When you run a car wash business, automotive repair shop, parking garage, laundromat, or any company required to manage sediment in wastewater, you have a commercial grit trap you must clean and maintain regularly. Doing this keeps your business compliant with strict environmental regulations. When properly installed and well taken care of, these filtration systems prevent clogs, overflows, and costly damage to your plumbing infrastructure.
You want to avoid issues and prevent environmental contamination, so it pays to know how to spot and address grit trap problems early. Affordable Environmental Services’s grit trap cleaning specialists have written this blog for you. Let us tell you all about the warning signs that let you know when it’s time to turn your attention to cleaning, repairing, and maintaining your solid and sand-separating system.
But first, let’s take a minute for a brief run down on how your commercial grit trap works.
How Do Commercial Grit Traps Work?
As water flows from your facility—whether it’s from washing vehicles, cleaning parts, or draining surfaces—it carries sediment, grease, sand, and other debris with it. Your grit trap intercepts this flow, allowing heavier solids to settle at the bottom while the cleaner water continues through your drainage system. This system prevents trapped particles from entering and clogging the municipal sewer system or your facility’s plumbing, ensuring smooth operations and compliance with environmental regulations.
How Often Should You Clean a Commercial Grit Trap?
Recommendations for grit trap cleaning frequency vary depending on your industry and how much wastewater your business generates.
Here are some general guidelines:
- Car washes: Since car washes generate a significant amount of sediment, dirt, and debris, which can quickly fill your grease trap, have this system cleaned every one to three months.
- Automotive repair shops: Automotive shops produce oil, grease, and small particulates that accumulate in grit traps. Clean your trap every three to six months to ensure these materials don’t cause problems.
- Parking garages: Parking centers accumulate dirt, sand, and debris primarily from vehicle runoff. Cleaning your grit traps at least twice a year helps manage this debris effectively.
- Tire service stations: Tire service stations generate debris like rubber particles, dirt, and oils, which need to be trapped and removed regularly (every three to six months) to avoid system blockages.
- Laundromats: Laundromats deal with lint, dirt, and other residues from laundry processes. Schedule grit trap cleanings three to six months apart to prevent backups and maintain smooth water flow.
Now that you know more about what your grit trap does and how often you should clean it, let’s discuss common grit trap problems and how to spot them.
What Are Some of the Most Common Grit Trap Problems?
When they’re humming along as they should, your water filtration systems might be the furthest thing from your mind. Then, some sand, sediment, or debris might tip the scales, and your filtration system’s performance drops, putting your pipes and surrounding environment at risk of backups that could result in contamination.
You want to avoid the following grit trap problems:
- Clogged pipes
- Overflowing filtration system
- Backed-up wastewater systems
- Damaged grit filters
- Improperly sized sand and grit traps
- Environmental contamination
Let’s go over how you can avoid those issues.
What Causes Clogs and Blockages in Your Sediment Trap?
The most common cause of clogged and blocked sediment traps is the failure to complete regular cleaning and maintenance. When you don’t clean your trap often enough, waterflow obstructions can cause unwanted downtime that isn’t good for your business. To spot a clog, look for signs like slow drainage, water backups, foul odors, unusual noises, standing water, or unusual water testing results.
You can open your grit trap cover and take a peek to inspect it for debris buildup. If your trap appears full or solid matter obstructs water flow, it’s likely clogged. Establish a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule based on your facility’s unique wastewater management demands to prevent future clogs.
Why Is Your Sand Trap Overflowing or Backing Up?
If it’s been a while since your last sand trap cleaning, it may be susceptible to overflowing or backing up. Over time, sediment, dirt, and debris accumulate, gradually reducing your trap’s capacity to manage wastewater effectively. As your trap fills up, it can no longer hold additional material, causing excess sediment and water to spill over or push back into your system.
Monitor your sand trap’s drainage performance to stay ahead of backups. Pay attention to the speed at which water drains from your floor drains and other outlets connected to the sand trap. If you notice slow drainage or water pooling, it could be an early sign of a developing blockage or overflow risk.
Unpleasant smells near your drains or in areas where your wastewater is managed can signal that your sand trap is full or clogged. Foul odors typically result from decomposing debris and should be taken as a warning sign. Have your sand trap pumped to prevent problems with overflowing.
What Causes Corrosion and Structural Damage to Sediment Traps?
Your sediment trap consists of many moving parts, including an inlet pipe, a chamber or basin where sediment settles, baffles (internal barriers that slow down wastewater flow), an outlet pipe, a sediment collection area, a cover, a vent pipe, a flow regulator, and a grease interceptor (if combined).
While this is a system that’s built to withstand water management’s harsh conditions, the elements can degrade, rust, or become damaged due to:
- Chemical reactions
- Moisture and humidity
- Abrasive materials
- Electrochemical reactions (galvanic corrosion)
- Lack of maintenance
- Temperature extremes
- Physical impacts
Regularly inspect your trap’s exterior for visible cracks, dents, or signs of rust. To examine its interior, carefully remove your trap’s lid. Look for any debris, scale, or corrosion build-up that might impede its function. Pay close attention to your trap’s bottom and sides for signs of wear and tear.
If you notice any damage or deterioration, replace or repair your grit trap promptly to avoid potential issues.
How Do You Prevent Debris Accumulation in Your Wastewater Trap?
Debris accumulating in your wastewater trap is a natural consequence of the various activities that produce wastewater in your facility. The primary function of this trap is to capture and hold solid materials, preventing them from entering and clogging your drainage system.
To prevent debris from damaging or impeding your grit trap’s optimal performance, pay attention to how it operates, complete regular inspections, and schedule prompt repairs, maintenance, and cleaning services.
Prolong the Life of Your Sand and Grit Trap With Regular Cleaning
Now that you know how to detect problems early and what to do when various issues arise, you’re positioned to protect your business and the environment.
Are you ready to outsource this task to a sand and grit trap cleaning company that puts your business first? Affordable Environmental Services’s cleaners are well-equipped for the job. Connect with us at (832) 277-2739 now to receive a transparent estimate.