Winter holidays are some of the busiest and most important times of the year in the restaurant business. Unfortunately, the busier a restaurant gets, and the colder the temperature gets, the more likely a business-stopping grease waste clog will occur. A shutdown in the busy season causes financial hardship and reputational damage for businesses and can ruin customers’ holiday plans. Fortunately, Raychem flow maintenance systems deliver an economical and sustainable solution, eliminating the risk of sewer lines being clogged by grease waste.
Fat, oil and grease effluent (FOG) is a food preparation byproduct produced in large volumes by commercial kitchens. Most FOG leaves the premises via sewer drain lines. Grease interceptors are required to prevent FOG from discharging directly into municipal sewer systems. Trends in building design are pushing grease interceptors farther away from the kitchen to capture more points of use within the building. As the distance between the interceptor and the origins of FOG increases, it becomes vital to keep the FOG at optimal viscosity until it reaches the interceptor.
FOG will separate from waste water when it drops below the ideal temperature range of 105° F to 115° F. If FOG is too hot or too much volume is delivered to the grease interceptor at one time, FOG can bypass the interceptor and congeal downstream in the municipal sewer. This can result in serious clogging issues and heavy fines for offenders, something no business wants to deal with. Adding the right amount of heat to piping supports proper function of the system. Thermal insulation alone is not sufficient, particularly in winter temperatures.
A Raychem Grease Waste Flow Maintenance system is an efficient, cost effective, and environmentally responsible method maintaining the flow of FOG in drain lines running from commercial kitchens to grease interceptors. Raychem XL-Trace Edge self-regulating heating cables can be precisely controlled to keep FOG hot enough to flow into the interceptors but not so hot that it can bypass the interceptor.
The system includes specified heating cables, power connections, splices and tee connections, controls, and accessories necessary for a complete, approved solution. Raychem heat tracing cables can be installed on metal or plastic pipes, can be wrapped around valves and other heat sinks, and can be used for above-ground or buried pipes.
Watch this short introductory video to see a typical flow maintenance system:
For a detailed training on how to design a system for your project’s unique needs, check out our detailed training presentation here:
Trace-Calc Pro for Buildings is our online commercial applications design tool. This tool lets you create projects with various applications, including Grease Waste Flow Maintenance, with multiple circuits and varying design parameters. Check it out and start designing your system today!
For personalized guidance on how a Raychem Flow Maintenance System can protect your business operations, click here to get in touch with one of our experts.
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