Grease Trap Repair Tampa | Baffles, Tees, Flow Control

Last updated: November 14, 2026

Grease Trap Cleaning Tampa handles grease trap repair for restaurants and commercial kitchens across Tampa, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco. Grease trap repair covers the parts that make a trap work: the baffles that slow the flow, the outlet tee that keeps grease from leaving, the flow-control device on indoor traps, the vent, and the lids and risers.

A trap with a broken baffle or a missing outlet tee can be pumped on schedule and still pass grease straight into the sewer. That's often why a kitchen that pumps regularly still gets a violation notice.

What happens on the first visit

Pump and inspect. A full unit hides its problems, so it is pumped and scraped first.
Identify the failure. Baffle, tee, flow-control device, vent, lid or connection.
Write it up. What failed, why it matters, and whether the fix needs a permit.
Fix or schedule. Simple part replacements are done on the spot where possible. Work that needs a permit or a licensed plumbing contractor is flagged before anything starts.

Common grease trap failures

Broken or corroded baffle: grease and solids short-circuit to the outlet.
Missing or broken outlet tee: floating grease leaves with the water.
Missing flow-control device: water runs through the trap too fast for grease to separate. Tampa requires one on every trap (Sec. 26-306(f)(1)).
Vent problems: Tampa requires the vent to end at least 6 inches above the flood-rim level, or as the manufacturer specifies.
Cracked lids and risers: odor, stormwater getting in, and a safety hazard in a parking lot.

Repair deadlines and permits

After a City of Tampa Notice of Violation, the deadlines are 30 days to repair a grease trap and 60 days to repair an interceptor. Replacement gets 60 days for a trap and six months for an interceptor. Under Tampa Code Sec. 26-306(a), a facility that intends to alter, repair, remove or replace a trap or interceptor must apply for a permit from the building official. Under the ordinance, the hauler also has to notify you in writing if the interceptor isn't working properly. Keep that note: it starts the clock in your favour. If the unit can't be repaired, see grease trap installation.

What's included

Unit pumped and scraped before diagnosis
Baffles, tees, lids and risers checked
Flow-control device and vent checked
Written description of each failure
Permit needs flagged before work starts
Simple part replacements on the spot where possible
Repair timeline matched to your violation deadline
Re-check after the fix

Pricing and payment

Repairs are quoted per job after the unit is pumped and the failure identified, since parts and permit needs vary. Ask for a written quote before any work starts. Prices on this site are typical market ranges, not quotes.

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 grease trap repair 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.

Grease Trap Repair questions

We pump regularly but still failed inspection. Why?

Often a broken baffle or missing outlet tee lets grease go straight through, so the trap never holds it. Pumping on schedule doesn't fix a part that isn't there.

How long do I have to repair a grease trap after a violation in Tampa?

30 days for a grease trap and 60 days for an interceptor. Replacement gets 60 days for a trap and six months for an interceptor.

Does a grease trap repair need a permit?

In the City of Tampa, altering, repairing, removing or replacing a trap or interceptor requires a permit from the building official. Part replacements are scoped on the visit, and anything needing a permit is flagged first.

What is a flow-control device?

A fitting ahead of an indoor trap that limits how fast water enters it, so grease has time to separate. Tampa requires one on every trap, sized to the manufacturer's rated flow.

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.

Grease Trap Repair in Tampa