Introduction
Grease is used as an essential byproduct of cooking processes such as frying or grilling. However, pouring it in drains can cause serious issues in your plumbing system. Though it seems easy and convenient to drain the grease, it actually affects pipes and causes problems in the draining system.
How Grease Damages the Drains
It may seem harmless to drain the grease at first but becomes a problem later on. After the grease cools down, it turns into a solid form and blocks the pipe. This blockage can lead to clogged drains and slow water flow in the future. It also affects the sewage system as once the grease is mixed with other chemicals; it forms a blockage in sewage too and blocks the sanitary flow of the sewage. Drained grease also harms the pipes by growing harmful bacteria in them. This can lead to serious plumbing damages and costly repairs.
Effects of Draining Grease on the Environment
Pouring grease into drains not only affects your personal sewage system but it also affects the environment. The blockage created by the drained grease can lead to overflowing of sewers and pollute the local waterways. These infected local waterways harm the wildlife too. Breaking of grease into the sewage system also generates harmful gases like methane and hydrogen sulphide. These harmful gases are tending to increase air pollution and also affect the lives of sewer workers. Thus, it becomes a moral responsibility to drain grease into sewage systems.
Common Myths Related to Draining the Grease.
There are a lot of myths regarding the effective disposal of grease. One of the most common myths is that hot water prevents the grease from blocking the drain but this is not as simple as it sounds. Hot water may be effective for some time but like grease, it will eventually cool down too making the grease harder and damaging the pipes. After the water cools down, the solidified grease will create the blockage into pipes. Another common myth is that garbage disposal will be effective in preventing the clogs. However, it is not a solution, rather it leads to bigger problems. Garbage disposals will allow the grease to spread into the pipes leading to more damage. Many people also claim that some greases like vegetable oil or olive oil can be poured into the drains as they are liquid at room temperature. However, just like water and grease, these liquids will eventually solidify and lead to clogs. It may worsen the damage due to being mixed with other types of grease and food particles.
How to prevent the Grease Clogs
It is better to prevent grease clogs and save your plumbing system from damage. One of the simple ways to do so is to avoid extreme use of grease while cooking. The alternatives of grease can be using non-stick utensils or using cooking methods that require less grease such as baking or steaming. Another easiest method is to wipe the remaining grease with a paper towel before washing the utensils. This will help in removing the extra grease and minimize its quantity that goes into the drain. Sink catcher or sink strainers are also an effective way to avoid food particles and grease slipping into the pipes. They are inexpensive and easily available. Another simple and obvious step is to clean and maintain your draining system regularly. You can pour hot water into the drain once a week to keep the water flow smooth.
Proper Ways to Dispose Grease
It is important to dispose the grease properly to avoid sewage damage and plumbing cost. Some of the effective ways to dispose the grease properly are as follows:
- Let the grease cool down: It is the simplest and most effective way to let the grease cool down and solidify itself. Once it is turned into a solid form, it can be scrapped out and thrown in the trash.
- Usage of Grease Trap: Grease trap is a device that separates the grease from water and collects it. It prevents the grease from entering into the pipe and keeps the plumbing system free from clogs or blockages. It becomes important to clean these grease traps regularly.
- Recycle: In some cities, few programmes are used to recycle the grease and convert it into a biofuel. You can check with your local waste management agency whether this option is available for you.
- Reuse: Reusing the grease is also an effective way to avoid pouring it in the drain. You just need to make sure to remove food particles before reusing it.
When to Call the Plumber
It is important for you to know when should you call your plumber. Though, you might be careful about not pouring the grease into your drain, you might face other plumbing related issues and during those scenarios, you will need professional help. Following is some of the signs when you should call for the plumber:
- Backing up water into your sinks, tubs or toilets.
- Slow drainage
- Noises erupting from the pipes.
- Bad smell coming from the drains.
- Any visible damage in your pipes or fixtures.
Take Away
This is the brief explanation about how dumping grease into your drains can be harmful for your plumbing system and the environment. The article also includes the methods to prevent blockages and alternative methods to dump grease effectively. We hope those topics will be effective for you. Please let us know through your valuable feedback and the suggestion in the drop box.