Denton County Grease Trap Experts
Restaurant grease trap cleaning, installation, and repair — keeping Denton County food service operations compliant, clean, and flowing.
Grease traps are a critical component of every restaurant and food service operation's plumbing system. These devices intercept fats, oils, and grease (FOG) before they enter the municipal sewer system, preventing costly blockages and environmental contamination. Texas health codes and Denton County municipal ordinances require food service establishments to maintain properly sized, functioning grease traps — and failure to comply can result in fines, forced closure, and sewer surcharges.
Haltex Plumbing provides complete grease trap services for restaurants, cafeterias, food trucks (commissary connections), and commercial kitchens throughout Denton, Argyle, Flower Mound, Highland Village, McKinney, Sanger, Krum, and Corinth. From routine cleaning and maintenance to new installation and emergency repair, we keep your grease management system operating within code and prevent the drain problems that shut down kitchens.
Regular grease trap cleaning is not optional — it is a requirement. The City of Denton, City of Flower Mound, and other Denton County municipalities require grease traps to be cleaned frequently enough to prevent the trap from reaching more than 25 percent capacity. For most restaurants, this means cleaning every 30 to 90 days, depending on volume and cooking style.
Our grease trap cleaning service includes pumping out all accumulated grease, oil, and food solids; scraping and cleaning the trap walls, baffles, and inlet/outlet pipes; inspecting the trap for damage, corrosion, or wear; and verifying proper flow after cleaning. We dispose of all waste at licensed facilities in compliance with Texas environmental regulations and provide documentation of each service for your health department records.
New restaurant buildouts and existing restaurants that need to upgrade their grease management systems require properly sized grease traps installed to Texas plumbing code specifications. We calculate the correct trap size based on your fixture flow rates, menu type, and kitchen volume — undersized traps fill too quickly and cause backups, while oversized traps waste space and money.
We install both point-of-use grease traps (small units under individual sinks) and large in-ground grease interceptors (for high-volume operations). Installation includes all plumbing connections, venting, and access provisions, and we coordinate with local inspectors to ensure code compliance. For tenant improvement projects, we work with your contractor and The Design House to integrate grease management into the overall kitchen design.
Grease traps endure harsh conditions — hot grease, acidic food waste, and constant moisture — that cause corrosion and mechanical wear over time. Common repairs include replacing corroded baffles, repairing or replacing inlet and outlet tees, fixing leaking seams and gaskets, and replacing damaged access covers. We diagnose grease trap problems quickly and carry common repair parts so most repairs can be completed during the same visit as a scheduled cleaning.
Texas food service establishments are regulated by both the Texas Department of State Health Services and local municipality health departments. Grease trap requirements include proper sizing for the establishment's flow rate, regular cleaning and maintenance with documented records, accessible location for inspection and cleaning, proper disposal of grease waste at licensed facilities, and compliance with local FOG (fats, oils, and grease) management ordinances.
Denton County municipalities have become increasingly strict about FOG management as sewer system capacity has tightened with rapid growth. We help restaurant owners stay ahead of compliance requirements with scheduled service, documented maintenance records, and proactive communication about changing regulations.
The ideal cleaning frequency depends on your type of food service. High-volume fryers and grills (burger restaurants, fried chicken, Mexican restaurants) typically need monthly cleaning. Moderate-grease operations (casual dining, pizza restaurants) can usually maintain a 60-day schedule. Lower-grease operations (sandwich shops, coffee shops with food service) may work on a 90-day cycle. We establish the right schedule for your operation and adjust based on trap condition at each service visit.
Our Services
Regular cleaning on a 30, 60, or 90-day schedule matched to your operation's volume. Documented service records for health department compliance.
New grease trap installation sized to your kitchen's specific requirements. Point-of-use traps and large in-ground interceptors.
Corroded baffles, leaking seams, damaged tees — we repair grease traps quickly, often during scheduled cleaning visits.
Grease trap overflow during service? We provide emergency cleaning and drain clearing to get your kitchen back in operation fast.
We pump out all accumulated grease, oils, and food solids from the trap using our professional-grade pump equipment. All waste is contained and transported to licensed disposal facilities.
We thoroughly clean the trap interior, scraping walls, baffles, and inlet/outlet pipes to remove all residue. This ensures the trap operates at full capacity between cleanings.
We inspect all trap components — baffles, tees, gaskets, and structure — for damage, corrosion, or wear. We photograph any issues and discuss repair recommendations with you.
We provide a dated service report documenting the cleaning, trap condition, and any recommended repairs. These records are essential for health department inspections and demonstrating ongoing compliance.
Common Questions
Grease trap cleaning costs depend on the size of the trap and accessibility. We offer maintenance agreements with discounted rates for regular scheduled service. Every project is priced upfront — no surprises. Call 940-999-7742 for a free estimate.
The frequency depends on your operation's grease output. High-grease operations (fryers, grills) typically need monthly cleaning. Moderate operations can maintain a 60-day schedule. Lower-grease operations may go 90 days. The general rule is that the trap should be cleaned before it reaches 25 percent capacity, as required by most Denton County municipal ordinances.
Neglecting grease trap maintenance leads to kitchen drain backups, foul odors, health department citations and fines, sewer surcharges from your municipality, and potential forced closure. FOG that passes through a neglected trap also causes blockages in the municipal sewer system, which can result in significant fines from the city.
Most Denton County municipalities require grease traps for all food service establishments, regardless of menu type. Even operations that do minimal frying produce enough grease from washing dishes, prep work, and cooking to require interception. The trap size requirement depends on your fixture flow rates and kitchen configuration.
Yes. We design and install grease management systems for new restaurant buildouts and renovations. We calculate the required trap size based on Texas plumbing code, install the trap with all required plumbing connections, and coordinate with local inspectors for approval. For complete restaurant buildouts, we work with your contractor and can coordinate with The Design House for full design services.
You should maintain records of every grease trap cleaning, including date, company name, trap condition, amount of waste removed, and disposal location. You should also have records of any repairs or modifications. We provide comprehensive service reports at every visit that satisfy health department documentation requirements.
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