Why you should never put grease down the drain

Picture this, you’ve just made your family a delightful breakfast with fluffy pancakes and farm fresh eggs paired perfectly with heaps of bacon. You’re just about ready to wash the dishes but now you have all this bacon grease in your pan. Do you dump it down the drain or take a few extra steps to dispose of it properly?

The first option may seem easier, but in the long run it can cost you precious time and money all for saving a few seconds of your time. Here is why you should NEVER dump grease or oil down the drain and what to do if you may have broken that golden rule.

What happens when grease goes down the drain?

Your plumbing system isn’t something that is right in the middle of your living room, so out of sight out of mind may lead you to believe that it’s all fine and dandy to dump a little grease down the drain. In reality, a little bit of grease adds up and can quickly solidify in your pipes to the point of completely clogging. Just because the bacon grease is a liquid in your pan, doesn’t mean it will stay a liquid forever.

What kind of grease can go down the drain?

Well, no grease or oil should go down your drain. Even certain foods high in oil should be tossed in the trash rather than washed down the drain. Avoid dumping these items down your drain to avoid clogs and fat build up:

• Grease from cooking any meats
• Frying oil
• Coconut oil
• Salad dressings
• Peanut butter

How to discard oil and grease properly?

Since we’ve ruled out that it should not go down the drain, what else can you do besides dumping it right into your trash can?

• If it’s a minimal amount of grease in the pan, wipe it out with a paper towel
• Save old pasta jars to dump grease in, and throw away when it's full.

What if I’ve dumped grease down the drain?

If you didn’t know this golden rule of never dumping grease down the drain, call a plumber ASAP for a drain cleaning service. Over time, this grease build up could even lead you to having to have your entire plumbing system dug up and replaced. Even if it was a one time incident, it’s best to have your drains cleaned by a professional to make sure no further issues arise.

In general, it’s always safe to have your drains cleaned every 6-12 months, and are recommended to be done as soon as possible if any sinks are draining slowly, releasing any odors, or if there are any gurgling sounds.