Can You Dump Grease Down the Drain?

During drain cleaning visits in the San Jose, CA area, our plumbers at Mike Counsil Plumbing and Rooter are often asked, “Can you dump grease down the drain?” The firm answer is, “No,” it’s never ok to pour cooking oil or grease into the sink drain. To persuade homeowners to adopt this perspective, it’s essential to explain why it’s not acceptable and what consequences may result from doing so. Maintaining your home’s plumbing in top condition is crucial for a well-functioning household.

While hot liquid grease may seem harmless, it can lead to clogged pipes, expensive repairs, and even broader issues for city sewer systems. Here’s a closer look at why grease and drains don’t mix, the consequences of improper disposal, and how to handle grease to protect your plumbing.

Why Does Grease End Up Down the Drain?

Whether you’re cooking with oil or have some grease in a pan from cooked bacon or ground beef, pouring a bit of liquid into the sink might seem harmless. After all, hot grease is liquid, and water should keep things flowing smoothly, right? Unfortunately, this is a common misconception. What many people overlook is that grease doesn’t stay liquid for long.

The Cooling Effect

As grease cools, it solidifies and clings to the walls of your pipes, especially in places where pipes change direction. Due to corrosion, inner pipe walls aren’t very smooth, making it easy to grab solid grease. As the grease sticks, it begins to trap other debris that finds its way into the drain, such as food scraps or soap residue. Over time, this sticky mess grows, creating stubborn blockages that can disrupt your plumbing and lead to costly repairs.

A Problem for City Sewers

Even if grease clears your household pipes, it can still cause significant issues in municipal sewer systems. Cities worldwide spend millions of residents’ tax dollars annually to repair sewer systems damaged by clogs and fatbergs. What are fatbergs? They’re massive, rock-solid blockages of grease and other waste materials accumulating in sewer lines. While you might not be paying for drain cleaning between your home and the city sewer, everyone pays for it at some point.

Can You Pour Grease Down the Drain With Hot Water?

Contrary to popular belief, pouring hot water and dish soap down the drain with liquid grease isn’t an effective solution. Everything traveling through pipes begins to cool, including the liquid grease you thought would remain fluid and the hot water you hoped would help keep it in liquid form and wash it out. Once the soap and water cool, they leave behind the same greasy residue. Prevention is key when it comes to disposing of grease.

How to Discard Cooking Oil

Want to avoid the perils of oil and grease to keep your plumbing in good condition? Here are safer and more effective ways to get rid of grease and oil after cooking:

• Pour Grease Into a Container – Use an empty jar, can, or another heat-safe container to collect hot grease. Once it cools and solidifies, seal the container and toss it in the trash.
• Wipe It Out With Paper Towels – Once grease solidifies in your pan, wipe it out using paper towels and discard them in the trash.
• Scrape It Into the Trash – When the grease cools and hardens directly in the cookware, scrape it into your garbage can to avoid risking your pipes.
• Minor Residues – If your pan or cooktop has small amounts of cooking oil, use hot water and dish soap to clean it, but ensure most of it has already been removed using one of the above methods.

These simple steps can save you time, money, and a significant plumbing disaster down the line.

How to Get Grease Out of a Drain

Once it enters the drain, it’s essential to act quickly and do what you can to flush it through your pipes. Try one or a combination of the following:

• Pour hot water down the drain to loosen the grease. Be cautious if your plumbing involves PVC pipes, as extreme heat may damage them.
• Use dish soap to break down the thickest portions of the grease. You can even let it sit for a little bit and then flush it with hot water.

Signs You Might Have a Grease-Clogged Drain

Recognizing the signs of a grease clog can help you address the problem or alert you to call a reputable plumbing company before it becomes a full-blown emergency. Be on the lookout for these issues:

• Water draining slowly in your sink or tub
• Unpleasant odors coming from the drain
• Frequent or recurring clogs
• Backed-up water in your sink or other plumbing fixtures

Other Items to Keep Out of Your Drain

Grease in the drain isn’t the only thing that can harm your plumbing. Even if you have a garbage disposal, these items should never go down your drains because they’ll stick to pipe walls and trap other debris:

• Coffee Grounds – These tend to clump together, forming stubborn blockages.
• Eggshells – Even after passing through the disposal, eggshells can create a gritty residue that sticks to pipes.
• Banana Peels and Fibrous Foods – These don’t break down easily and can jam up your plumbing.
• Pasta – It expands as it takes in water, causing blockages.

Protect Your Plumbing and Call the Experts

If you have a drainpipe clogged with grease in the San Jose, CA area, contact Mike Counsil Plumbing and Rooter for help. Keeping drains clear is vital to keeping your home running smoothly, and taking small steps to dispose of grease properly can make a significant impact. By following these disposal techniques, you’ll save money, prevent common plumbing issues, and help protect municipal sewer systems from damage. Your home deserves plumbing you can count on.