A clogged drain, water backing up in your sink or showers, a stinky smell – all of these can be the result of a grease-clogged drain.

Many people do not realize the problematic issues with disposing of grease down the drain. Any liquified fat produced from cooking will congeal into a solid once it cools down. If you are rinsing pans in your kitchen sink after frying bacon, browning ground beef, or making any other recipes loaded with butter, then you are causing yourself a messy situation in the near future.

The issue with draining grease down the sink is that grease builds up in the kitchen sink’s drainpipe, eventually causing the water to drain slowly, and then not at all. As grease hardens, it clings to the sides of the drain pipes in your home’s plumbing system. Even if you think, “just this once I’ll rinse the grease,” you are setting yourself up for unwanted results. Grease hardens quickly, and the next time you decide to “just once more” rinse grease down the drain, you are creating buildup.

It is also vital to understand that there are hidden greases in many foods that you normally consume. Dairy products, butter, rice, food scrapes, soaps, shave gels, lotions, and detergents contain oils that will create an accumulation of grease inside drain pipes. Even people who are very conscious of what they allow down their drains eventually notice that their drains have an odd smell or are starting to back up.

One common mistake homeowners make is thinking that running hot water down the drain will take care of the problem. While hot water does allow the greasy water to flow down the kitchen drain easily, the water cools quickly as it travels throughout your home’s piping. Therefore, the grease buildup may not occur at your kitchen pipe – but it will occur somewhere! Grease accumulation slowly builds as more and more grease is put down the drains in your home, eventually clogging the pipe completely.

If you have a clogged drain, it is time to call a professional plumber. While there are DIY “solutions” to treat clogged pipes, most of these remedies don’t work. Absolute Best Plumbing is a full-service plumbing contractor serving residential and commercial clients in Orlando and throughout central Florida. Our technicians are specially trained to provide the service you need.