Skip to main content

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T POUR GREASE DOWN THE DRAIN

 

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T POUR GREASE DOWN THE DRAIN

drain-cleaning-plumber-chicago

Did you know that pouring grease down the drain is bad for your drain? 

People believe that there is nothing wrong with pouring grease down the drain so long as they do so with detergent and hot water. This belief is untrue. When you pour hot water and dish soap together with the grease, this will still harm your drain.

So, what are you supposed to do with the grease? 

Together with St Louis Management, we will explain why you should not pour grease into your drain and the appropriate ways to dispose of these substances.

WHY IS GREASE BAD FOR YOUR DRAINS? 

When grease is hot, it assumes a liquid form. In this state, it is easy to pour it into the drain. However, the grease will change from its liquid state to solid when it cools off in the pipe. In this solid state, the grease becomes a clog. 

Over time and following repeated pouring of grease down the drain, these clogs accumulate to cause complete blockage and associated plumbing issues. The above scenario happens when the grease sticks to your pipes.

Something else occurs if this grease passes into the sewers without sticking to the pipes. In this case, the grease from various households and confectioneries in the neighborhood accumulates. Over time, this accumulated grease undergoes extensive chemical reactions and combines with calcium in the sewers. 

This gives rise to soap-like compounds that we call fatbergs. Following an increase in the sewer levels, fatbergs can grow larger, cling to the sewer ceilings, and clog the sewer lines. Sometimes, removing large clumps of fatbergs and unblocking the sewers can last for weeks. 

WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVER COOKING GREASE

Keep all grease away from your drains. These include lard, bacon grease, duck fat, cooking oils, etc. It doesn’t matter whether the oil is liquid or solid at room temperature. Below is what you should do:

  • FOR GREASE

If the volume of grease you want to dispose of is a lot, pour it into a designated container when it is still in the liquid state. When it fills up, you can dispose of the container into your trashcan or empty the solid grease into your trashcan and reuse the container for the same purpose. But if the grease you want to dispose of is small in quantity, you can allow it to cool down and solidify. At this point, use a spoon to scoop it off your pan and dispose of it into the waste bin. After this, use a paper towel and clean off the remaining fat.

  • FOR COOKING OIL

Wait for your pan to cool off. Use paper towels to wipe off the oil before you wash it. You can then dispose of the paper towel in your waste bin. That is appropriate for a small quantity of cooking oil. However, if there is a lot of oil, using a paper towel will not suffice. Here, you can do two things depending on your needs. 

If you do not intend to reuse the oil, pour it into a disposable container and dispose of it in your waste bin. But if you want to reuse the cooking oil, allow it to cool down, then pour it into a glass container and cover the lid.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ALREADY POURED GREASE DOWN YOUR DRAIN

Most people are unaware of the impact of pouring grease down the drain. If you already are doing this unknowingly, it is still possible to remedy the situation. You can do either of the following: 

  • Get rid of the grease from your drain into the sewers

Doing this is an easier option. Here, you will have to pour boiling water into the drain hole. At the same time, open the hot water tap and allow it to run. Then pour in dish soap as the hot water tap is still running. Doing this will liquefy the grease in your drain, unclog the pipes, and move the grease into the sewer system.

This method will only unblock your pipes, but it will not solve the entire issue because they will now accumulate in the sewers. You can help prevent sewer problems in your neighborhood through communal efforts. A joint effort should be made with other homeowners and restaurant owners in your area to prevent sewer blockage by keeping your drains free of grease and oil.

  • Hire professional drain cleaners

The best option you should consider is to hire a professional. Maybe you have been pouring grease down your drain for a long time without knowing the impact. If this is the case, then you need professional help. Call expert drain cleaners to help you remove the grease from your pipes. They have the necessary tools and experience to unblock your drain pipes without causing harm to the sewers line.

IN A NUTSHELL

People often wonder why their drain pipes get blocked even when they never stuffed any solid particles into the drains. To prevent recurrent blockage of your drain pipes, you will have to keep grease away from your drains. Doing this will also protect the sewer system in your area.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Importance of Maintaining your Restaurant or Bar's Plumbing

These days, restaurants and bars rely heavily on their plumbing systems, because it represents an environment where the waste water supply and debris drainage are of utmost importance. There are quite a few plumbing services for bars and restaurants that are required for these certain businesses. There are different types of bars and restaurants each unique with their own specific plumbing specifications. The biggest part of maintaining top notch performance and cleanliness standards for your restaurant or pubs pipes include a regular drain cleaning and maintenance. Before conducting pipe cleaning and maintenance for your bar or restaurant, is it critical to understand why it is necessary. I am sure you do not want to have to close down an area of the restaurant or bar during a peak time in which you are crowded and having guests leave your establishment. How about a toilet or urinal in your restroom that over flows? Not only is it unsanitary, but it will cost you money. Money that is ...

Sump Pump and Ejector Pump Repair

When it comes to preventing  in-home flooding , the S ump Pump or Ejector Pump  is just about the best way to remove water from the home and keep the lower levels dry and free of damage. Those who live in flood prone areas are likely aware that their basements can quickly go from a storage or living space to a flooded mess and will need either Sump Pump Repair or Ejector Pump Repair . This is usually because of two potential problems: a blocked external drainage system which forces water into the home’s foundation, or a cracked and leaking foundation itself which allows water to seep in from the ground which surrounds the basement. Sump Pump or Ejector Pump Installation The process of sump pump installation or a ejector pump installation can be quite labor intensive and, while many homeowners might originally endeavor to take the project on themselves, it simply is not feasible for the vast majority of them. That’s because installing sump pumps requires breaking into th...

The Importance of Sewer Backflow Prevention

Sewer back flow prevention is vital to the health and safety of homeowners and businesses throughout the greater Chicagoland area. A sewer back flow prevention device prevents polluted and contaminated water from flowing back into your clean water plumbing system. Your plumbing system is typically held at a certain pressure to allow water to flow freely from your shower and tap. In some instances this water pressure can be reduced or will fail altogether. This problem can result from a number of issues including burst pipes and frozen pipes.  When this happens, there becomes a great demand for water to flow through your plumbing system. This increases the risk for your water system to pull contaminated water from the ground or other sources to be pulled up and used within your plumbing system. This undesirable reversal of water flow can contained used water, gases, fluids, and many other non-potable substances that should not flow through your piping system or be consumed and used...