease molecules. But once these chemicals wear off, or the temperature drops, the grease molecules combine again.The Anatomy of Grease:Enzymes can work effectively on grease. To see how, it helps to understand how grease molecules are put together. Fats, oils, and grease are in the group of chemical substances called lipids or triglycerides.They are composed of three parts fatty acid to one part glycerol. Of course molecules are tiny, one triglyceride molecule does not do much on its own. One fan sitting in Lambeau Field (home of the Green Bay Packers) would look inconsequential. But add 75,000 fans doing “the wave,” and you have what seems like one big living object. So it is with triglycerides. Once they begin to attach to each other, they can become a big grease clog. Service professionals report finding grease chunks the size of boulders in some larger grease traps. Fat molecules keep attaching to each other until something disrupts the process. For example, if hot water is poured on a chunk of grease in a drain, some of the outer molecules will dissolve off and become free-flowing again.Therefore, some of the grease is actually eliminated. How much depends on many factors, pH, temperature, and how long the process goes on. Even if bacteria do not completely consume the fatty acids and glycerides, they will not reform into grease molecules or grease clogs. This is the biggest misconception about enzymes. Many claim that the grease is just pushed further down the line to form a problem elsewhere. Although this may be true with some cleaning methods and chemicals, it is not true of enzyme and bacteria treatments. Once the enzyme lipase has destroyed the connections, the grease will not form again down the line. In fact, the enzymes help the wastewater treatment process by starting biological treatment far upstream. The uneaten fatty acids and glycerides will remain water-soluble and will flow with the wastewater to the final treatment location. This is not to say that enzymes are a cure-all. For example, some wastewater treatment plants cannot handle high loads of water-soluble fatty acids and glycerides. But most treatment plants would rather have those substances than untreated FOG. This bioremediation process using enzymes and bacteria is done everyday by huge municipal wastewater treatment plants all over the world.How Enzymes Attack:Enzymes attack grease in a much different way. The enzyme lipase actually attacks the grease molecule and destroys the connections between its components. The lipase enzyme breaks the molecules into the three fatty acid units and the one glyceride unit. These have no way of connecting with other grease molecules to form hard grease deposits. At this point, the bacteria present will start to feed on the fatty acids and the glycerides, converting them back to their basic components of carbon dioxide and water.The broken up fats in the water are able to bypass the grease trap, move downstream, and cause grease blockages. Solvents and surfactants are not the same as enzymes they only change how the grease looks and feels. Enzymes actually change the character of the grease into water-soluble components, which will never reform as grease anywhere downstream. Surfactants can be beneficial in that they help enzymes work. Enzymes and bacteria only work on the surface of a substance. When a surfactant is used, more surface area is exposed. A surfactant will turn a chunk of grease floating in water into many droplets. This gives the enzymes and bacteria more surface area to attack and digest the grease.Solvents and Surfactants:The way enzymes work is far different from the way solvents and surfactants work on grease. In simple terms, a solvent turns hard grease into a liquid state without changing its actual character. It does this by temporarily breaking the bonds of molecules (not the fatty acid and glycerides of the molecules) so they dissolve in water. The water then carries the grease downstream until the solvent wears off, at which point the grease reforms. Surfactants (short for “surface active agents”) emulsify two substances together so that they look like one.When a surfactant is used on grease in water, it does not break the fat molecules into pieces but instead separates them from each other so that they mix with the water. The best example of this is the Dawn dish soap commercial that starts by showing a thin layer of grease on top of dishwater. When a drop or two of the detergent is added, the grease magically “disappears.” The dish soap is a surfactant. What you don’t see is that the grease layer returns when the surfactant wears off. Wondering what they use to clean waterfowl that have been caught up in oil spills? You guessed it soaps and strong surfactants. One reason restaurants have trouble with grease in their drain lines is because their dish and laundry cleaners are high in surfactants.Choose the Right Tool: There are many methods and many products for dealing with FOG. Each used in the right conditions can do the job correctly. Most wastewater treatment plants use some form of biological treatment to clean the water of organic material, including FOG. Biological treatment involves both enzymes and bacteria. Enzymes help provide the bacteria with food. Although enzymes are not magic, they are biological facts of nature that can be valuable allies in the war against grease.

