Grease traps help in Central Florida
Grease Trap Installation in Orlando, FL
Tell us what is happening. We will find the cause, explain your options, and handle grease trap installation with care.
65+ years serving Central Florida
Licensed local service team
Fast scheduling and clear communication
Service Overview
Grease Trap Installation With Clear Answers Before Work Begins
Every food service business in Central Florida that discharges into the public sewer system is required to have a grease trap or interceptor — and the stakes of getting it wrong are high. An undersized trap overflows grease into the sewer line. An improperly installed unit fails inspection and delays your opening. A trap in the wrong location creates maintenance headaches for years. The right installation starts with the right sizing, and sizing starts with a thorough assessment of your kitchen layout, cooking volume, fixture count, and local code requirements. Skip that step, and you're building on a faulty foundation.
Lapin Services has been installing grease traps and interceptors across Central Florida since 1958. We don't just drop a tank in the ground — we walk through your entire operation, calculate the correct capacity, recommend indoor or outdoor placement based on your space, pull the required permits, install to code, and coordinate all required inspections. You get one point of contact, full documentation, and a system built to last. With 65+ years of experience, a 4.9-star Google rating, and License CUC1223686, we're the contractor Central Florida food service operators trust when the installation has to be done right.
Problems We Solve
Common Grease Trap Installation Problems We Fix
You do not have to diagnose the problem yourself. These are common issues we help confirm, explain, and repair.
Opening a New Food Service Location
New restaurants, cafes, and commercial kitchens are required to have a properly sized grease trap installed and inspected before they can open. Getting it done right — with correct sizing, permits, and a passed inspection — keeps your opening timeline on track and avoids costly do-overs before you serve your first customer.
Existing Trap Is Undersized
An undersized grease trap fills up faster than your pumping schedule can keep up with, leading to overflows, sewer backups, and compliance violations. If you're pumping your trap more frequently than you should be, the real fix isn't more pump-outs — it's installing a trap sized for your actual volume. We assess your current operation and install the right capacity so you stop fighting a losing battle.
Failed Inspection Due to No Trap
Health department and building inspectors routinely flag food service operations for missing or non-compliant grease control equipment. A citation doesn't just mean paperwork — it can mean a delayed certificate of occupancy, a forced closure, or escalating fines until the issue is resolved. Lapin Services moves quickly to assess, permit, and install so you can clear the citation and get back to business.
Kitchen Expansion Requiring Upgraded Capacity
Adding fryers, expanding your cooking line, or increasing your seating capacity all mean more grease output — and your existing trap may no longer be adequate. An expansion that bumps you past your trap's rated capacity puts you out of compliance the moment you fire up the new equipment. We evaluate the upgraded load and install additional or replacement capacity before your expansion goes live.
Replacing a Failed or Deteriorated Trap
Older concrete and steel grease traps crack, corrode, and eventually fail. A structurally compromised trap can't seal properly, allowing grease to escape into surrounding soil or the sewer line — both of which create serious compliance and environmental liability. When repair is no longer a viable option, Lapin replaces the unit completely, bringing your system up to current code in the process.
When to Call
Signs Your Grease Trap Needs Professional Attention
If you notice any of these signs, call Lapin. We will find the cause and explain what needs to happen next.
You're Opening or Renovating a Commercial Kitchen
If you're building out a new food service space or renovating an existing one, grease trap installation is a required step before you can receive a certificate of occupancy. Don't wait until inspectors flag the absence — schedule your assessment early so the installation is built into your project timeline, not bolted on at the end when delays are most costly.
Your Current Trap Needs Pumping Too Frequently
Grease traps should typically be pumped on a quarterly schedule for most operations, though high-volume kitchens may require more frequent service. If you're calling for pump-outs every few weeks just to stay operational, your trap is undersized for your actual cooking volume. That's a sign it's time to replace it with a unit sized for your real-world output — not just the minimum the permit required.
You've Been Cited for Grease Discharge
A citation from the health department or utility authority for excessive grease discharge is a serious compliance event. It means grease is bypassing your trap and entering the sewer system — which can result in escalating fines, forced operational restrictions, or closure if not corrected quickly. Installation of a properly sized, correctly located trap is typically the required remedy, and Lapin can move fast to get you back into compliance.
You're Adding High-Volume Cooking Equipment
Commercial fryers, griddles, and high-output ranges produce significantly more grease-laden wastewater than standard prep sinks. If you're adding this type of equipment to your kitchen — whether as part of a menu expansion or a facility upgrade — your existing grease control capacity may no longer meet code. We assess the impact of the new equipment and install the additional capacity your operation requires.
