Grease is a natural by-product of meal preparation in most homes. Even healthy, light meals often produce a small amount of oils and grease, so few homes are immune to the problem. When grease collects in a drainage pipe, it can begin to solidly. Further, grease traps food debris, hair, and other particles, which can lead to a major obstruction and a totally clogged drain if given enough time. The following steps can help you avoid this problem.
1. Divert the Excess
The best method to prevent grease buildup in your drain is to avoid putting it there in the first place. Use an old coffee can or similar to collect grease. When doing the dishes, simply pour off the excess grease from your pans into the can. You can store the can under the sink or in the fridge, and then simply throw it out once it is full. Some people even save certain types of grease, like bacon grease, to use in future cooking. If you choose to do this, then always store the grease in a lidded container in the fridge. With this method some grease will still end up in the drain, but it will be much less and much easier to deal with.
2. Keep It Hot
Grease coagulates in cold water, so always use the hottest water that you can for cleaning greasy dishes. After you are done washing up, run the hot water down the drain for a minute or two to help flush out any additional grease that is still in the pipe.
3. Use the Right Soap
Opt for grease-cutting dish soap for washing up your dishware. These soaps contain a detergent that breaks through the fatty cells in the grease, which helps the grease dissolve. With regular use, any grease trapped in the drain pipe will slowly dissolve as the soap washes through.
4. Clean Deeply
Occasionally you may notice that the drain seems to drain more slowly, although it is not actually clogged. When this happens, boil up a kettle of water then pour it down the drain. The hot water will dissolve and wash out any grease that was collecting. If you caught it early enough, the hot water may prevent a full clog from forming.
5. Act Fast
If you notice that a drain is slowing down and the previous steps don't seem to remedy the problem, then don't delay. Contact a drain cleaning service to come and dislodge the obstruction. Removing grease clogs early prevents pressure on the drains that can lead to leaks.
Share21 May 2020
My homes have always had either copper or PVC plumbing pipes. But when my plumbing system needed an overhaul last spring, I wanted a piping system for my home that I could work on myself when needed. There were a lot of good reasons to choose PEX piping, but my favorite thing about the PEX piping is that it's easy to work with, even if you're a beginner like me. Now I can make small repairs myself instead of calling the plumber every time I have a minor leak or other small problem. I still call the plumber for the big stuff, but it's more affordable now that I can take care of small issues myself. I started this blog to help others learn how they, too, can do DIY plumbing repairs at home.