I know we’ve all heard it before- DONT pour grease down the drain. It is easy to get lax and think, well …just this one time should be ok. You know how it is-your favorite show is coming on Netflix and that leftover bacon grease cant do that much harm, right?… Pouring trace amounts of grease down the drain once, while not a good thing, probably won’t cause any serious blockages in your pipes, but if you frequently dispose of grease and cooking oil down your sink, then you have a problem building in your pipes. And the next thing you know, you have a clogged drain.
Sometimes people recommend putting hot water down the drain to keep the grease from becoming hard, but it can often make the situation worse. Oil may be going into your drain as a liquid but as it cools and winds through your pipes, it starts to solidify. When the grease has cooled, it often sticks to the surface of the pipes, eventually causing buildup.
How Should You Dispose Of Grease
If you were cooking burgers or bacon and only have a small amount of grease or fat in a pan, let it sit out and cool down while you eat your meal. Once the grease has hardened, use a paper towel or spatula to clean out the solid grease and throw it into the garbage can. Don’t pour the grease or oil down the drain.
Keeping an empty can specifically for collecting grease is another option people use. This method works best if you often fry food or if you have larger amounts of fat and grease to dispose of at once. Use a strainer to drain the oil into a can and let it solidify. If the can is large enough, you don’t have to throw it out right away either and can use it multiple times till it is full. Put a lid on it and set it in the corner of the fridge for future use. Once it’s full, dump it into the garbage.
These are really the two most recommended methods for getting rid of your extra oil rather than pouring grease down the drain. Do not compost grease. It will only result in making your pile a haven for wild animals from the smell.
If you do happen to get a clog that you can’t unstop, Please give us a call at Auger Pros Plumbing & Drain. Our licensed professional staff will have it unclogged quickly and will do all we can to help.