Your Trap Is Cracked, Corroded, or Structurally Compromised
Concrete grease traps develop cracks over time from ground movement and chemical exposure. Steel units rust from the inside out. Once structural integrity is gone, a trap can't function as designed — grease escapes, solids accumulate in the wrong places, and you're exposed to both regulatory and environmental liability. If your trap is past the point of repair, Lapin installs a modern, code-compliant replacement that will serve your operation for decades.
Our Process
What to Expect From Your Grease Trap Installation Visit
Tell us what is happening. We arrive prepared, explain the work clearly, and give clear pricing before work begins.
Step 1
Tell Us What Is Happening
Call or request service. You do not have to know exactly what failed; describe what you see, smell, hear, or need done.
Step 2
We Find the Cause
A Lapin technician or crew checks the issue, reviews the project, and explains what needs to be done in plain language.
Step 3
You Approve the Work
You get clear pricing and options before work begins, so you can make a confident decision.
Step 4
We Handle It With Care
We complete the approved work, respect your home, business, or jobsite, and keep you informed.
Step 5
We Stand Behind the Job
Before we leave, we confirm the work, answer questions, and make sure you know what to expect next.
Why Lapin
Why Central Florida Chooses Lapin for Grease Trap Installation
Our name is on every job. We respect your time, budget, property, and trust.
65+ Years of Experience
Lapin has served Central Florida since 1958. Our name is on every job, and we do the work in a way we can stand behind.
Clear Communication
We explain what we find, what it means, and what your options are before work begins.
Respect for Your Property
We protect the home, business, property, or jobsite and treat people the way we would want to be treated.
The Right Team for the Work
We handle plumbing, septic, drains, sewer, underground utilities, commercial service, and serious project work.
Care When It Matters
Every call affects a family, tenant, customer, business, property, or project. We do not take that lightly.
Related Services
Related Services
FAQs
Grease Trap Installation FAQs
What size grease trap do I need for my restaurant?
Grease trap sizing is determined by a combination of factors: the number of fixtures draining into the trap, your daily meal count, the type of cooking you do, and the requirements set by your local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). In Orange County and most Central Florida municipalities, trap capacity is calculated based on flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM) or total gallons per day — and those calculations must meet or exceed the minimum values in the applicable plumbing code. There is no universal answer because every kitchen is different. That’s why Lapin conducts a full site assessment before recommending a size — we calculate what your operation actually requires, not just the smallest unit that might pass a permit review.
Do you handle the permits for grease trap installation?
Yes. Lapin Services handles the full permitting process on your behalf, including application preparation, submission to the appropriate municipality or county, and coordination with inspectors for required site visits. We’ve pulled grease trap permits across Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and surrounding Central Florida counties and understand the specific requirements each jurisdiction applies. You don’t need to manage the paperwork — we do it, and we provide all permit documentation for your files when the job is complete.
What is the difference between an indoor grease trap and an outdoor grease interceptor?
An indoor grease trap is a smaller, passive unit installed beneath or near a kitchen sink or dishwasher. It’s typically sized for lower-volume operations and fits within the footprint of the kitchen. An outdoor grease interceptor is a large buried tank — usually 500 to 2,000 gallons or more — installed in the ground outside the building. It’s designed for high-volume food service operations and is required when flow rates exceed what an indoor trap can handle. The correct choice depends on your kitchen’s output, your local code requirements, and your available space. Lapin evaluates both options and recommends the right system for your specific operation.
How long does grease trap installation take?
The installation itself typically takes one day for an indoor unit and one to two days for an outdoor interceptor, depending on site conditions, depth requirements, and access. However, the full timeline from initial assessment to final inspection depends on permitting speed, which varies by jurisdiction — generally two to four weeks in most Central Florida counties. For new construction or renovation projects, we recommend scheduling your grease trap assessment as early as possible to avoid permit delays holding up your certificate of occupancy. Contact us and we can give you a more precise timeline based on your location and project scope.
Is a grease trap required for all food service businesses?
In most cases, yes. Florida’s plumbing code and local utility authority regulations require any commercial food service establishment that discharges grease-laden wastewater into the public sewer system to have an approved grease trap or interceptor. This includes restaurants, cafes, food trucks with fixed connections, school cafeterias, hospital kitchens, catering facilities, and many other operations. Some very limited food service uses — such as facilities that serve only pre-packaged food with no cooking — may be exempt, but this is determined on a case-by-case basis by your local authority. If you’re uncertain whether your operation requires a trap, Lapin can assess your situation and give you a straight answer.
Do you serve the Orlando metro area?
Yes. We serve Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida region.
Schedule Service
Tell Us What Is Happening
Call Lapin or request service. We will get the right team moving, explain your options, and handle the work with care.