If you run a restaurant in Edmonton, a grease trap probably isn't something you think about every day. You have staff to manage, customers to serve, food to prepare, and a long list of other maintenance jobs.
But when a grease trap is overdue for cleaning, it can quickly become a problem. Bad odours, slow drains, grease buildup, and backups can disrupt a busy kitchen. And once a problem becomes urgent, the cost and inconvenience can be much greater than routine maintenance.
So, how much does grease trap cleaning cost in Edmonton? Grease Lightning currently lists grease trap cleaning starting at $85 per trap, including inspection, FOG and solids extraction, and eco-compliant disposal.
The more important question, though, is what you actually get for that price and how often your kitchen needs the service.
Quick answer: Cleaning starts at $85/trap. Most commercial kitchens need service every 1–3 months, based on the industry-standard 25% Rule.
How Much Does Grease Trap Cleaning Cost in Edmonton?
Grease Lightning's starting price is $85 per trap. The company also lists flushing and sump cleaning starting at $175.
- Grease Trap Cleaning ($85 / trap): Includes inspection, full FOG & solids extraction, eco-compliant disposal.
- Flushing ($175): Includes high-pressure line flushing, inspection.
- Sump Cleaning ($175): Includes vacuum extraction, sludge & solids removal, inspection.
That doesn't mean every commercial kitchen will pay exactly $85. A small, regularly maintained trap is a different job from a large trap that has been left for too long.
The final cost can depend on things such as:
- The size and capacity of the grease trap
- How much grease and solid waste has built up
- How many traps need to be cleaned
- Where the trap is located and how easy it is to access
- Whether the service is routine or an urgent call
- The condition of the trap and whether maintenance issues are found
This is why a starting price is useful for comparison, but a proper quote is better when you want to know what your own kitchen will cost. Grease Lightning also backs its pricing with a Best Price Guarantee — they'll match or beat a competing quote.
Request a free estimate from Grease Lightning.
What Should a Grease Trap Cleaning Include?
This is where businesses should look beyond the price. A cheap cleaning isn't much of a saving if only part of the grease and solids are removed or if the waste isn't handled properly. Grease Lightning's cleaning process includes four main steps.
- Inspection: The grease trap is inspected to understand its condition and determine what needs to be cleaned.
- FOG and Solids Removal: The accumulated fats, oils, grease and solids are removed using vacuum truck equipment.
- Maintenance Check: The trap is checked for wear and tear, with minor repairs performed as needed and findings documented.
- Responsible Disposal: The removed material is disposed of responsibly in accordance with Edmonton environmental requirements.
Grease Lightning states that its $85 starting price includes inspection, cleaning, and eco-compliant disposal. You can see the full process on its grease trap cleaning service page.
How Often Should You Clean a Grease Trap in Edmonton?
This is one of the most important questions for any commercial kitchen. You may hear people say that grease traps should be cleaned every one, two or three months. But there isn't one schedule that works for every kitchen.
The industry standard used by Grease Lightning is the "25% Rule": a grease trap should be cleaned once fats, oils, grease and solids (FOGS) reach 25% of the trap's total capacity. In practice, this generally works out to:
- High-volume restaurants & fast food — often monthly
- Standard full-service restaurants — typically every 1–2 months
- Cafes & lower-volume kitchens — every 2–3 months may be enough
- Hotels, hospitals & schools — depends on kitchen volume and number of traps
That means your restaurant's actual cleaning schedule should be based on how quickly your own trap fills up, not simply on what another business does. A high-volume kitchen may build up grease much faster than a small café, and a kitchen that uses a lot of frying oil can have different needs from one with lighter grease production.
What Does the 25% Rule Mean?
The 25% figure refers to fats, oils, grease, and solids (FOGS) inside the grease trap. Once FOGS reach 25% of the trap's total capacity, it needs cleaning.
For an Edmonton business owner, the simple takeaway is: Don't wait until the trap is overflowing or the kitchen smells bad. Keep it maintained and monitor how quickly it builds up.
According to EPCOR, which oversees Edmonton's wastewater bylaw compliance, grease traps must be cleaned at least once a month, or sooner if FOG reaches 25% of the trap's capacity — whichever comes first. This falls under City of Edmonton Bylaw 20865, and cleaning logs must be kept on file for two years. Letting FOG escape into city drains can lead to fines or a forced shutdown. If you're unsure how your kitchen's usage translates into a schedule, a professional inspection can tell you exactly where you stand.
