Calgary's trusted grease trap and plumbing partner

Every commercial kitchen in Calgary that cooks, processes, or prepares food is required by the City of Calgary Wastewater Bylaw 14M2012 to install and maintain a grease interceptor. The bylaw is clear: your trap must be cleaned before the combined total of grease and solids reaches 25% of the wet space in the interceptor. For a high-volume restaurant, that threshold is typically reached within four to six weeks. For lighter-use kitchens, monthly or quarterly service is common. Failing to maintain your interceptor puts you in violation of the bylaw and opens your business to orders to comply, fines, and in serious cases, forced closure until the system is brought back into service.

A professional grease trap cleaning involves more than simply pumping out the contents. A trained technician measures the FOG (fats, oils, and grease) percentage before and after the service, scrapes accumulated solids from the baffles and walls, flushes the inlet and outlet lines, and inspects the trap for damage or signs of bypass. GDM Vac Services issues a service manifest and timestamped before-and-after photos after every visit. These records are your documentation if the City of Calgary ever requests proof of maintenance — and they will, particularly during bylaw inspections or when renewing a business licence.

A neglected grease trap does not quietly fail. The first signs are slow floor drains, foul sulphur odours in the kitchen, and gurgling from sinks. Left unaddressed, grease hardens in the downstream lines, causing full backups that can flood the kitchen floor during peak service. Emergency drain calls cost significantly more than a scheduled pump-out, and a backup during a dinner rush can mean lost revenue and a health inspection flag. A preventive schedule — sized to your specific trap capacity and kitchen output — eliminates all of that risk.

GDM Vac Services has been cleaning grease traps for Calgary restaurants, hotels, schools, and food production facilities since 2013. We are owner-operated, use our own trucks and crews — no subcontractors — and dispose of all waste at City-approved facilities with full manifest documentation. We service kitchens across Calgary from Downtown and the Beltline to Seton, Beacon Hill, and surrounding communities including Airdrie, Chestermere, and Okotoks. If your kitchen needs a first-time clean, a compliance catch-up, or a reliable recurring schedule, call 403-912-8000 or use the quote form below.