Why Grease Should Never Go Down The Drain

San Rafael

(415) 942-6565

Santa Rosa

(707) 452-3464

Taking care of your plumbing is the best way to prevent plumbing problems. Most plumbing problems can be prevented with good practices and regular maintenance. Watching went down the drain is one of the best ways to prevent plumbing problems. Grease is one of the #1 things that should be avoided at all costs. Here is why grease should never go down the drain.

Clogged Drains

One of the biggest culprits of clogged drains is grease. The problem with grease is that it doesn’t stay in liquid form for long. Once it cools off and solidifies, it can start to collect inside your pipes. Over time, solid grease will start to collect other debris that travels down the drain. This can form an obstruction that can clog or drains or cause slow drainage.

The best way to deal with a clogged drain is to have your drains cleaned by a professional. Liquid drain cleaner may temporarily alleviate the clog but ultimately will not resolve the issue. Having your drains cleaned by a professional is the best option if you are dealing with a stubborn grease clog. Preventative maintenance will also help prevent drainage issues. Avoid pouring grease down the drain, and have your drains cleaned on a regular basis to keep things moving.

Fatberg

The problem with pouring grease down the drain does not stop with your own plumbing but can go on to effect everyone’s plumbing. Your

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plumbing is the first stop for grease. Grease can travel through your plumbing and into the public sewer, where it is greeted with everyone else’s grease, and waste. As the fat cells start to break down into fatty acids and glycerol, they start to bind with calcium, which is natural sediment, to form a “soap” like compound. This is a bad combination for sewer systems, as fatbergs can grow, with one of the largest known fatbergs weighing 17 tons! Fatbergs of that size can cause plumbing issues for the whole neighborhood. Taking care of these fatbergs can also be quite cumbersome, and can take weeks to properly treat.

Dispose of Grease Properly

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One of the best things you can do for your plumbing and sewer system is to dispose of grease properly. For regular cooking, let grease solidify and then dispose of it in the trash. Wipe pots and pans with a paper towel before washing to remove excess grease. For large vats of oil, contact your city trash removal service. Many cities have oil recycling programs in place.  Staying on top of your plumbing maintenance can help prevent clogs. If a little grease ends up going down the drain, you can clean your drains with a combination of hot water, baking soda, and vinegar. To learn more about regular drain cleaning, contact John Owens Services today!

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Serving Marin & Sonoma Counties

Good plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems are vital in every North California home. John Owens Services, Inc. is proud to be the expert plumbing company you can count on

The John Owens Way

Our philosophy is simple, we always want to maintain equipment to give it the longest life possible. Next, we want to focus on repairing when something goes wrong. Then only as the last choice, we replace equipment when needed. That’s the John Owens Way.

San Rafael
(415) 942-6565
Santa Rosa
(707) 452-3464

01

Maintenance

Regular maintenance keeps your home’s systems running well all year long. We’ll help you gain efficiency and save money.

02

Repair

When something breaks down, our team will get to you fast. We’ll find the problem and fix it to get you back to normal.

03

Replacement

When it’s time to replace something in your home, we’ll help you get a top quality product that matches your specific needs.
San Rafael
(415) 942-6565
Santa Rosa
(707) 452-3464