Grease is the No. 1 cause of clogged kitchen sinks. If you have a clog you can’t get rid of, call the reliable 24-hour plumbers at Billy the Sunshine Plumber.

You’re planning a trip to Fresh Friday tonight if you can get that “to do” list finished by then. One of the chores on the list it to clear out the drain in your kitchen sink. It’s not clogged, it’s just a bit slow. You’re hoping to clear it before it becomes a major clog.

Because it’s in the kitchen, it’s likely a problem caused by grease, fats, or oils – commonly known as FOG. According to the city of Falls Church, VA, grease is the No. 1 cause of backups, clogs and overflows. That’s once the FOGs, get into the municipal system. But they can become stuck in your home system and cause the same type of problem there.

“Be sure to properly dispose of cooking grease, by pouring fats and oils from turkey, bacon, etc. into an empty can and throwing the can away. Please do not pour oil and grease down drains or toilets,” Falls Church urges.

Falls Church notes there are several “myths” related to grease and plumbing. It’s wise to know them so you can help avoid clogging your system:

Myth 1: It’s okay to pour grease down the drain if I run hot water with it.

Fact: This only moves the grease further down the sewer line. Eventually the water will cool and the grease will begin to solidify and coat the pipes.

Myth 2: It’s okay to pour liquid oils down the drain.

Fact: Liquid cooking oils float on water and easily adhere to sewer pipes. The oily film can collect food particles and other solids that will create a blockage.

Myth 3: As long as I can use the garbage disposal it’s okay to put fat, oil, and grease down the drain.

Fact: Using the garbage disposal only grinds particles up before passing them into the sewer pipes. It does not prevent build-up or blockages

Myth 4: If I use dish soap while pouring the fat, oil, and grease down the drain it will break it up and allow it to pass through the pipes.

Fact: Dish soap only temporarily breaks up the fat, oil, and grease. Further down the sewer line all that grease, oil, and fat will begin to congeal and cause a blockage.

Falls Church offers this list of dos and don’ts:

DO

• Pour oil and grease into an empty container, such as an old can, and allow it to cool completely. Once it has solidified dispose of it in the trash.
• Wipe down pots, pans, and utensils with a disposal towel or plastic scraper prior to washing.
• Scrape food scraps into the trash.
• Use a strainer in the sink to collect excess food particles.
• For oil, grease, and fat that do not solidify, mix with an absorbent material until all the moisture has been absorbed. Then dispose of it in the trash.

DON’T

• Do not use a garbage disposal. Grinding food up before rinsing it down the drain does not remove FOG; it just makes the pieces smaller.
• Do not pour cooking oil, pan drippings, grease, salad dressings, or sauces down the sink.
• Do not use cloth towels or rags to scrape plates or clean greasy or oily dishware. When you wash them, the grease will end up in the sewer.
• Do not run water over greasy dishes or pans.

Of course, no matter how careful you are, you still might get a clog. If you do and you can’t clear it on your own, it’s time to call the trusted plumbers at Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay 24-hour plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you. 

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If you get a plumbing clog caused by fats, oils, grease (or anything else), call Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help.

Pasco County’s utilities department is warning homeowners of the dangers of FOG. No, this fog isn’t the kind that makes driving hazardous. FOG stands for “fats, oils, grease,” a combination that can be lethal for a home’s drainage system. 

“Fats, oils, and grease are byproducts of food preparation, meat cutting, and cooking. FOG can be found in meat fats, oils, shortening, butter, margarine, sauces, and dairy products,” according to Pasco. “When FOG is left on preparation utensils and poured down drains or garbage disposals, it can build up in our collection systems, and can result in backups into sinks, toilets and drains – both in your own, or somebody else’s home. These backups pose serious public health and environmental problems – and they can be very costly, too.”

FOG is a problem that Charlotte, NC, is dealing with. This report in the Charlotte Observer explains: “Charlotte workers are once again finding huge grease wads clogging pipes around the city. This time, officials are trying a bit of humor to encourage homeowners to quit putting grease down their drains.

“‘You always thought sewer monsters were a myth, didn’t you?’ Charlotte Water posted on Facebook recently with a photo of huge grease wads in a city pipe. ‘It turns out they are real.'”

Pasco reminds residents that, before the FOG reaches city or county pipes, it has to get through the pipes at your home: “The first pipes that will become blocked with FOG will be your own pipes, and that could result in expensive plumbing bills. Keeping FOG out of your drains and the sewer system is good for your home’s plumbing.”

Pasco offers these tips for avoiding FOG clogs:

1. Whenever food is prepared and cooked, byproducts (especially cooking oils and grease) should NOT be poured down the drain or into garbage disposals.

2. Excess byproducts from food preparation should be removed from all utensils, knives, and cutting boards to be discarded in the trash.

3. Pans and pots with heavy grease build up should be wiped with a paper towel before being placed in the dish washer.

4. Minimize the use of excess cooking oils and grease when cooking or frying.

5. Pour used cooking fats, oil, and grease from the pan while it is still somewhat warm into a container that you can freeze (frozen juice cartons work well because they won’t melt when they come in contact with hot grease). Use a rubber spatula to scrape as much of the grease out of the pan as possible, and then it should only take one disposable paper towel to wipe the pan clean. Store the container in the freezer, which will keep the grease solid, and pull it out whenever you have fats, oils and grease to dispose of. When it gets full it can be taken to one of the county cooking oil recycling containers.

Of course, no matter how careful you are, sometimes clogs (of all types) happen. If you get a clogged pipe or drain and can’t clear it yourself, call a trusted plumber like the reliable plumbing experts at Billy the Sunshine Plumber for help. 

Billy the Sunshine Plumber has been the Tampa Bay plumber of choice since 1924 when he first opened for business. Billy the Sunshine Plumber is open 24/7/365 in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Days, nights, weekends, or holidays, Billy the Sunshine Plumber is always here for you.

Billy the Sunshine Plumber | I Need a Plumber | Plumber Near Me | Plumber | Clog | Drain Cleaning

#BillytheSunshinePlumber #INeedaPlumber #PlumberNearMe #Plumber #Clog #DrainCleaning