Emergency Grease Trap Pumping in Tampa

Grease trap overflowing, floor drains backing up, or a 24-hour violation deadline? Call now. Below is what to do in the meantime.

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Quotes by phone
Published price ranges
Signed manifest every visit
Hillsborough, Pinellas & Pasco

Night-time emergency pump-out of an overflowing grease interceptor behind a Tampa restaurant, unmarked vacuum truck under work lights

Full pump-out, no pump-and-return (F.S. 403.0741)
25% grease + solids rule
Manifest kept on site 1–3 years by local rule
Haulers licensed under F.A.C. 62-705

Last updated: November 14, 2026

Grease Trap Cleaning Tampa handles emergency grease trap pumping for restaurants and commercial kitchens across Tampa, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco when a trap overflows, an interceptor backs up, or an inspector's deadline is running. Call any time. If we can't pick up, leave a message and you'll get a call back.

An emergency grease trap pumping visit is a full pump-out done out of sequence: the unit is emptied, scraped and checked, the line is cleared if grease has moved past the trap, and you get a signed manifest you can show the inspector.

What happens on the first visit

On an emergency call the order changes. Stopping the overflow comes first:

Stop the flow. The trap or interceptor is pumped down first so the backup stops.
Find the cause. Is the unit full, the outlet blocked, or the line downstream plugged? A full trap and a blocked line look the same from the kitchen floor.
Finish the job. The unit is pumped to empty and scraped. If grease has moved into the line, it is jetted (see hydro jetting).
Paper the event. A signed manifest and written notes on the cause, for your logbook and any inspector or insurer.

Grease trap overflowing? What to do while you wait

A grease trap overflowing usually means it's full or its outlet is blocked. Until the truck arrives:

Stop sending water to it. Shut down the dish machine and stop using the sinks that drain to the trap. Every gallon you send pushes more grease out.
Don't flush it with hot water or chemicals. Hot water only moves the grease further down the line, where it sets again. Chemicals and enzymes need the inspector's approval in Tampa, and Clearwater bans emulsifiers.
Keep it out of storm drains. If grease is reaching an outdoor drain or the parking lot, block it with absorbent pads or booms. Don't use loose absorbent like kitty litter that can wash into the storm system.
Keep people safe. Close off wet floors and keep food and prep surfaces away from the backup.
Record it. Note the time, take photos and keep any staff log entries. In Clearwater, a spill that leaves the interceptor must be reported to the state's Division of Hotels and Restaurants within 24 hours (Clearwater Code Sec. 32.189).

What counts as an emergency

Overflow or backup: grease or wastewater coming up through floor drains, sinks or the interceptor lid.
A violation deadline: the City of Tampa gives 24 hours to clean a grease trap and 72 hours to pump an interceptor after a Notice of Violation for missed frequency.
An inspection tomorrow with a trap you know is past 25%.
A strong sewer smell in the kitchen or dining room that started suddenly.

If the backup includes sewage from restrooms, say so on the call. Sanitary waste must never enter a grease trap, and Tampa treats that as a pumping trigger on its own.

Why emergency pumping costs more

Out-of-sequence and after-hours work carries a premium, typically 20% to 100% over the scheduled rate. Florida public contracts show the low end: Brevard County's 2024 award priced overtime and emergency pumping 20–40% above standard time. The cheapest emergency is the one a maintenance plan prevents. See emergency grease trap pumping cost.

What's included

Overflow stopped first
Cause found: full unit, blocked outlet or blocked line
Pumped to empty and scraped
Outlet and line cleared where needed
Written note of the cause and any damage
Signed manifest for the inspector
Waste hauled to a permitted facility
Advice on a schedule that prevents a repeat

Pricing and payment

Emergency visits are priced like a scheduled pump-out for the same unit, plus an emergency or after-hours premium of roughly 20–100%. The bands below are the scheduled rates. Ask for a written quote before any work starts. Prices on this site are typical market ranges, not quotes.

What emergency grease trap pumping costs in Tampa Bay

Typical market ranges per visit, with the strength of the evidence shown for each.

