A common call we get from homeowners, especially around the holidays, is about kitchen drains clogged from cooking oil, bacon grease, lard, or other greasy substances. These are among the most preventable types of clogs.
Despite how convenient it might seem in the moment, pouring grease down the kitchen sink is one of the most common causes of serious plumbing issues. Whether it’s olive oil, vegetable oil, or hot grease runoff from meats, once that substance enters your pipes, it starts the process of forming a blockage that may take more than boiling water to resolve.
What starts as a simple DIY effort can quickly escalate into a call for professional drain cleaning services, and in some cases, require a plumber to unclog the entire kitchen sink drain line using a rooter tool.
Grease Down Pipes Is a Big Plumbing Problem
Why you should never pour grease down the drain becomes clear when you understand what happens next: grease may enter the pipes as a liquid, but it quickly solidifies when it cools, coating the inside of the pipe walls. The more grease you pour down, the greater the amount of grease that accumulates and hardens. Over time, this narrows your pipes and slows the drainage, creating slow-draining sinks and potential blockages.
Depending on your plumbing layout, a clogged drain in the kitchen can impact other areas of your home, such as laundry or bathroom drains.
If that grease combines with leftover food particles from the garbage disposal, it can form a solid, waxy substance called a fatberg. These fatbergs are created when congealed grease binds with organic matter in the pipe, and they can completely obstruct drain lines and even city sewers. As fatbergs grow, they can contribute to backups, gurgling sounds in drains, and even the threat of raw sewage overflow.
Fatty acids in grease don’t break down easily, and once these substances enter public sewer lines, they mix with grease from other homes to create a massive plumbing hazard. These blockages don’t just affect you, they threaten the entire community’s wastewater system.
How to Handle and Dispose of Cooking Grease Safely
Instead of pouring leftover grease down the drain, practice safer disposal methods:
- Let the grease cool completely before handling
- Dispose of grease by wiping pans with paper towels and throwing them in the trash
- Pour cooled grease into a non-recyclable container (like an empty can or milk carton), then seal and toss it in the garbage
- Consider storing used grease in a separate container to reuse for future cooking if it is safe to do so
- Recycle cooking oils through local collection programs, when available
Your plumbing system and the environment will thank you for keeping grease out of your drains. Doing so will prevent clogs, blockages, and sewer overflows, and help you maintain your entire sewer, wastewater, and plumbing system.
Prevent Grease Clogs Before They Start
Even when you’re cautious, trace amounts of grease can still enter your system. These preventative tips can prevent buildup and help keep your drain lines flowing freely:
Use a Sink Strainer
A sink strainer traps food scraps before they enter your drain, preventing particles from combining with grease and forming clogs. Use one in both compartments of your sink, and empty it into the trash after every meal.
Use Baking Soda and Vinegar
Once a month, pour ½ cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by ½ cup of vinegar. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes, then flush with hot water. This natural combination helps break down buildup and deodorizes your drain without damaging your pipes.
When Bleach Comes in Handy
Water alone isn’t always enough to keep older or sluggish pipes clean. Once a month, pour about 12 ounces of chlorine bleach down the kitchen sink at night, and flush with water the next morning. This can help kill bacteria and keep the interior of the pipe clean.
Safety tips: Avoid getting bleach on stainless steel sink surfaces, as it may cause discoloration. Never mix bleach with ammonia-based products, as it can create dangerous fumes.
Run Hot Water After Dishwashing
After washing dishes, run hot water down the drain for 15–30 seconds to help clear away lingering oils. You can also fill the sink with hot water and allow it to drain completely to help remove oils from your plumbing system.
Clean with Dish Soap and Hot Water Weekly
Add a few drops of dish soap to your drain and run hot water from the faucet once a week. This simple habit helps dissolve and flush small grease deposits before they become a larger issue.
Use Cold Water With Your Disposal
If your kitchen has a garbage disposal, always run cold water while it’s operating. Cold water helps solidify grease and food particles, allowing the disposal blades to chop them more effectively and facilitating easier flushing.
What Not to Do with Grease
Avoid these common mistakes that contribute to serious plumbing problems:
- Don’t rely on garbage disposals to handle grease-laden food scraps; they grind, but don’t dissolve, fatty materials
- Don’t pour cooking grease, coffee grounds, potato peels, or meat trimmings down any drain or disposal.
- Don’t assume hot water alone will dissolve It may only push it deeper into the pipe, where it will cool and harden.
- Don’t use harsh chemical drain cleaners frequently; they can corrode your pipes over time and harm your plumbing system
How to Dispose of Grease
Here are several safe and environmentally responsible options:
- Let the grease cool completely, then scrape it into the trash
- Pour grease into a disposable container (like a tin can or foil-lined cup) and throw it away once solid.
- Store and reuse cooking grease for future meals, when applicable.
- Consider local grease recycling programs, particularly for restaurants or households that generate substantial quantities.
No matter how small the amount of grease may seem, proper disposal is essential for maintaining a healthy plumbing system.
Call the Professional Plumbers at A-1 Sewer & Septic!
If you’ve been experiencing a slow-draining sink or recurring clogs, you may already have a grease buildup deep within your pipes. Don’t wait until a major backup leaves you with a mess and no time to react, especially during the holidays.
A-1 Sewer & Septic Service offers professional drain cleaning services and grease clog removal throughout the Kansas City area. Our team can quickly identify the issue, use the right tools to unclog your drain, and help prevent future plumbing issues.
Call us today at 913-631-5201 and keep your kitchen running clean and clog-free!