Thanksgiving and the holidays should be filled with good food, family time, and friends—not emergency calls to a plumber because of a backed-up pipe. Avoid the mistake of pouring fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the drain. The holidays are often the time when families are frying, roasting, and cooking food that contains a large amount of FOGs.
The Hidden Danger of FOG
Over time, FOGs stick to the sides of sewer pipes on your property and in our public sewer system. This is especially true as the grease cools. Over time, the grease builds up, hardens, and blocks the pipes, causing costly damage that is unpleasant to deal with.
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Your Home: These clogs often result in smelly sewer backups into your home's drains, requiring expensive emergency plumbing repairs that can ruin your holiday budget.
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The Community: When there is grease buildup in the public sewer system, it causes blockages that keep pipes from functioning properly.
Protecting your home and community sewer system is simple if you follow these steps:
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The Scrape & Wipe: Scrape all food scraps, sauces, and cooking residue from plates, pots, pans, and utensils into the trash can. Use a paper towel to wipe out any excess grease before rinsing the pan.
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Contain and Dispose: Pour leftover FOGs (like bacon grease, cooking oil, or pan drippings) into an empty jar or can (a coffee can or metal soup can works well). Once the grease cools and becomes solid, you can seal the container and throw it into the trash!
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Keep FOGs Out of the Appliances: Keep FOGs out of the dishwasher and garbage disposal. Garbage disposals only grind up the grease, allowing it to move further down the pipe before it cools and solidifies. Running hot water to flush grease is ineffective—it only pushes the liquid grease further down the pipes to cool and solidify later.
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Think Beyond Oil: Remember that FOGs include more than just cooking oil! Sauces, gravies, salad dressings, and dairy products (like heavy cream and butter) all contain enough fat to cause a blockage over time.
Do Your Part This Holiday Season
This holiday season, remember to protect your pipes and our shared sewer system by properly disposing of FOGs. Enjoy time with your family without the worry about potential backups!
Need a sturdy container for your grease? Check your local hardware store for FOG disposal kits, or simply keep a dedicated, labeled can in your kitchen this holiday season.