Grease in Drains: Risks of Pouring Grease in Plumbing Drains

There are a few common ways that some homeowners misuse the drains in their homes, and one of the most frequent is those who pour hot grease or oil down their drains regularly. While this may not seem like a problem, since grease and oil are liquid and won't create direct clogs by getting stuck in your drain, some assume they're fine to send down any sink or even garbage disposal -- this is untrue, and such regular behavior is a common source of plumbing issues. 

At Neighborly Plumbing & Services, we're proud to offer a variety of drain cleaning and related main sewer services -- but also to provide clients with tips on how to avoid any need for a major drain or sewer cleanout to begin with. We're experts on all things drains, including some of the items or substances that should not be sent down them regularly. In this two-part blog series, we'll go over why grease is bad for your drains and pipe systems, some other issues that this practice may lead to, and the proper methods for disposing of grease and oil when cooking or performing any other task.

Why Grease is Bad for Pipes

While it's true that grease, fats, oils and related substances you pour down a drain won't cause an immediate clog in the same way certain solid items would, over time, these substances will collect in your pipes and begin to solidify. As this substance gathers, it can cause a number of major problems.

With enough time, this issue will lead to the formation of what's known as a "fatberg." A fatberg is a buildup that stops up your drains and pipes, often causing a variety of other issues in the process. These can include an ongoing sewage backup or even a wastewater-related flood -- either from failing to draw the substance from your plumbing systems quickly enough, or from overflowing your system during a major clog due to not being able to handle all that's coming down at once.

Related Effects on Sewer System

In addition, the more grease builds up, the harder it becomes to remove -- and the larger the issues become within not just the drains themselves, but even your entire piping systems. This includes your main sewer lines, which we know can cause a number of issues if not properly maintained and managed on a regular basis.

These larger concerns may impact not just your individual system, but also the neighboring environment. Untreated or partially treated sewage may begin to flow from your drains and water lines, which can contaminate the soil directly around them as well as groundwater resources. This can lead to major health concerns for those in the surrounding community as well as those whose drinking supplies rely on such resources.

In part two of our series, we'll go over the proper methods for grease disposal, plus what to do if your home already has a large quantity of grease built up in certain drains. For more on this, or to learn about our drain cleaning or any of our other plumbing services, speak to the team at Neighborly Plumbing & Services today.