by Ralph Peterson | Feb 23, 2016 | Drain King, Grease Control
Grease Traps
As our society becomes increasingly aware of the consequences of our daily actions and choices, more companies are finding ways to combat problems that have been wreaking havoc on the environment. The large and ever-increasing number of people alive today is reason enough to shift our thinking into conservation mode; striving to find ways to sustain ourselves and protect the Earth at the same time. Our genius species is constantly reviving, uncovering, and discovering ways to keep our forests green, our waters flowing and clean, and our air crisp and breathable.
Recycling is, without a doubt, one of the most important and revitalizing efforts any human can undertake. To reuse and recreate means less trash in landfills and less byproduct in our waters and atmosphere. This holds true even for food waste.
Restaurants that recycle the fat, oil and grease (FOG) byproducts of their kitchens are taking a necessary step in keeping sewer lines, waterways, and our environment in good shape. Grease accumulation in sewer lines can become a messy and costly nuisance. Using a grease trap that is serviced by professionals will save time, money, and probably a few headaches along the way.
The government has started to regulate the disposal of FOG, and companies have risen to the occasion and stepped up their FOG disposal game. Business owners can rely on professionals to keep their kitchens clean, up to code, and environmentally safe.
When hiring a grease trap service, be sure the fee includes removal and proper disposal of FOG, as well as a thorough cleaning of all grease traps and exterior grease tanks. Regular cleanings will increase the lifespan of equipment, decrease the frequency of clogs and spills, and eliminate the possibility of polluting waterways. Using screens in kitchen sinks, wiping up grease spills instead of spraying them into traps or drains, and adhering to the 25 percent rule for grease traps are other great ways to control FOG.
Whether the goal is to save money while running a clean and efficient business or to do your part in saving the environment, keeping close tabs on fat, oil, and grease recycling and disposal is a good idea, and necessary for the well-being of your patrons and staff. Call the professionals at Drain King and allow us to keep your kitchen running smoothly.
by Ralph Peterson | Jan 23, 2016 | Drain King, Drain Service, Grease Control
We, as residents of Earth, all have a carbon footprint. There is always a byproduct, a sweet little something left behind from everything we do. Not so sweet is the lack of knowledge available to the general public about the impact every person has on what happens to our environment, the sizable prints left by our everyday actions, and the simple ways to reduce the negative impact of those actions.
According to timeforchange.org, a carbon footprint is ”the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).” This number per person grows to be pretty substantial when counting the energy used to provide food, create comfortable living spaces, provide gas to drive a vehicle, and countless other types of energy use.
Though we do indeed create a very large and mostly unsavory change to the planet and its climate, the good news is; there are many easy ways to change our daily habits that will positively impact each carbon footprint. The use of hybrid and electric cars greatly reduces carbon emissions, and it saves the user quite a bit of money on gas as well. Reducing emissions at home can be as simple as hanging clothes out to dry in the summertime and turning the thermostat down a few degrees overnight in the winter.
Other ways to be mindful around the home include washing clothes in cold water as opposed to hot, replacing old and inefficient appliances with Energy Star-compliant models, and installing a programmable thermostat. Being thrifty with energy use at home is always a great idea, as it saves money and the planet simultaneously.
Business owners can also play a large part in creating sustainable living practices and setting a good example in their communities. For restaurants in particular, proper handling and disposal of waste products such as fats, oils, and grease from deep fryers and sauté lines can greatly reduce pollution in sewers and local waterways. When kitchen waste is not disposed of correctly, it can clog sewer lines, which causes messy backups and damage. Installation of grease traps in commercial kitchens and arranging for regular cleaning by a professional are a great way for entrepreneurs to reduce their carbon footprints.
If you are an environmentally conscious business owner, contact Drain King for information on grease trap installation and maintenance. Let’s work together to reduce the negative impact left behind by living on our planet.
by Ralph Peterson | Dec 15, 2015 | Drain King
Hard Water Cavern
Have you heard the terms “hard water” and “soft water” and wondered what they meant? Have you heard people debate the merits of each? Perhaps you’ve experienced both types and prefer one over the other, but you’re not sure why. This article will answer all of those questions and give you the information you need to choose the type of water that will work best for your home or business.
Let’s start by defining each type. Water is rated on a hardness scale based on how many grains of minerals it contains per gallon. Hard water has a high mineral content. As it flows over rocks and soil, it picks up calcium and magnesium, which are not filtered out in the water purification process. Soft water does not contain the extra minerals. Any water that falls from the sky is automatically soft water, at least until it hits the ground and picks up the extra minerals. Soft water can also be created by treating the water with chemicals or a chemical process to remove the extra minerals. There are benefits to using both types of water, as well as drawbacks for each.
Hard water offers increased health benefits, since added minerals promote stronger bones and teeth and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Most people prefer the taste of natural hard water to water that has been softened by chemical means.
