Why You Shouldn't Pour Grease Down The Drain

Some people think that if they only put a little grease down the drain it won't matter, especially if they put hot water and soap after it. But that's not true, putting grease down the drain will cause build-up over time causing many problems even if you only do it “just this once”. In this article, we will talk about why you shouldn't pour grease down the drain and what you should do instead.

The Build Up

When you pour hot oil down the drain it might seem like it will go down but it won't. Even if you use hot water and soap as mentioned above. Oil is hydrophobic meaning it will not mix with water or soap. The water and the soap will just go down the drain past any grease.

As it cools it will stick to the drainage pipes. It sticks to the pipes because the fats break down into their basic components or “fatty acids,” they attach to the calcium commonly found in pipes and sewers. Once the acids and calcium combine they will form a very waxy combination, that cannot be washed down. If you get enough of this combination in the pipes you will have a complete backup, meaning nothing can move past it even water and every drain in the building or house will not work.

To clean out clogs or backups you will have to hire a plumber who will take the grease out and dispose of it properly but if the plumber can't get it out, you may have to purchase a new system which is very expensive. It is so much easier if you don't pour grease down your drains.

Chance Of Fat

Did you know that if any amount of grease goes all the way through your pipes and enters the sewer system it could cause a fatberg? A fatberg is as ugly as it sounds, it is a massive clump of fat that can clog up the sewers. If the sewers get clogged, every house or building connected to that sewer will not be able to use its drain. Fatbergs are very expensive for the city to clean up it usually takes around 4 to 8 weeks to clean depending on the size. Additionally, If a fatberg is not cleaned up it can cause sewage to spew out of the manholes, which is disgusting. Hopefully, this has convinced you to not pour grease down your drain.

Help I've Already Poured It

If you have poured grease down the drain in the past don't worry too much, most people have. If you have only poured grease down once or twice and your pipes seem to be working well everything should be fine, as long as you make sure to not put grease down the drain anymore.

Make sure to pay attention to these signs that could indicate the presence of a clogged drain:

• Stinky smells
• Gurgling sounds
• Water backup
• Standing water
• Low water pressure

If you feel like your drain exhibits any of these signs or simply isn't working as well as it should you should call a plumber. A plumber ensures that the grease doesn't move down into the sewers instead it will be taken out and disposed of properly.

How To Properly Dispose Of Grease

Now that you know how important it is to dispose of grease properly. You will need these three ways that teach how you can dispose of grease depending on how much grease you use:

Small Amounts: If you don't use very much grease you can always wait until the grease has cooled and hardened. Then use a paper towel to wipe out any grease that is on your pans, throwing the paper towel in the trash after you are done.

Larger Amounts: If you use grease a lot it's recommended that you pour it into a jar or other container while it's hot and when it is full you either scrape it into the garbage or throw the whole container away.

Commercial Solutions: Restaurants and other places might want to use a sanitation service, for example, Becks Sanitation will pay you for your kitchen grease.

Conclusion

Now you know why you shouldn't pour grease down the drain and you now know other ways to properly dispose of grease. This is important to know because, in the end, pouring grease in sink drains may seem like an easy way to do things but in reality, it causes too many problems and costs too much money to be worth it.