There are many reasons you may need to call your local plumber. However, one of the more common of these remains having to deal with blocked or overflowing drains. While it’s true that older plumbing systems can attribute constant blockages to worn or damaged drainage systems, what you pour down the drain is still the number one reason for most blockages.
If you’re one of those irresponsible people who routinely pour your used cooking oil down the sink during clean up, this post is for you. The blocked drain plumber Melbourne locals rely on spends a significant part of his week dealing with blockages that stem directly from oil build-up in drains. This post takes a look at why this practice isn’t as harmless as you think.
Enter the Dreaded Fatberg
To many people, pouring any liquid down the drain may seem harmless enough. After all, isn’t it just moving along the sewer system like everything else? This may be the case for your cold cup of coffee, but it doesn’t apply to the little bit of oil in your frying pan at the end of dinner. Here’s what our expert plumbers want you to know before your next cooking session.
1. Understanding What Fatbergs Are
In short, cooking oil, fat, or grease that has been discarded in the drain solidifies and turns into what’s known as a fatberg. These slimy, hard masses start forming as the oil cools down as it passes through the drainage system.
Eventually, the oil particles stop moving and instead cling to the drain walls, roots, and other debris in the pipe. Over time, the mass becomes bigger as other non-biodegradable items (such as wet wipes) become attached to it. This then blocks the drain and causes foul odours and overflowing.
Keep in mind that a fatberg doesn’t have to form on your section of the main line for it to affect your drains. A build-up of oil in any section of the sewer line can cause a major blockage that can affect several households at once.
2. Know Why the Problem Seems Worse than Ever
Your plumber will be quick to agree that it seems as though there has been a huge surge in the creation of fatbergs. There are several reasons for this:
- An increase in population: More people are switching to home-cooked meals, which often means using greasy ingredients that are disposed of in the sink. Flushing non-biodegradable items such as diapers and wet wipes quickly latch onto the fatbergs, making them bigger.
- Non-opting to recycle: Whether you’re eating at home or in a food outlet, irresponsible recycling practices often see the grease ending up in the drain.
- Not clearing pots, pans, and plates before washing: Not clearing food scraps, gravies, or oils out of dishes and pots before washing adds to the problem. This is also the case for dishes you put in the dishwasher. Keep in mind that your dishwasher water also ends up in the sewer.
3. Dispose of Your Cooking Oil Correctly
The number one way to reduce the likelihood of your household contributing to the neighbourhood fatberg is to recycle the oil and grease. Here’s how:
- After cooking, allow the oil, fat, and grease to cool completely.
- Transfer the oil and grease to a container with a sealable lid.
- Visit your local council’s website for a list of the drop-off points for used cooking oil.
- If you only have small amounts, dispose of these in small containers in your regular household waste bin.
4. Keep Your Drains Clean
In addition to recycling your oil and not flushing items that aren’t degradable, the other crucial aspect of keeping fatbergs at bay involves keeping your drains as clean as possible. Here are a few tips your plumber wants you to keep in mind when it comes to keeping your sinks and drains clean:
- Install drain strainers to catch food scraps.
- Never pour any oily liquids down the drain, no matter how small the amount.
- Pour a mixture of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda down the drain and flush with boiling water. Do this monthly or weekly if your drains are getting blocked quickly. Some homeowners opt to pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain after every meal or dishwashing session.
- Plunge your drains with a plunger as soon as you see the water starting to drain slowly.
- Use a drain snake to loosen any debris buildup in the sink.
- Call your plumber at the first sight of a drain issue.
Final Thoughts
A quick internet search will show exactly what a fatberg looks like. Once you see it, or you have to deal with an overflowing drainage system, you will wish you had discarded your used cooking oil more responsibly. Avoid having to deal with the hassle of blocked drains by regularly cleaning your drains.
Speak to your plumber about the most effective cleaning chemicals to use in your specific plumbing system. Teach your household members to dispose of oil responsibly to avoid the issue altogether!
