Do you pour grease down your kitchen sink drain? If you do, you could be setting yourself up for future plumbing problems. At JW Freeman Plumbing, we recommend that you never pour grease down your drains! This includes liquid and semi-solid vegetable oils, lard, butter, and meat drippings because it can clog your drain lines and even your main sewer line.

What Happens When You Pour Grease Down Your Drains

If you’re a fan of fried foods, or just happen to like the occasional slice of bacon, you may be tempted to pour the meat drippings and grease down your kitchen sink. Unfortunately, this is not recommended. As the grease cools, it solidifies along the inside walls of the pipe.

To avoid this scenario, you may be tempted to turn on your hot water tap while you pour the grease down the drain. The theory is that the hot water keeps the grease hot until it reaches the city sewer system. The truth is that you will send the grease further down your home’s drainage system, but it may not leave your sewer pipe before it solidifies.

If the grease and oil solidify in your pipes, it can attract other debris. This includes food scraps from your garbage disposal and toilet paper from your toilet. When this happens, it creates a clog that must be removed by professional plumbers.

How to Properly Dispose of Grease and Meat Drippings

To properly dispose of meat drippings and grease, we recommend putting it in a glass jar. Of course, you don’t have to buy glass jars specifically to store waste grease, you can use any glass jar, like the ones that are used for pickles, peppers, and jalapenos. When you empty the glass jar of food, simply rinse it out and store it under your sink for any grease you use while cooking. When the jar is full, put the cap on and throw it away.

How Drain and Sewer Line Clogs Are Removed

When you have a drain clog, it’s always best to call a professional, like our plumbers at JW Freeman Plumbing so that your clog is removed safely and effectively. If you have plumbing experience, you may be tempted to buy a plumbing auger or snake and try to clear the clog yourself. However, never pour drain cleaner down your drains to remove clogs. This is because drain cleaner contains caustic acids, and these acids don’t know the difference between a clog and your plumbing pipe. If the acid fails to remove the clog, it may sit in your pipes and eat holes in them. Not to mention, you must rinse drain cleaner out of your system, and if the clog is still in place, you could end up with drain cleaner on your skin or in your eyes if it splashes out of the drain.

Schedule A Call With J.W. Freeman Plumbing LLC

To schedule drain and sewer line cleaning or to get plumbing repairs in Gainesville, Florida, give us a call at 352-316-3229 or request a service.