Grease Duct Cleaning vs. Grease Trap Cleaning: What's the Difference?

These two services get confused constantly because of the similar names — but they address completely different parts of a commercial kitchen, and mixing them up can mean calling the wrong vendor entirely.

Grease Duct Cleaning: The Exhaust System

Grease duct cleaning addresses the ductwork that carries air — and grease-laden vapor — out of your kitchen through the hood system and up through the roof. This is an air-handling and fire-safety concern, governed by NFPA 96, and it's what we service.

Grease Trap Cleaning: The Plumbing System

Grease trap (or grease interceptor) cleaning addresses a completely different system — the plumbing component that catches fats, oils, and grease from sinks and floor drains before wastewater enters the municipal sewer system. This is a plumbing and wastewater compliance concern, typically regulated by your local water utility or health department, not NFPA 96.

Why the Confusion Happens

Both services involve "grease," both are required for restaurant compliance, and both get referred to informally in ways that blur the line — but one is about air exhaust and fire risk, the other is about wastewater and drain blockages. A restaurant typically needs both services on their own separate schedules, from providers who specialize in each.

Which One Does Your Kitchen Need?

If you're dealing with a smoky kitchen, exhaust fan issues, an upcoming fire marshal inspection, or haven't had your hood system serviced recently — that's grease duct/hood cleaning, which is what Arizona Hood & Vent Cleaning handles. If you're dealing with slow drains or sewer backups, that's a grease trap issue, and we're happy to point you toward a plumbing-focused provider for that side of things.