Restaurant floor drains become clogged all the time. This is annoying and can lead to costly emergency visits from a plumber. In fact some restaurants schedule regular service from their plumber to ensure that they don’t get surprised by clogged drains.
There are solutions to clogged restaurant floor drains. Preventative maintenance and training can help staff to understand what is acceptable and unacceptable waste to push into the drain. Unfortunately even with the best training sometimes it can be too tempting for staff to ignore these protocols. If your restaurant drain is still becoming clogged, even after staff training, it might be time to upgrade your equipment and take control of your drains.
In this blog we will look at why restaurant floor drains become clogged, the cost to restaurant owners and how to design a better drain that prevents blockages and backups.
Why are my Drains Clogged?
Understanding why restaurant floor drains become clogged and how plumbers unclog them is the first step in creating a better drain. Plumbers report finding various items in clogged drains, from food waste, to plastic cutlery.
These items may have inadvertently found their way into the drain or they may have been swept into the drain by employees. Restaurants are very busy places and if staff are in a hurry to clean up they can sometimes make choices that will help in the short term but hurt in the long run like sweeping food waste into the drain.
Once these items make their way through the drain body they often become lodged in the underground plumbing. They create a small dam and other objects or food waste is able to build up around them eventually leading to a clog.
How to Unclog a Restaurant Floor Drain
Plumbers will often use a machine known as a cable machine or a drum machine to clean a restaurant floor drain. This machine is a much larger version of a drain snake that is used to unclog drains in people’s homes.
Once the drum machine is transported to the restaurant the plumber will need to bring it inside, remove the cover plate from the drain and feed the cable down into the drain. This cable spins around and is able to grab items from inside the drain and pull them back out.
While a skilled plumber can clear the drain within only a few minutes, the entire process including; driving to the restaurant, setting up the machine and cleaning up afterwards will take much longer than that.
Cost Of Cleaning a Restaurant Floor Drain
Plumbers like every other skilled professional need to charge for their time and their equipment. While plumbing rates can vary by region you should expect a minimum drain clearing charge from your plumber. We reached out to some local plumbers who told us we might expect to pay $300-500 for this service. This cost can add up over time if you have a drain that clogs regularly. Call your local plumber to learn more about drain cleaning rates in your town or city.
On top of the expense of having a plumber come into your restaurant you could experience downtime. When drains are clogged it can lead to backups and unsanitary conditions. This can prevent you from preparing food or at the very least slow your employees down as they navigate the situation. This can end up costing you in extra wages as well as lost revenue on top of the upfront cost of the drain clearing service.
Designing a Better Area Drain
The best solution to clogged floor drains is to design a better area drain. At Global Drain Technologies we specialize in designing hygienic drainage through our FoodSafe Drains division. Our drains are often used in large food and beverage processing facilities where clogged drains can have serious costs.
Through our experience and specialization in foodservice we designed a drain that has built-in anti-clog features. These features are very useful in busy restaurant kitchens and dishwashing areas. To avoid clogs we recommend installing a floor drain that is designed for a busy food and beverage environment. While these drains can cost more than a basic drain they can save you money in the long run. Planning for hygienic clog free drainage either during construction or during sanitary upgrades can have a net positive effect on your business.
Strainer Baskets and Secondary Strainers
Strainer baskets are your drain's first line of defense against items entering the underground plumbing. We have designed a strainer basket with holes that are the perfect size for food and beverage drainage.
This is why we developed the magnetic locking secondary strainer. This strainer can only be removed with a special key that can be given to restaurant management. This secondary strainer removes any temptation of emptying items into the drain when the strainer basket is removed.
The Importance of Hygienic Drainage
Not only are FoodSafe Drains Area Drains designed to prevent unwanted items from entering your plumbing they are also designed to prevent unwanted buildup in the drain. Having food residue buildup in your drain can lead to foul smells that indicate the presence of bacteria. Bacteria can lead to contamination. And of course contamination can lead to foodborne illness which can effectively kill a restaurant.
FoodSafe Drains Area Drains are made from stainless steel, feature fully radiused corners and incorporate a no niche design. Unlike many other products on the market that have square corners which create harbourage points for bacteria. This design ensures that you can quickly and easily clean the drain body creating a hygienic drainage environment in your restaurant.
Upgrade Your Floor Drain Today
FoodSafe Drains Area Drains are designed to help restaurants to operate in an efficient and safe manner. Whether you are opening a new restaurant or renovating and existing one it’s never too early or too late to upgrade to efficient and sanitary drainage.
Our sales staff can help you to select the right drainage for your restaurant. Whether that be an area drain, a floor sink, a trench drain or even a slot drain you might be surprised by the difference these products can make. We are dedicated to serving restaurant owners like you through quality custom products that boost ROI. Contact us today to learn more.