Determining when a grease interceptor needs cleaning can be an inexact science. Too-frequent cleanings waste money. If cleanings are too infrequent, grease overflows into the sewers and can result in fines. Because each commercial kitchen generates varying amounts of grease, there’s no one-size-fits-all cleaning schedule.
The Endura Sentry grease monitoring system from Canplas, designed to complement the Endura Grease Interceptor, takes out the guesswork with a wireless system that indicates if an interceptor is operating within its rated capacity. “That’s important because regulators are increasingly concerned about grease buildup in sewers,” says Andrew Bird, Canplas product manager for engineered environmental products.
“You tell the system what size of interceptor you’re using by setting a switch configuration on the receiver,” Bird explains. “After you establish wireless communication, a sensor inside the interceptor periodically sends the receiver data about the grease level. The receiver’s LCD screen displays what’s going on inside the interceptor. It also displays the status of the signal strength and of the AA batteries that run the system.”
When an interceptor reaches 90 percent of rated capacity, an interceptor icon on the receiver flashes, and an alarm chirps six times, once an hour. After the interceptor is cleaned, the system resets automatically. “The system is simple enough that restaurant owners can install it themselves,” Bird says. “After it’s set up, that’s basically all that needs to be done.”
The system keeps a 12-month rolling record of the information transmitted by the sensor. Accompanying software enables users to download the data onto a computer and use it to demonstrate a regular cleaning schedule. “The software interface allows you to see in graph form a history of interceptor maintenance,” Bird says. “It can help you avoid unnecessary cleanings, as well as satisfy any local maintenance reporting requirements.”
Moreover, if regulators are investigating grease overflows into sewers, restaurant owners can verify that their business isn’t the source. The Endura Sentry is available through restaurant equipment and plumbing wholesale branches. 888/461-5307; www.endurainterceptor.com.
