Grease Interceptor Inspection After the Pump-Out

A pump-out empties the tank. An inspection tells you whether the tank still works. The pump truck driver sees the lid, the grease cap and the level, then pumps. An inside inspection happens after that, while the tank is empty and every wall, fitting and seam is visible. That is the only time most of those parts can be seen at all.

Phoenix's FOG manual points at this moment. It tells operators to witness the cleaning and calls it a good time to inspect for damaged or missing parts. Most operators do not have the gear or the training to go look, and should not try. See why on our confined-space entry page.

A licensed hauler pumps first. HQ does not pump. Our three-person crew then goes in with fresh-air intake and a tripod and harness, and works through the tank in the order water travels.

• Inlet fitting and its down spout. Present, secure, and the right length for your city. Mesa, for example, sets 18 inches minimum.
• Baffles and partition walls between chambers: cracks, lean, gaps, missing sections.
• Outlet tee or standpipe, cover and down spout.
• Walls, floor and ceiling. Corrosion, holes and loss of surface. Phoenix and Tempe both name rot and severe corrosion.
• The pass-over baffle. Grease that hardens here is not always removed by pumping, so we chip it off by hand.
• Lids, grade rings and access. Whether the next pumper and the next inspector can reach everything.

For what each part does, see what happens when a baffle or tee breaks.

You get findings: what was checked, what was wrong, what we did, and what we recommend. That matters because the paper is what an inspector asks for. Phoenix requires three years of records on site. Mesa's code names repair and maintenance in the records, not only cleaning. Chandler lists the nature of service and gives replaced baffle as its example.

A clean finding is useful too. If an inspector arrives next week, a dated report from after your last pump-out shows the interceptor was checked, and which parts were sound. Keep it with your pump tickets. The free grease trap maintenance log is a good place for the dates.

Assume the inspector comes unannounced, since Phoenix says they do. Here is a short preparation list.

1. 1Keep three years of pump tickets and repair records on site, where any shift can find them.
2. 2Know where every lid is and make sure each one opens. Phoenix wants interceptors free from obstructions and easy to reach.
3. 3Know how full the tank usually runs. Phoenix inspectors check grease depth to judge the schedule, and Chandler's rule of thumb is 25 percent.
4. 4Have the last inside inspection on file, with any repair dates.
5. 5If a requirement already has a deadline, keep the letter and plan the repair before the date. Extensions must be requested in writing, and they do not stop enforcement if a blockage happens.

Our page on what city inspectors check on a grease trap covers the rest of the walkthrough.

If the tank is not due for a pump-out and nothing looks wrong, you do not need an entry for its own sake. Entering a confined space is the most involved part of any visit, so we would rather you inspect at a pump-out you were already booking. If you only need to know whether the tank is full, ask the pumper to measure the grease and solids depth.

And if your tank is clearly failing, with spalled walls and missing parts, you probably need a repair or replacement estimate, not an inspection. See interceptor repair and replacement.

Tell us your city, the tank size and when the pumper is coming. We can line our crew up right behind the truck, as laid out in pump-out and repair coordination. We offer 24/7 emergency service, free estimates and an upfront price before work starts. Related: grease trap and interceptor service and restaurant plumbing.