Frequently Asked Questions

FOGhorn is a non-invasive ultrasonic grease trap sensor designed for plastic under-sink grease interceptors commonly found in restaurants and commercial kitchens. It mounts on the outside of the trap — no opening the lid, no contact with grease — and continuously monitors oil and grease levels, sending alerts when service is needed. It replaces guesswork and fixed-schedule pump-outs with data-driven maintenance.

FOGhorn uses ultrasonic sensing to measure the thickness of the FOG (fats, oils, and grease) layer through the wall of your plastic grease trap. The sensor mounts on the outside of the trap — there's nothing to install inside and no contact with grease. It takes regular readings and reports fill levels wirelessly. When grease reaches a configurable threshold, you receive an alert so you can schedule pumping before any overflow or compliance issue.

FOGhorn is designed primarily for under-sink grease interceptors (typically 20–100 gallon capacity) found in most restaurant kitchens. These are the small to mid-size traps installed directly beneath prep sinks and dishwashing stations. Support for larger in-ground interceptors is on our roadmap.

Most municipalities require grease traps to be maintained below a certain fill percentage (commonly the 25% rule — no more than 25% of the trap's capacity should be FOG). FOGhorn continuously tracks your fill level, so you always know where you stand relative to local requirements. Alerts help you schedule service before you exceed limits, avoiding fines and potential kitchen shutdowns.

Yes. Most restaurants pump their grease traps on a fixed schedule (weekly or monthly) regardless of actual fill level. This means you're often paying for pump-outs you don't need yet. FOGhorn lets you switch to condition-based maintenance — you service the trap when the data says it's time, not on an arbitrary calendar. Restaurants that produce less grease can see significant savings.

FOGhorn is currently in development. Sign up on our homepage to get early access and be notified as soon as we launch. Early adopters will help shape the product and may receive special pricing.

Manual inspection requires someone to open the trap lid, visually check the grease layer, and make a judgment call — it's messy, inconsistent, and easy to skip during a busy service. FOGhorn automates this entirely with continuous, accurate ultrasonic measurements from outside the trap — no opening the lid, no mess — and proactive alerts, so you never have to wonder about the state of your trap.