Whenever you’re doing any cooking or washing dishes, it is important that you take some simple steps to protect your home’s plumbing. This is especially true when dealing with any type of grease, oil, and fat as they can pose a huge threat to your home’s plumbing system. In today’s article, we’re going to show you the proper way to dispose of kitchen grease, oil, and fat and also explain why these substances should never go down the drain.
Why You Should Never Pour Fat, Oil, and Grease Down the Drain
Fat, oil, and grease are some of the biggest contributors to clogged drains, pipes, and sewer lines, and there is simply no safe way to pour these substances down the drain. Many people wrongly believe that dumping grease or fat down the drain is fine as long as you wash it down with lots of hot water.
It is true that hot water will melt fat and grease. The issue is that the fat or grease will quickly cool off as it flows through your pipes and out into your main sewer line, and no amount of hot water can prevent this from happening. As the fat or grease cools, it will again coagulate and form a sticky blob that can easily cling to the inside of the pipes. Even though most cooking oils are liquid at room temperature, any oil that goes down the sink can still collect inside the drain and in your pipes.
Whenever you have any fat, oil, or grease build-up inside your pipes, it creates the potential for something commonly known as a either “fatberg” or a FOG clog. A fatberg is essentially a large clog that is made up of fats and any solids that get washed down the drain or flushed down a toilet. What happens is that the sticky mass of fat and grease starts to capture food particles and other solids that go down the drain or get flushed down the toilet, which can lead to a clog quickly forming.
This problem is always worst if you flush things like cotton pads, paper towels, tissues, etc. Toilet paper is really never an issue as it immediately breaks up into tiny pieces when flushed and typically won’t ever get stuck inside your pipes. None of these other solids will break down when flushed like toilet paper does, which means they can easily get stuck in the fat build-up and create a severe clog. Even so-called “flushable” wipes should never go down the toilet as they also won’t break up and can easily contribute to clogging.
Properly Disposing of Fat, Oil, and Grease
The fact that fat, oil, and grease can be such a huge contributor to plumbing and sewer problems makes it essential that you never pour them down the drain. Instead, you should always dispose of any grease and oil by putting it in the trash.
Whenever dealing with any hot fat, oil, or grease, you should always wait to dispose of it until it has cooled to the point where you can safely handle it. If you have a pan of hot bacon grease or any other type of grease or fat, all you need to do is let it cool for a few minutes and then pour it into a can or any other metal container. Once you’ve poured it into the can, you will then need to let it cool completely so that it fully solidifies before you put it in the trash can.
When disposing of any oil, you will need to use a container with a lid since the oil will remain a liquid even after cooling. The easiest thing to do is pour it into any plastic bottle with a lid after the oil has completely cooled. It is important that you wait until the oil is completely cool as otherwise it could melt the plastic and start leaking everywhere.
Once you’ve disposed of all of the fat, oil, or grease in your pan, you should then use paper towels to fully wipe the pan clean before you wash it. Some oil or grease will always remain in the pan, so it is important that you wipe it all out so it doesn’t end up going down the drain. It’s also a good idea to always wipe any excess fat or grease off your plates before rinsing them in the sink.
Contact Us Today!
Being careful about what you put down your drains and toilets is the best way to protect your home’s plumbing and prevent clogs and other issues. Nonetheless, clogs can still occur for other reasons, such as tree roots growing in your sewer line. If you do ever have an issue with a clog or any other plumbing problems, you can count on Gunthers Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing in American Fork for help. We specialize in drain cleaning and all types of plumbing, heating, and cooling services. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
