Why Kitchen Grease Can Cause Plumbing Problems

The kitchen is one area in the home that could not be in use without a working plumbing system. It is where food is washed, dishes are cleaned and where water comes from. Apparently though there are mistakes homeowners commit that lead to kitchen plumbing issues.

Used cooking oil and kitchen grease should NEVER be poured down the drain. (Photo Credits) 

For instance, one of the worst things a kitchen owner can do is to pour oil or grease in the sink. This is because these grease and oil build up and end up to cause clogs in the sink. United Association

Third-Party service ratings website Angie’s List explains why this is a bad idea. In the article they suggested a solution though of just pouring out the oil in a container, removing the excess with a paper towel, and dumping everything with the garbage. “Vegetable oil and animal fats used in cooking may be liquid after use, but they can harden inside pipes. And depending on how your waste lines are piped, a blockage may back up not only the kitchen drain, but also adjacent laundry or bath lines. While you may be able to unclog a grease blockage yourself, it’s also possible your efforts will backfire. Plumbers tell us they often see situations in which people damage pipes with chemicals and end up spending more money than it would have cost to call a pro.”

Check out the full article here.

What to Do

Home Design website Hunker.com says if someone accidentally pours in oil in the sink drain, then the best thing to do is to pour baking soda, then vinegar, and then flushing with a kettle full of boiling water thereafter. In the same blog post they cautioned against using plain boiling water only, nor other over the counter clog remedies. Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association “Hot water cools down in pipes, causing oil -- and other fat and grease -- to harden farther down the sewer system. Detergents, even the ones that say they remove grease, also cause clogs further down in the pipe or system. Home garbage disposals are unable to remove grease and oils from plumbing. And drain cleaners, which can help break up oil-related clogs, are corrosive and, when used frequently, can damage the sewer line, requiring costly repairs.”

Read more here.

Proper Disposal

British media publication The Sun meanwhile shared an article mentioning the proper way to dispose used cooking oil. “But before dealing with cooking oil, you first need to let it cool down. When it is cool and safe to handle, pour or transfer the oil into a sealable container. If it’s the kind of oil which solidifies, you can put it in the fridge or freezer until it hardens and then you can throw it in the bin. If not, collect all your oil in a container and take it to your local recycling center.” Check out the rest of the write-up here.

Plumbing experts also warn that pouring out grease on the sink be very damaging to even the public plumbing system as it is also a cause of major sewer blockages.

Core Plumbing
9921 Carmel Mountain Rd #600 San Diego, CA 92129
(858) 538-6025
https://www.coreplumbingsd.com/