Some meals leave homeowners with amounts of grease that they don’t know what to do with. Can you put bacon grease down your drains? The short answer is no. Pouring grease, as well as other substances, can do significant damage to not only your kitchen drains, but your entire plumbing system.
At ServiceOne, our plumbing professionals have seen many plumbing problems. From clogged drains to poor water pressure, our plumbers know the answers and can get your issues fixed in a timely manner. In this blog, we answer the question “can you put bacon grease down your drains” as well as dive deeper into what else you should avoid putting down your drains!
Why is it bad to pour grease down your drain?
Fats, oils and grease can build up in your plumbing pipes, ultimately becoming harmful to your home’s plumbing system. These substances can create some pretty nasty clogs within your pipes. On top of your plumbing pipes, these fatty oils and grease are also hard on local water treatment systems, as it is difficult to remove large amounts of fats from the local water supply.
What happens when grease is poured down your drain?
When grease and other fatty oils are poured down your drain when they are still hot and liquidy, it will turn into a huge problem later on. As oils cool, they harden and inevitably stick to the inside of your pipes. If you are consistently pouring grease down your drains, these small clogs can eventually form together and cause a total blockage in your pipes. Also, hardened oils can form together beneath your home or in your septic tank, which will result in very expensive repair costs!
What if you use hot water?
You may be wondering, can you put bacon grease down your drains if you run hot water right after? This is a myth that many homeowners think is true. Although hot water will help keep grease liquidy, eventually the water will cool, causing the grease to harden even farther down in your plumbing system. So no, using hot water does not make pouring grease down your drains any better!
Other things to avoid putting down your kitchen drain
Although there are a number of things that should never be poured down your home’s pipes, here is a list of some of the most consequential things you should never put down your kitchen drains:
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Grease of any kind
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Cooking oils of any kind
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Gravy and other fat-based sauces
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Mayonnaise
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Salad dressings
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Coffee grounds
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Egg shells
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Household fluids
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Paper towels
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Medication
It’s vital that all homeowners are being cautious of what they are pouring down their drains to avoid any problems with their plumbing system. Clogged drains of any sort can cause homeowners many headaches and costly repairs. Make sure you avoid putting things down your drain that may cause plumbing problems later on.
In need of a plumbing repair? Our ServiceOne plumbers can help fix any issue thrown their way. Visit our website or give us a call today to learn more about our residential plumbing services!