Typically, grease-related problems occur within 300 feet of a high grease generator such as a restaurant. Because grease emulsifies at 140ºF and a dishwasher’s rinse water is usually 180ºF, grease commonly slips past the grease trap and goes directly to the city’s main. As the water cools, the grease congeals, plugging the line. Many restaurant owners know if they run enough hot water in the line, they can emulsify the grease, send it down the line and let the city deal with it.

If there are no restaurants on the line, look for apartment complexes, schools, catering kitchens, food processing plants, golf courses or any other place where people cook.

Other potential problems are areas where the line has sagged because the ground under it has washed out or it has siphons that run under a stream or bridge. These lines are especially annoying because they are difficult to clean. When heavy objects such as stones fall into the bottom they are hard to get out. This debris tends to trap large amounts of grease.

In the case of a sagged line, the diameter of the pipe is reduced by the amount of the sag. For instance, an eight-inch line with a four-inch sag is effectively reduced to a four-inch line. It is important that the line be cleaned regularly because any grease buildup will only reduce it more -- with predictable results.

A good consistent EHC-33™ program will dramatically reduce or eliminate grease blockages.

Here are some of the questions we will ask you to determine the necessary doses:

Applying EHC-33™ is a simple process. It comes packaged in 8 oz. water soluble packets. It is safe to handle and requires no pre-mixing, pre-measuring or pre-soaking. Simply open the manhole and drop the packet into the flow of the line.

If you are a new user, we suggest that you begin the program in a historically troublesome line. Our experience tells us that virtually every operator contends with a line that frequently backs up.

Occasionally, a backup occurs when buildup is being removed from the line by EHC-33™. Sometimes the grease buildup falls off in large pieces, blocking the line. For this reason, many operators choose to mechanically clean the line before starting the program, then apply EHC-33™ to keep it clean.

The Cleanup/Inoculation Phase

The line to be treated should be inoculated with EHC-33™ in 500-foot sections. This phase accomplishes the following:
Clears the line so that the grease coming from upstream has a place to go
Establishes a grease eating bacteria population that continues to consume grease

Starting at the downstream section, the line is treated for four days. Then the next 500-foot section upstream is treated in the same manner until the entire line has received its initial dose. If you are treating more than 1,000 feet, it will be necessary to start the maintenance dose in the first 1,000-foot section while beginning the inoculation phase in the upstream section.

Maintenance Phase

After the initial doses have been completed, maintenance doses begin. You may treat up to one mile of line from one spot. Simply take the maintenance dose and multiply by 5.2.

We recommend that after the maintenance dose is begun, you inspect the sewer line every week for at least four or five manholes to monitor for grease buildup. If after six months or so you have no buildup, cut your maintenance dose by 50 percent and continue to monitor the line for buildup.

Many operators choose to apply the product on a designated day of the week. For particularly troublesome lines, we recommend the weekly dose be divided in half and be put in the line twice a week. Monday and Friday are generally good days because restaurants are busiest on weekends and a lot of grease is generated. This is not a hard and fast rule. You may choose other days. However, it is important to be consistent. Try to stay with the days you choose. If the program becomes inconsistent, the results will be inconsistent.

Usually by treating the grease generating line or lines leading to the lift station with EHC-33™, you will be able to dramatically reduce grease buildup in the lift station. These grease generating lines are identified and treated with the regular sewer line doses. Many times you will find that by cleaning these lines, you can clean the lift station. It may take a little longer, and at first the lift station may collect even more grease as EHC-33™ does its job, but in three or four months, the problem should be solved.

Ideally, the lift station should be cleaned prior to starting the program. If this isn’t possible, be sure to take careful measurements and pictures of the grease cap on day one.

If there is a thick grease cap in a lift station, be sure that holes are punched in the cap to expose water. The reason for this is the bacteria in the water are inhaling oxygen and exhaling either hydrogen sulfide or carbon dioxide. These gases, if trapped, will literally lift the grease cap off the surface of the water. Since most of the biological activity occurs at the interface between the water and grease, activity will slow to almost nothing if the mat is lifted. KEEP THE HOLES OPEN. As another alternative, we can provide you with a degreaser or emulsifier to temporarily soften and reduce the grease cap.

Even if the lift station has only one line coming in, you may still be able to isolate the grease-generating portion of the line and treat it at the generating source. It is always good to check it out before you treat the lift station directly.

After you have used EHC-33™ for several weeks and you want to clean the walls of the lift station, just hose it down. The grease will fall right off.

Whether you are treating lift stations or sewer lines, it is best to apply EHC-33™ at least one or two manholes upstream. Always choose a spot with safety in mind.

EHC-33™ is simple to use, cost-effective, safe and we are always there to help you.