Accidentally pouring grease down your drain can require plumbing repairs, so here are our tips to help you in this scenario!
Grease accidentally gets poured down household drains all the time, and this is a particularly common accident to occur during the holidays. So if you’re just beginning to recognize the initial warning signs of clogs in your kitchen sink, it could mean that it’s time to reach out for professional plumbing help.
If you believe that grease was accidentally poured down your drain during holiday parties and get-togethers, there are some initial steps that you can take to address this plumbing repair situation. Below we’ll be detailing what you can do to reduce the overall damages associated with grease buildup, and prevent this type of accident from occurring in the future!
It’s Always Harmful When Grease Gets Poured Down Your Drains
Grease is one of many different cooking byproducts, and although it may initially seem harmless to pour this type of liquid down your kitchen sink, the truth is that grease buildup can create several different sink plumbing repair dilemmas.
A lot of us forget that grease solidifies when it cools down, and that it’s incredibly sticky when this happens. Grease can rather easily cling to the walls of your pipes and collect all sorts of subsequent debris that goes down your drain. This naturally leads to slow drainage, backups and potential pipe damages.
Grease buildup also commonly creates foul plumbing odors, and in some scenarios, it can become really difficult to remove these smells through DIY plumbing efforts. You’ll instead require professional support to fully eradicate the smells through tech-savvy drain cleaning techniques like hydro jetting.
What’s even worse about grease buildup is that it can potentially create abnormal pressure along the walls of your pipes, which can create cracks and leaks within your plumbing system. Grease can also be detrimental to your local ecosystem as well, so even if pouring grease down the drain may seem like a harmless act at first, it’s crucial to remember the potential consequences that this plumbing mistake may cause!
Steps To Take After Accidentally Pouring Grease Down Your Drains
There are several steps that home and business owners can take on their own to prevent damages associated with grease buildup. The first thing to keep in mind is that you’ll want to take immediate action to counteract accidental grease pouring (if possible).
Below are some other tips to keep in mind:
Reduce Future Grease Pouring
Whether your grease buildup issue was caused through intentional or accidental pouring, it’s important to be firm about minimizing future grease pouring into your plumbing system.
The more that grease goes down your drains, the harder it’ll be to avoid potential damages!
Running Hot Water
One of the most important things you can do when grease has been poured down your drain is to prevent the grease from transforming into its solidified state. Turning on your sink’s hot water supply can help ensure that the grease remains liquefied, and this tip can also help to flush grease down into your sewage lines.
Be sure to run your hot water for at least several minutes to fully remove any grease residue that might be stuck to your pipes!
Using Dish Soap
There are certain dish soap brands that do a wonderful job at removing grease buildup from within your drains. When you know grease has accidentally infiltrated your pipes, you’ll want to use extra dish soap to go along with hot water.
These types of soaps can often break down grease properties, and dish soap can also help wash harmful grease liquids out of your plumbing system when necessary.
What You Should NOT Do When You Have Grease Buildup
There are many things that you’ll want to avoid doing when grease infiltrates your plumbing system, including:
Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
There are many different over-the-counter drain cleaning products that claim that they can unclog any and all blockages (including grease clogs). The unfortunate truth about these cleaning products is that they’re incredibly harsh on your pipes and will quickly corrode them.
Chemical drain cleaners often create even more plumbing problems in these situations, so you’ll want to avoid using them to support your property’s plumbing system.
Pouring Cold Water
As much as hot water can be a lifesaver when grease buildup occurs, cold water can do just the opposite. Cold water actually causes grease to solidify more efficiently, which subsequently increases the overall risk of experiencing a significant blockage.
Doing Nothing
Grease buildup is never the type of issue that you can simply ignore, because ignoring grease within your pipes will eventually lead to more plumbing problems later on.
This is why you must always act quickly, because this helps you to prevent long-term plumbing dilemmas!
Tips To Prevent Future Grease Accidents
In order to maintain a healthy plumbing system at your northern Utah property, you’ll need to do your part when it comes to preventing future grease accidents.
Below are some steps that you can take on your own to reduce grease-related plumbing issues:
Use a Grease Container
Collecting grease in a jar or container after cooking is a great way to reduce the amount of grease that collects on your pots and pans. Once the cooking grease has cooled down and solidified, you’ll be able to properly throw it away in your garbage bin.
Thoroughly Wiping Down Your Cookware
When grease builds up on your cookware and dishes, you’ll need to make sure that you’re wiping them down with a paper towel prior to washing them or placing them in your dishwasher.
By doing this simple wipe down, you can minimize the amount of grease that ultimately makes its way into your plumbing system.
Use Grease Collection Facilities
Many municipalities in northern Utah have designated facilities where people can dispose of cooking oils and grease.
Check out your local waste management site to find the closest location to your property!
Grease Trap Installation
Another great idea for homes and businesses to consider is installing a grease trap. This type of installation is very common in restaurant kitchens where grease buildup is tough to control, and the general purpose of a grease trap is to catch grease before it enters your plumbing system.
Grease traps end up doing a great job at preventing all sorts of clogs and blockages, so they’re a great investment to consider for your property!
Contact Beehive Plumbing When You Need Help Eliminating Grease Buildup Within Your Drains!
Beehive Plumbing has supported thousands of homes and businesses across northern Utah with grease buildup issues, so we know just how common this type of dilemma is.
The good news is that our team can easily get your drains back to normal again, so reach out to us online or call us at 801-849-3850 to let us know what type of grease issue you’re currently dealing with!