Indoor / under-sink trap (20–100 gal), per cleaning

$150–$350

per visit

Low confidence

greasetrapflorida.com Tampa Bay range $175–300 (directory, no published methodology)
Interceptor 500–1,000 gal, per pump-out

$300–$550

per visit

Medium confidence

greasetrapflorida.com Tampa Bay $300–550; Brevard County public bid B-5-25-03 (Oct 2024) awarded $0.20 and $1.10 per gallon standard time (Florida, not Tampa Bay)
Interceptor 1,000–1,500 gal, per pump-out

$400–$650

per visit

Medium confidence

Florida size table $400–600; Brevard public bid $0.20–$1.10/gal (≈$200–$1,650)

What changes the price

Tank size and how full it is
Hose run and access from the truck
Disposal fee (sometimes included)
After-hours or emergency timing (+20–100%)

Estimate your annual cost

DIY vs the cheapest hauler vs doing it properly

Comparison of DIY, cheapest hauler and proper service
Factor	Do it yourself	Cheapest hauler	Done properly
What's legal	Small indoor traps only, with a written protocol (Tampa) or under 50 lb capacity (Hillsborough County)	Pump-and-return is banned statewide, but still happens	Full pump-out to empty, as Florida law and every local program require
What gets removed	Floating grease you can scoop	Often just the top layer and some water	Floating grease, gray water, bottom solids, and buildup scraped off walls and baffles
Paperwork	Your own log entry	A receipt, sometimes	Signed manifest with volume, condition and disposal ticket number
Checked against the rule	Rarely measured	Not measured	Grease and solids depth measured against your jurisdiction's limit
Problems spotted	Only what you can see	Usually not reported	Cracked baffles, missing tees and flow-control issues noted in writing
Real cost	Staff time; risk of a failed inspection	Low price, then repeat clogs and re-inspection fees	A known price per visit on the schedule your rule sets

Related resources

How emergency grease trap pumping works

Step 1: First call

Tell us the kitchen's address, what kind of unit you have, and when it was last pumped. We tell you which rule applies and give a price range on the phone.
Step 2: On-site check

We open the lids, measure grease and solids depth, and look at the baffles, tees and outlet. Ask for a written quote before work starts.
Step 3: Full pump-out

The unit is pumped to empty, walls and baffles are scraped, and the inlet and outlet are checked for flow.
Step 4: Manifest and schedule

You get a signed manifest for your logbook and a suggested date for the next visit, set by your rule and how fast the unit filled.

What the work looks like

Illustrative photos of the work described on this page.

Before and after

Illustrative photos showing the same unit before and after. Not a customer job.

Restaurant floor drain during a grease backup with greasy water pooled around it — Before

The same floor drain after the pump-out, floor dry and clean — After

Emergency Grease Trap Pumping questions

My grease trap is overflowing. Should I keep the kitchen running?

Stop sending water to it: shut down the dish machine and the sinks that drain to the trap. Anything you send pushes more grease into the line and onto the floor. Call, and keep the area closed off until it's pumped.

Can I pour hot water or a degreaser down to clear it?

No. Hot water moves grease further down the line, where it sets again, and chemicals or enzymes need approval in the City of Tampa. Clearwater bans emulsifiers and grease cutters.

I have 24 hours to clean my trap after a Notice of Violation. What now?

Call straight away and have the notice in hand. The pump-out manifest is your proof of compliance. See what to do after a grease Notice of Violation.

How much does an emergency pump-out cost?

The scheduled rate for your unit plus a premium of roughly 20–100%. A 1,000–1,500 gallon interceptor that is $400–$650 on schedule can cost noticeably more on a weekend night.

Do I get paperwork I can show an inspector?

Yes. Every pump-out ends with a signed service manifest showing the date, the volume removed, the condition of the unit, confirmation that nothing was returned to it, and the disposal facility's ticket number. Florida law (F.S. 403.0741) requires you to keep that manifest on site for at least a year, and some local programs ask for three.