When it comes to cleaning, however, the mineral deposits in hard water react negatively with the cleaning components in soap. This reaction leaves behind a layer of film or scum. If you’ve ever opened the dishwasher to find cloudy spots on your glassware, or your tub has a shadowy ring around it no matter how often you clean, you can blame hard water. This type of water is especially troublesome for pipes and hot water tanks. When hard water is boiled, it leaves behind a layer of calcium, which deposits on coils and in pipes. The more buildup there is, the less efficiently those coils work, causing an increase in energy bills and a decrease in performance.
Soft water is created when the minerals in hard water are removed by artificial means. When an ion exchange column is used to soften water, sodium ions trade places with calcium and magnesium ions. Sodium ions don’t leave behind a mineral deposit or residue, but they do make the water taste salty and can be harmful to people who require low-sodium diets. Because no minerals are left to react negatively with cleaning agents, soft water produces more soap lather with less detergent, making objects look and feel cleaner. With no minerals to build up in pipes or on heating coils, water heaters and pipes work more efficiently. The use of soft water can prolong the life of dishwashers and washing machines.
In conclusion, hard water is best for drinking, and soft water best for washing. Drain King’s experts can help you identify hard or soft water in your home or business and offer solutions that best suit your water-softening needs.
by Ralph Peterson | Nov 15, 2014 | Drain King
One of the smallest areas of your home has been found to be the most dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 235,000 people visit emergency rooms because of injuries suffered in the bathroom—from slippery surfaces in the bath and shower to falling in and around the toilet. This room should be examined and, if needed, retrofitted so no one gets hurt.
The CDC found that almost 33,000 people over the age of 14 go to the hospital after sustaining injuries while using the toilet. Not too surprisingly, people age 85 or over are particularly prone to injury this way, due to falls and the lack of a safety grab bar at the toilet. In fact, 81 percent of all injuries in the bathroom are due to falls. This calls for the need for homeowners to consider preventive equipment.
You can improve your bathroom’s safety. Use nonslip strips or mats in the bathtub and shower. Equip your tub or bath with a safety bar to hold while getting in and out. Install a grab bar or holding rail by the toilet for those who need assistance getting up and down from the seat. Consider getting rid of bath mats that can trip you or those that are placed in your walking path. Bathrooms are usually poorly lit; consider installing a light that comes on automatically when the illumination level in the bathroom drops.
While the elderly are more prone to bathroom accidents, all age groups visit the emergency room for accidents related to one of the smallest areas of the home, the bathroom.
by Ralph Peterson | Oct 26, 2014 | Drain King, Drain Service
Have you ever walked into a public restroom or a restroom in an office building and been hit with a strong, unpleasant odor? This may be the result of a dirty or clogged floor drain. Floor drains are found in many places like commercial restrooms and industrial spaces, near and around water heaters, in basements, kitchens, or laundry rooms.
The floor drain captures overflow water from sinks, toilets, tubs, rain, and any other pipe in your home, and then directs it safely to a sewer or municipal storm drain, so floors stay dry and rooms do not flood.
If you have floor drains in your home or business and you smell something bad coming from them, it’s typically because the traps have dried out. Floor drains have a U-shaped or P-trap pipe, just like your bathroom sink drain. The U-shaped pipe is designed to hold water that stands in the pipe and prevents sewer gases from coming up through the drain. If you smell sewer gas, fill the drain with a five-gallon bucket of water. This will seal off sewer gases and also let you see if the drain is working properly.
Floor drains become clogged just like any other drain, even more often because they’re on the floor where dirt collects. If your floor drain is clogged or slow, take steps to remove the clog. Use a drain auger or snake to see if you can reach the clog. Floor drains are often connected to longer pipes, so if you are still having problems, please call our professionals at Drain King. We can unclog and, if needed, clean out the pipe.
by Ralph Peterson | Oct 2, 2014 | Drain King, Drain Service, Pipe Cleaning
Have you walked through your home and counted the number of drains you actually have? Probably not. So until there is a problem, most people do not think about their pipes or what is done to clean them after something goes wrong.
It takes the right skill and proper equipment to do an effective, long-lasting, and thorough drain-cleaning job. Some companies focus on a “punch-and-run” approach, in which they simply make a hole in a clog rather than clean out and flush the pipe. At Drain King, we focus on doing the job right. To us, the punch-and-run approach is only putting a Band-Aid on a problem that will return sooner than necessary. To properly clean drains, you need the right diagnoses of the problem, the proper equipment, the correct size cleaning-head attachment, and a professional who will take the proper time to make sure the drain is fully cleaned.
There is a difference between just unclogging a drain and cleaning a drain line. A good drain-cleaning professional will have a clear understanding of this and likely know the cause of any clog. If you look around your house, you’ll find a variety of different drains that need to be kept clean so they work properly. Kitchen drains, shower and bath drains, bathroom sink drains, toilet drains, and floor drains all lead to the main sewer-line drain connecting your home to the city system or your septic tank. Done correctly, a professional drain cleaning will ensure the entire system is running properly.
