Pouring grease down the drain of your kitchen sink feels like a simple solution. If it’s a hot liquid like cooking oil, it seems like it ought to go down the drain, never to be a problem again. Grease down the drain, however, frequently causes clogs.
How Grease Becomes a Problem
The problem is two-fold. First, grease cools inside the drain. The insides of plumbing and sewer lines are inherently cooler than your kitchen, which causes products like butter or animal fat to solidify into blockages. The layer of grease narrows the pipe. It also collects food particles and other debris.
Second, even liquid greases absorb into other materials in the drain. Hair, starchy food particles, and toilet paper all get heavier with the grease and move slowly through the drain.
Signs Grease Buildup Is Affecting Your Drain
The most common sign is that the sink drains more slowly than usual and produces gurgling noises. Also, the buildup itself often releases stinky smells. Likewise, grease in drains is a frequent source of repeated clogs.
If only one drain is slow, that’s a sign that the buildup is localized. You may be able to clean out the sink trap. Grease clogs can also appear much further down in the system, with the worst-case scenario involving blockages in the main line to your municipal sewer system or septic tank.
The Right Way to Dispose of Cooking Grease
Let the grease cool and then pour or scrape it into a container that you can then toss in the trash when it accumulates too much or starts to smell. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before using them, too. Throw the paper towel in the garbage.
Purchase a sink strainer and use it to catch food waste. Also, appreciate that your sink’s garbage disposal is not a replacement for the trash can. If you can get something to the trash, do so. Also, run hot water after you wash the dishes. This encourages the grease in the drain to continue moving further down the system.
Schedule Regular Drain Inspections and Cleaning
Drains don’t stay clean forever, even with the best habits. Schedule a professional plumber to inspect the drain. They can clean it, if necessary. Plumbers have the right tools to look deep in the drain and deal with stubborn clogs. What you pay for inspection and cleaning will likely be cheaper than the damage that comes with a clog. Clogs lead to drain leaks and flooding from backups that can cause tens of thousands of dollars in property damage.
Developing a few key habits will reduce drain clogging. Learn how to dispose of grease properly and know when to call a plumber. When you need drain cleaning services in Hendersonville, NC, contact Champion Comfort Experts.
