Emergency
Grease trap smell or backup: what to do first
Odor, gurgling floor sinks, and fruit-fly blooms around the interceptor are usually a full trap — or a trap that was never fully evacuated. Treat it as an operations problem first, then a compliance problem. This page is guidance, not a dispatch guarantee.
Need a truck this week?
Mark the request as emergency so we prioritize permitted haulers who run after-hours kitchen work. No payment is collected on this site.
Request emergency quotesWhen it is not the trap
A rotting floor sink, a dry p-trap, or a dumpster and used-oil bin Houston investigators also look at can smell like “the grease trap” from the dining room. If a permitted hauler opens a recently pumped interceptor and it is clean, call your plumber and check those surfaces before you pay for a second pump-out. Then get back on a regular pump schedule so this does not become the quarterly surprise.
Common questions
Why does my kitchen smell like a grease trap?
Usually the interceptor is full, was never fully evacuated, or a dry floor-sink p-trap / dumpster / used-oil bin is mimicking the odor. If a permitted hauler opens a recently pumped tank and it is clean, call a plumber before paying for a second pump-out.
Is a slow floor drain always the grease trap?
Not always. A clogged interior line can back up even with a recently pumped outdoor interceptor. Still treat an overdue trap as the first suspect, especially if you are past Houston’s 90-day window.
Will an emergency pump-out cost more?
Often 25–75% above a weekday route stop. See editorial cost ranges, then request an emergency quote so haulers know you need timing more than a standing contract.