As temperatures drop, restaurant owners and facility managers often worry about heating bills and frozen pipes. But there is a silent threat lurking in your plumbing that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late: The effect of winter on your grease traps.
The Science: Why Cold Pipes = Hard Grease
The easiest way to understand FOG is to think about a stick of melted butter. When it’s hot, it flows like water. But the second you put it in the fridge, it turns into a solid brick.
This is exactly what happens in your plumbing lines during winter.
Rapid Solidification: In the summer, FOG travels further down the pipe before cooling enough to solidify. In the winter, the ground temperature drops, cooling your underground pipes. This causes grease to harden almost instantly upon entering the line.
Reduced Flow: As FOG hardens on the pipe walls, it constricts the flow of water (like a clogged artery). This increases pressure and drastically raises the risk of a total blockage.
Frozen Traps: If you have an outdoor grease interceptor, the water inside can freeze. Since water expands when it freezes, this can crack the concrete or steel structure of the trap, leading to massive replacement costs.
3 Warning Signs to Watch For
Don’t wait for a complete backup to act. Your system will usually give you warning signs that the cold is taking its toll:
Slow Draining Sinks: If water is draining slower than usual, the pipe diameter is likely shrinking due to hardened grease.
Foul Odors: A buildup of FOG traps decaying food particles. If you smell “rotten eggs” near your drains, you likely have a blockage forming.
Gurgling Sounds: This noise usually means air is trapped because water is struggling to get past a blockage.
Winter-Proofing Your FOG Strategy
To survive the season without a plumbing disaster, you need to be proactive. Here are three steps every commercial kitchen should take:
Increase Your Cleaning Frequency
The standard cleaning schedule that worked in the summer might not be enough for the winter. Because grease accumulates faster in cold pipes, you may need to increase your pumping and cleaning frequency by 20-30% during the coldest months.
Insulate Outdoor Components
If your grease interceptor is located outside, check the cover. Ensure it is properly sealed to keep freezing air out. If the trap is exposed to extreme elements, consider adding insulation blankets or working with a professional to ensure the lines leading to it are buried deep enough to avoid the frost line.
Use Plant-Based Maintenance Treatments
Mechanical cleaning (pumping) removes what is in the trap, but it doesn’t always clean the grease hardened on the pipe walls. At FOG Control Solutions, we recommend using a plant-based natural treatment. Unlike harsh chemicals that can damage old pipes, our bio-enzymatic solutions actively “eat” the FOG, breaking down the molecular bonds even in cooler temperatures. This keeps the FOG liquid enough to flow through the system preventing hard blockages.
Don’t Let a Freeze Shut You Down
The middle of a dinner rush is the worst time to deal with a backed-up kitchen. By taking preventative steps now, you ensure your doors stay open and your kitchen runs smoothly all winter long.
Is your facility ready for the freeze? Contact FOG Control Solutions today at (312) 909-1888 or book a consultation online. Let us tailor a winter maintenance plan that keeps your drains flowing and your business compliant.
