Restaurant Drain or Grease Trap: What to Have Ready Before Calling JD Plumbing

Before you call about a slow restaurant drain or a grease trap, it helps to have three things in mind: what you are seeing, where in the kitchen it is happening, and what you already know about your plumbing and equipment. The lists below spell out the details. If you only know part of this, call anyway and describe what you see.

Gwinnett County explains that fats, oil and grease sent down kitchen drains can build up in pipes and lead to clogs and backups. A slow drain alone does not confirm that grease is the cause, which is why these notes are useful during a consultation. This page also summarizes the county's kitchen guidance and what JD Plumbing can discuss with you.

Symptoms to write down first

• When you first noticed the slow drain or backup
• Which drain, sink or floor drain is affected
• Whether the problem shows up in one place or in several parts of the kitchen

These are notes for a conversation, not a required form.

Grease trap and equipment details

Having the following details on hand, if you know them, makes it easier to explain your situation when you contact them.

• Your restaurant address
• Location of the grease trap and the problem you are seeing
• Drawings or plans of the kitchen plumbing, if you have them
• Recent cleaning or inspection records, if any
• Current kitchen equipment and any planned work or timeline

Rules that apply to your address, including how your grease trap must be handled and how often it is serviced, come from the local authority. For restaurant questions in Gwinnett County, the FOG Management Supervisor can be reached at 678-376-6713.

Keeping grease out of the drain

According to the county's FOG guidance, hot water and soap do not get rid of grease. The grease travels down the line, cools, and can collect in the pipe again. Running greasy food through a disposal makes the pieces smaller, but the chance of a grease clog remains.

The county's Commercial Kitchen FOG Best Management Practices page recommends these habits:

• Collect used fryer oil in a recycling container instead of pouring it down the drain.
• Scrape food off pots, pans and dishes and wipe them with a dry towel before washing.
• Use strainers on drains.
• Soak up large grease spills with towels before mopping. Water from floor drains and mop sinks can also end up in the grease trap.
• Post these steps above the sinks so staff follow the same routine.

Whether floor drain and mop sink water reaches your trap depends on how your kitchen is plumbed, so treat this as general guidance rather than a description of your building.

What JD Plumbing can discuss

JD Plumbing's restaurant plumbing page lists restaurant setup and inspections, gas line connections for restaurant equipment, grease trap installation and repair, and restaurant drain cleaning, camera inspection and jetting.

You can ask in English or Korean at 678-979-0888. Availability for a site visit and arrival times are confirmed by phone.

Sources: Gwinnett County FOG guidance and Commercial Kitchen FOG Best Management Practices, JD Plumbing restaurant plumbing page. Checked October 4, 2026.