Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

• Q: Why is there a [grease or grit] interceptor?

  A: A grease or grit interceptor (or trap) prevents solids from entering the sanitary sewer system. Once in the sewer system, the solids can create clogs which can cause the sewer to overflow, contaminating the environment, creating a disease hazard, and costing the city money to clean up the overflow and unclog the line.

• Q: Are you permitted/ licensed/ insured?

  A: Yes, we are TCEQ Transporter Permit #22085, We are licensed with the cities of San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, Laredo, Brownsville, and various other municipalities from Waco to Corpus Christi to Laredo and the lower Rio Grande River Valley. Further, we are fully insured against major catastrophes.

• Q: How does a hydrojet work?

  A: A compressor builds up water pressure and forces it through a specially shaped tip. The water pressure moves the tip through the line while spraying the area behind the tip with water under thousands of psi of pressure. The high-pressure water thoroughly cleans the inside of the line. See this graphic for more information.

• Q: Why should we use SOS to hydrojet as opposed to my plumber (who uses an auger)?

  A: Auger cleaning is very different from hydrojet cleaning. An auger is used primarily to punch a hole through the wall of grease. While it is effective at clearing the obstruction, it does not thoroughly clean the inside of the line, so the line is more likely to clog again and will do so more quickly than when a hydrojet is used.

• Q: What happens to the material after you pump it out?

  A: In most cases, the liquid waste is transported to our state-of-the-art facility where we recycle as much water as we can. The solids are either composted, applied to land as fertilizer, or in some cases, disposed of at a landfill. We have made drastic steps to try to reduce the amount of waste that we landfill because it is better for the environment, and cheaper to boot.

• Q: How do I know when my trap needs to be pumped?

  A: Most municipalities require pumping once every 90 days. When you allow us to manage your waste, you can sign up and forget about it as we will maintain your schedule and all of your paperwork to meet your local laws and regulations. If you find that you have operational issues such as slow drainage or stoppage, we might suggest a pump frequency shorter than 90 days.
  
  

  Our technicians record the condition of your trap when they pump it, so we can pull up your history and make a recommendation about how often to pump and whether or not you should use preventative maintenance such as hydrojetting. Every situation is different, but with our decades of experience, we are close to having seen it all.

• Q: Why should I hydrojet/ use preventative maintenance? Isn’t pumping enough?

  A: Preventative maintenance is a good idea for many situations. While the purpose of pumping your trap is to keep the grease from washing into the city sewer system, the purpose of hydrojetting your lines is to avoid clogs and slow draining lines that could shut down your business at peak hours. You might be able to save some money on your maintenance bill in the short term by neglecting your drain lines, but losing a few operating hours at peak times will typically result in far more lost revenue. Every case is different: call us and we can discuss whether or not preventative maintenance is right for you. In the long run, preventative maintenance will save most customers money.

• Q: My sink or floor drains won’t drain. What should I do?

  A: Call us at 1-800-585-4531