A common call from homeowners we get, especially around the holidays, is when kitchen drains develop a clog from cooking grease, cooking oil, bacon grease, lard or other grease clogs, and this is one of the easiest clogs to prevent. Pouring cooking greases down the drain, such as olive oil, vegetable oil, or runoff from cooking meats, down the kitchen sink drain can lead to a clog or blockage that may take more than boiling water to remove, launching this plumbing problem from a DIY plumbing service issue, to needing a professional plumbing company to send drain cleaners to come and rooter the drain.
Grease Down Pipes Is a Big Plumbing Problem
Many plumbers have gotten the call before—grease-clogged pipes just before the Thanksgiving meal is to be prepared. It may seem harmless to pour grease down a kitchen sink, but it is important to keep in mind that the grease won’t remain liquid. When the grease cools down as it is exposed to water, it begins to build up and harden. The more grease that is poured down the drain, the increased likelihood that the width of the pipe will decrease due to buildup. Depending on the plumbing in the home, a blockage due to grease can also affect laundry and bathroom plumbing as well.
If that cooking grease then comes into contact with food particles in the drain pipe, after food scraps go through the garbage disposal, it can form what’s called “fatbergs”. These fatbergs are clumps of food particles that combine with the cooking oil when you pour grease down the drain, and as the grease cools it will become solid again, and together with the food particles, these fatbergs can cause havoc in your drain and sewer lines.
Unfortunately, grease buildups can be pushed into sewers, where it combines with the cooking grease of other households in the surrounding area and forms a large, greasy menace. This can result in a backup of raw sewage that can pose a danger to public health.
What to Do With Grease
Instead of pouring grease down the drain, wait for it to cool and wipe it with a towel or paper towel. Another way to manage grease is to pour the grease into a non-recyclable disposable container and throw it in the trash can when the grease cools to room temperature.
Your plumbing system should not have cooking oil, bacon grease, or any other kinds of grease poured down the drains of your home, and doing so will prevent clogs, blockages, sewer overflows, and help you to generally maintain your sewer pipes, wastewater & plumbing system
While pouring cooking grease down the drain should always be avoided, these are some ways to further prevent blockage in drains and maintain your sewer system:
- Pour bleach down the kitchen drain once a week
- Fill the sink with hot water before allowing it to drain.
- Running hot water from the faucet down the kitchen sink drain, with baking soda or dish soap, can also help to maintain your plumbing and sewer systems.
Call the Professional Plumbers at A-1 Sewer & Septic!
If grease has caused a buildup in the pipes in your home, it may be too difficult to fix without an experienced plumber. Call A-1 Sewer & Septic before the holiday season leaves you stuck with a houseful of people and clogged drains!
