Most of us remember our mothers and grandmothers keeping an old can or jar near the stove, full of the oils left over after cooking foods like bacon.
Well that’s because fats, oils, and grease can be harmful to your home’s plumbing system.
What makes these substances so bad for your plumbing?
Aside from being harmful to the environment (large amounts of oil and grease are very difficult for water treatment plants to remove from the water system), the main issue to worry about is the likelihood of creating very nasty clogs within your plumbing system.
Why Do Fats and Oils Clog Your Drain?
Fats, oils, and grease come from margarine, meats, butters, cooking oil, lard, food scrapes, and dairy products. As these substances make their way through your drains their temperatures cool, as they cool they harden and stick to sides of your pipes.
Eventually these clogs can grow together and restrict the water flow causing a total blockage.
The bigger issue here is that the clog has formed beneath your home in your septic tank or another hard to access spot. Even worse is the very real possibility that the clog can form in the neighborhood or city sewer line, causing a major sewer backup or other unpleasant results for a lot of people!
What Not To Put Down Your Drain
Here are some of the fats, oils and greases that should never go down any drain in your home:
- Butter
- Bacon grease
- Cooking oils of any kind
- Coconut oil (including that used for oil pulling)
- Dairy products (because of their fat content)
- Drippings from chicken, pork, beef, etc.
- Gravy and other fat-based sauces
- Mayonnaise
- Peanut butter
- Poultry skins
- Salad dressing
How Do You Properly Dispose Of Fats, Oils, and Grease?
When you are done cooking, collect liquid grease and oils in a sealed container that you can take to your local drop-off location to be recycled. For the grease that cannot be poured into the container, you should wipe pans clean with a paper towel and put it in the trash. Food scraps should also go in the trash. Scrape off excess food from pots, pans, and plates before rinsing them in the sink with cold water.
Note: Don’t throw hot oil into your trash can! It can make a big mess as it melts the bag, or even create a fire hazard.
Need Help? We’re Here For You.
Having issues with a backup or clogged drain, Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling is ready to help! We’re happy to send out our service professionals, day or night, to make sure your drains are clean, clear, and safe for your household. Give us a call at (215) 855-2014 or schedule service online at any time!