Why Waiting for a Problem Can Cost More
A grease trap doesn't usually fail at a convenient time. It can happen during a busy dinner service, before a weekend rush, or when your regular maintenance company isn't immediately available.
When grease and solids build up, they can contribute to clogged pipes, unpleasant smells, and sewer backups — fats and oils cool, solidify, and accumulate inside plumbing systems over time. That's why regular maintenance makes more sense than treating grease trap cleaning as an emergency-only job.
Routine cleaning also gives you a chance to notice problems before they become bigger ones. For example, if a technician notices unusual wear or another issue during a maintenance check, you have the opportunity to deal with it instead of discovering it after a backup.
Signs Your Grease Trap May Need Attention
Your kitchen may give you warning signs before a serious problem develops. Watch for:
- Strong or unusual odours around the kitchen or drain area
- Sinks that are draining more slowly than usual
- Gurgling sounds from drains
- Grease or dirty water backing up
- Repeated drainage problems
- A grease trap that is visibly full or overdue for service
One sign by itself doesn't always mean the grease trap is the cause — a blocked drain can have several possible causes. If your kitchen is already dealing with slow drains or a backup, Grease Lightning also provides drain cleaning and hydrojet/sewer flushing for tougher blockages.
How to Keep Your Grease Trap Under Control
Professional cleaning is only one part of grease management. What goes down your kitchen drains matters too. Practical daily habits that help between services:
- Scrape food waste into the garbage before washing dishes
- Wipe excess grease from cookware before rinsing
- Collect used fryer oil in a proper grease container, not the sink
- Use sink strainers to catch food particles
- Never pour cooking oil or grease directly down the drain
These habits won't replace professional cleaning, but they can reduce how much FOG and solids enter your drainage system between visits.
What Should You Ask Before Hiring a Grease Trap Cleaner?
If you're comparing Edmonton companies, don't choose based only on the lowest advertised price. Ask what is actually included.
Does the price include inspection? You want to know whether someone is actually checking the trap or simply removing the contents. Are both grease and solids removed? A proper cleaning should deal with the accumulated material rather than just the surface layer. How is the waste handled? Ask how the removed grease and solids are transported and disposed of. Do they offer emergency service? If your kitchen has a serious backup outside normal hours, waiting until the next business day may not be an option. Do they work with commercial kitchens? Restaurant and food-service grease traps have different maintenance needs from ordinary household drains.
Why Edmonton Businesses Use Grease Lightning
Grease Lightning focuses on grease trap cleaning for commercial establishments including restaurants, cafés, hotels, schools, and hospitals.
The company has 10+ years of industry experience, offers 24/7 emergency response, and provides free estimates. Its grease trap cleaning starts at $85 per trap, with inspection, full FOG and solids extraction, and eco-compliant disposal included.
It also offers drain cleaning, sump cleaning, and hydrojet/sewer flushing for other drainage problems, and serves Edmonton along with St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Leduc, Nisku, Stony Plain, and Fort Saskatchewan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does grease trap cleaning cost in Edmonton? Grease Lightning lists grease trap cleaning starting at $85 per trap. Actual cost varies with trap size, buildup, and access.
How often should a grease trap be cleaned? Per EPCOR's requirements for Edmonton, grease traps must be cleaned at least once a month, or sooner if FOGS reach 25% of capacity — whichever comes first. Lower-volume kitchens may only hit the 25% mark every couple of months, but the monthly minimum still applies.
Is $85 the average price for Edmonton? No — it's Grease Lightning's advertised starting price. Other companies may charge differently depending on trap size, buildup, access, and what their service includes.
What is included in Grease Lightning's $85 starting price? Inspection, full FOG and solids extraction, and eco-compliant disposal.
What happens if I don't clean my grease trap? As grease and solids build up, they can contribute to odours, clogged drainage, and backups. Problems can become more disruptive and expensive when left until an emergency — and can also risk bylaw violations and fines.
Does Grease Lightning offer emergency service? Yes, 24/7 emergency service is available for grease trap failures and drainage problems.
Grease trap cleaning is one of those jobs that is easy to postpone when everything seems to be working. But keeping up with maintenance is much easier than dealing with a bad smell, blocked drain, or emergency backup during a busy service.
Ready for a free estimate? No obligation, no hidden fees — honest pricing for your kitchen. Get a free estimate or call 587-985-9133 — available 24/7