5 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOUR RESTAURANT GREASE TRAP

Restaurant owners and managers are sometimes too busy to pay attention to their grease traps until an issue emerges. Regular pumping and maintenance are far more cost-effective and professional than waiting for an unpleasant odor to dominate a restaurant or for a sewage backlog to develop, which may take several hours. If you do not understand the significance of the grease trap, it is possible that you do not know everything there is to know about it. 1. Tanks are quickly refilled. The rate at which grease traps are filled varies from restaurant to restaurant.

Every restaurant should consult with a cleaning service in order to set a timetable that is appropriate for their specific requirements.
Issues Are Discussed and Resolved Municipalities, companies, and homes all suffer as a result of sewer line obstructions.

Boiling water is used by restaurants to flush grease down their drains, causing it to liquefy and go into the sewage.
Eventually, the liquid oil and fat cools and solidifies, returning to its solid state.
The condition grew so widespread in England that the name “fatberg” was coined to describe it.

Accidents Can and Do Occur.
A cleaning service will assist their clients in maintaining the appropriate and safe operation of their disposal system, ensuring that no one is harmed in the process.

The Sadie Grace Andrews Act was enacted by the state of Alabama in reaction to the death of a little girl who was accidentally drowned in a restaurant grease trap.

Although the rules differ from state to state in South Carolina, all restaurants should aim to provide a safe environment for everyone who enters their establishment.

Damage is minimized as a result of preparation.

Do not flush any grease or other spilled material down the drain if it has gotten into the establishment.

Allow the material to absorb the whole amount of oil and grease that has accumulated.

Always contact a pumping provider as soon as possible to avoid a repeat overflow situation.

Pumping helps you save money.

Pumping on a regular basis shortens the amount of time the gas remains in the tank and decreases the amount of damage it causes.

The grease solids sink to the bottom of the container and will remain there.

Skimming removes the liquids from the mixture while leaving the remaining solids behind.

Bad odors, sewer blockages, and faulty tank lids that cause accidents will cause restaurants to fail if consumers identify them with these issues.

Tank cleaning on a regular basis can alleviate all of these issues. We at Upstate Septic Tank, LLC can assist you in determining the most appropriate schedule for your requirements. Get in touch with us right now.

FOG – Fats, Oils and Grease in Your Septic Tank

FOG (fats, oils, and grease) is an abbreviation for fats, oils, and grease and is a component of wastewater. It can also be a contributing factor to septic tank difficulties. Every septic system has a small amount of FOG at some point. Higher amounts of FOG are found in the septic systems of restaurants, bakeries, custard and ice cream stalls, and other commercial establishments, but they can also be found in high proportions in a private residence. There are a plethora of origins of FOG. Finding out how many different foods contain FOG is a frightening realization.

Dairy goods include milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, butter, creams, and other dairy products. Meats, including chicken, pig, and beef, as well as processed meats such as lunch meats, hot dogs, and bratwursts
And Deep-frying oils, as well as olive, vegetable, and peanut oils
Grease and lard
Potato chips and other snack foods that have been processed

FOG is a concern for septic systems (as well as municipal wastewater systems) because it adheres to surfaces with remarkable tenacity, making it difficult to remove. Consider how hot the dishwashing water has to be in order to liquify and remove lard or coagulated fat from a pan or skillet. As a result, FOG has the potential to cause pipe obstructions. To make matters worse, fog may grab and trap additional trash and substances, making it substantially more difficult to remove the blockage from the path.

Because of this, and for reasons that are beyond the scope of this essay, FOG is not easily digestible by bacteria.
This substance can only be expelled by having it pumped out of the system.
This simply serves to exacerbate the negative impact it has on the septic tank and on the system as a whole.
Have the septic tank drained to remove the accumulated FOG on the surface of the water in the tank and prevent it from forming again.
This can be accomplished by decreasing the quantity of FOG used in food preparation (which has health advantages of its own) and by removing FOG from dishes, pots, and pans and depositing it in a garbage receptacle before laundering.
This will save you money in the long run by avoiding costly repair fees.

Septic Tank Solutions

Many individuals have homes that are serviced by a septic tank and, for the most part, they never have a problem until they do. It should go without saying that your septic tank is “out of sight and out of mind” for 99.9 percent of the time that you are a homeowner. The majority of the time, the difficulties are caused by an excess of the improper effluents and an insufficient amount of proper preventative maintenance. In order to appreciate how fixing your septic system might benefit you, you must first understand how it functioned previously.

