Grease Trap Cleaning Berkeley, CA
If you need grease trap cleaning Berkeley CA inspectors will sign off on, our crews bring the paperwork with the truck. Berkeley restaurants tend to be small, independent and busy, which is exactly the combination that overloads a grease trap. We clean and pump traps for the lunch spots on Telegraph and Bancroft near campus, the restaurants in the Gourmet Ghetto on Shattuck, the Fourth Street shops, the Solano Avenue strip and the food businesses in West Berkeley's industrial blocks.
Our East Bay crews pass through Berkeley several times a week. Call (628) 221-4893 to get on the schedule or to report a trap that has already backed up.
Grease trap cleaning in Berkeley: call now(628) 221-4893
The City of Berkeley's sewer rules for food businesses
Berkeley maintains its own sewer collection system and enforces its own grease control requirements, while EBMUD handles treatment and runs the regional FOG program. In practice you answer to both: city public works staff investigate blockages in the collection lines, and EBMUD inspectors visit food establishments to check on trap sizing and maintenance.
The city's sewer lines are old, particularly in the flats between San Pablo Avenue and the campus, and grease is the leading cause of the blockages that cause overflows. Berkeley, like Oakland, operates under a federal consent decree to reduce sanitary sewer overflows, so enforcement against grease dischargers has real teeth.
A documented cleaning schedule is your protection. We record grease depth, volume removed and condition at every visit, and provide a record with the waste manifest number. If you have been asked to prove a maintenance frequency after an inspection, we can put that in writing.
Cleaning traps in tight Berkeley kitchens
Berkeley's older commercial buildings along Telegraph, University and Shattuck were not designed around a vacuum truck. Traps are often under the dish sink in a narrow back kitchen, in a basement reached through a sidewalk hatch, or shared with a neighboring storefront. We carry enough hose to reach any of those from a legal parking spot and we protect the floors on the way in.
Around the university, many food businesses run seasonal volume: heavy during the semester and quiet over breaks. We can set a schedule that tracks the academic calendar rather than a flat interval so you are not paying for visits during a quiet August.
West Berkeley's commercial kitchens, caterers and food manufacturers near Gilman and San Pablo often have larger in-ground interceptors installed in recent years. Those are serviced with a full pump-out, baffle cleaning and structural check.
- Long-run hose for basement and rear-kitchen traps
- Floor protection and a clean exit every time
- Schedules that follow the campus calendar
- Full interceptor service for West Berkeley food producers
Grease Trap Pumping in Berkeley
We pump the entire trap, liquid and solids included, from campus-area delis to Solano Avenue bistros, and leave the unit refilled with clean water and ready for service. Waste is manifested and hauled to a permitted receiving facility.
Grease Interceptor Cleaning in Berkeley
In-ground interceptors at Fourth Street, the Berkeley Marina restaurants and West Berkeley production kitchens get every compartment opened, baffles scraped, outlet tee cleared and the sample box cleaned, with the condition noted on your record.
Grease Interceptor Pumping in Berkeley
University dining commons, hospital kitchens and hotel restaurants on University Avenue run large interceptors on a fixed rotation with us. We coordinate manhole access with facilities and keep the truck visit short.
Where we work in Berkeley
We serve all of Berkeley: Downtown, the Telegraph and Southside area near campus, the Gourmet Ghetto and North Berkeley, Solano Avenue, Elmwood, Fourth Street, West Berkeley, South Berkeley along Adeline and Ashby, the Berkeley Marina, and the hills neighborhoods along Grizzly Peak.
Call for same-week service in Berkeley(628) 221-4893Nearby cities we also serve from the East Bay route
The truck that covers Berkeley runs the same route through the cities below, so multi-location operators can put every kitchen on one schedule. Full details for each city, and the complete service areas list, are one click away. Not sure which service you need? Read our short guides to grease trap cleaning and grease interceptor cleaning.
One number for every location: call now(628) 221-4893Berkeley grease trap questions we hear often
Who enforces grease trap maintenance in Berkeley, the city or EBMUD?
Both. The City of Berkeley owns the sewer collection lines and investigates blockages, while EBMUD runs the FOG inspection program for food establishments. Our service records are accepted by both.
Can you service a trap that is under a sidewalk hatch on Telegraph Avenue?
Yes. Sidewalk-access basements are common on Telegraph and Shattuck. We open the hatch, set up cones for pedestrians and run hose from the truck to the trap.
Our volume drops in the summer when students leave. Can the schedule change?
Yes. We can set a heavier rotation during the academic year and a lighter one during summer and winter breaks, so the frequency matches your actual grease output.
How long does a Berkeley grease trap cleaning take?
A small indoor trap takes about 30 to 45 minutes including scraping and refilling. Larger in-ground interceptors take one to two hours depending on size and how full they are.
Do you clean interceptors at food production facilities in West Berkeley?
Yes. We service interceptors at caterers, commissaries and food manufacturers in the Gilman and San Pablo Avenue industrial area, including larger units that need a high-capacity truck.
What is the penalty for causing a sewer overflow in Berkeley?
The city can bill a food establishment for cleanup and issue fines under its sewer ordinance, and EBMUD can escalate under its FOG program. A documented cleaning schedule is the strongest defense.
Is a passive grease trap enough for a full-service restaurant?
It depends on flow and menu. Many Berkeley restaurants operate passive traps successfully with frequent cleaning. If your trap fills within two or three weeks, a larger unit or an automatic grease removal device may be worth discussing.
Can you clean my trap without disrupting lunch service?
Yes. We schedule around your hours, most often before opening. The work is contained to the trap area and we are usually done before the first customer arrives.
Do you provide the three years of records EBMUD asks for?
We provide a record for every service and retain copies, so an establishment that has used us continuously can request a complete history for any inspection.
What does it cost to clean a grease trap in Berkeley?
The price depends on trap size and the amount of material removed. Small under-sink traps are the least expensive; large in-ground interceptors cost more. Call (628) 221-4893 for a firm quote.
Can you take a look at my trap and tell me if it is the right size?
Yes. During a cleaning we measure the trap, note the flow rate of the fixtures feeding it and tell you whether it is adequate for your kitchen or likely to be an inspection issue.
Do you offer emergency service in Berkeley on weekends?
Yes. Emergency pump-outs are dispatched seven days a week, and Berkeley is close to our East Bay route, so weekend response is typically within a few hours.