They clean wastewater from residential plumbing, such as that produced by bathrooms, kitchen drains, and laundry, by combining natural processes with well-established technology.

It is the septic tank’s job to decompose organic matter and to remove floatable stuff (such as oils and grease) and solids from wastewater.

These systems may also include leaching chambers, or other special units designed to slowly release the effluent into the soil or surface water.

Prior to discharging wastewater into the environment or surface waterways, several alternative systems are designed to evaporate and disinfect the effluent.

Specifically, this is how a typical septic system works:

All of the water that leaves your home drains down a single main drainage pipe and into a septic tank. An underground, water-tight container, often composed of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene, serves as a septic system’s holding tank. Its function is to retain wastewater for a long enough period of time to allow particles to sink to the bottom and form sludge, while oil and grease float to the surface and produce scum. Sludge and scum are prevented from exiting the tank and moving into the drainfield region by compartments and a T-shaped outlet. After that, the liquid wastewater (effluent) exits the tank and flows into the drainfield. The drain field is a shallow, covered hole dug in unsaturated soil that serves as a drainage system. Porous surfaces are used to release pretreated wastewater because they allow the wastewater to pass through the soil and into the groundwater. In the process of percolating through the soil and eventually discharging into groundwater, the soil receives, processes, and disperses. wastewater. The drainfield will flood if it is overwhelmed with excessive liquid, allowing sewage to run to the ground surface or to back up into toilets and sinks. Finally, the wastewater percolates into the soil, where it is naturally removed of hazardous coliform bacteria, viruses, and nutrients. Coliform bacteria are a kind of bacteria that may be found in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals, with humans being the most common host. As a result of human fecal contamination, it is a sign of this.

So, now that you know a little more, let’s talk about maintenance.

When I’m talking about facility maintenance, I like to bring up the subject of systems. Essentially, a home is no more complex than a tiny business; it has the same challenges as a factory, but on a smaller size, and one of the most difficult concerns faced by a factory is waste management. In a typical house, this would include the drain lines for the sinks, toilets, showers, and bathtubs, among other things. The septic tank serves as the primary waste processing facility. Pumping the sludge from your tank, which is essentially solid waste stuff, and preventing the leach field from being clogged were described previously.

Please allow me to speak briefly about biology (because it is important here).
Aside from that, enzymes are essentially byproducts of bacterial activity.
Microorganisms that create enzymes when introduced to a food source in an environment that is suitable with them are called pathogenic bacteria.
That’s quite awesome, isn’t it?
A few bacteria may multiply into millions of billions of bacteria over time if the appropriate circumstances are met.
Despite the fact that bacteria only have a short life span (about 7-10 days), throughout that time period, they have multiplied themselves exponentially a thousand times over.
Take away the food supply, or add hazardous chemicals into the system, and you may essentially destroy the bio-system that supports your septic system’s operation.
If you reflect on what we just discussed, you might say that you effectively dropped a box of forks and knives down your sink’s drain.
Now that you’ve used all of your enzymes, your system appears to be functioning properly for a short period of time before experiencing troubles again, prompting you to repeat the enzyme therapy.

Using Oil Sponge UC+ to support your septic system

In this case, the Oil Sponge UC+ comes in handy as an essential septic tank maintenance tool. Oil Sponge UC+ is a “active culture” package that digests oil, fat, and grease, as well as simple organic matter, and is ideal for use in the kitchen. When used in conjunction with bacteria, green chemistry in the formulation (soap) initially aids in the break-up of bonded soils for the bacteria, which then produce enzymes and, through a process known as bio-remediation, convert the oil, fats, and grease into carbon dioxide and water.

Simply pour a cup or two of UC+ down any drain (depending on the number of people living in the home) to strengthen your septic system.

Active culture packages become active after they have been diluted with water, and all of the cultures are classified as having the same level of safety as yeast.

Oil Sponge UC+ is an excellent cleaner for the home and can be diluted to any concentration desired; however, only the amount you intend to use should be mixed.

Try using Oil Sponge UC+ as a hand dish soap to degrease those baked-on, greasy, food plates and pans while you clean to treat your drains at the same time. You should make certain that you are properly treating your septic system. no pun intended!