Tag Archives: drain clogging

Sustainable Alternatives to Pouring Cooking Grease Down the Drain

Sustainable Alternatives to Pouring Cooking Grease Down the Drain

The Importance of Properly Disposing of Cooking Grease

In today’s environmentally conscious world, it is crucial to understand the harmful effects of improper disposal of cooking grease. By implementing sustainable practices, we can protect our environment and prevent serious plumbing issues. Here we will explore the reasons why pouring cooking grease down the drain is harmful and provide you with sustainable alternatives that will benefit both you and the environment.

The Negative Impact of Pouring Cooking Grease Down the Drain

Many people are unaware of the consequences of pouring cooking grease down the drain. Grease, oils, and fats may seem harmless when in liquid form, but they can cause significant damage to our plumbing systems and the environment. Here are some of the reasons why it is crucial to avoid this improper disposal method:

Clogging and Blockages

Pouring grease down the drain may lead to clogged pipes and blockages. As grease cools, it solidifies and sticks to the walls of the pipes, narrowing the passage for water to flow. Over time, this build-up can cause complete blockages, resulting in you needing a professional hydro jetting service.

Sewer System Issues

When cooking grease enters the sewer system, it can combine with other substances and form “fatbergs.” Fatbergs are large accumulations of grease, oil, and other waste materials that block the flow of sewage. These fatbergs can cause sewer backups and overflows, posing health hazards and contaminating water sources.

Environmental Impact

Improperly disposed of cooking grease can have severe environmental consequences. When grease enters rivers, lakes, or oceans, it forms a layer on the water’s surface, preventing oxygen from reaching aquatic plants and marine life. This can lead to the death of fish, birds, and other wildlife that rely on these water sources for survival.

an eco-friendly way to get rid of grease is to put in reusable containers.

Instead of discarding the excess grease, store it in a glass jar or stainless steel container, and place it in the refrigerator until needed again.

Sustainable Alternatives to Pouring Cooking Grease Down the Drain

Now that we understand the negative impact of pouring cooking grease down the drain let’s explore sustainable alternatives that can prevent plumbing issues and protect the environment.

Grease Recycling

Grease recycling is an excellent way to dispose of cooking grease sustainably. Many cities and municipalities have grease recycling programs in place where residents can drop off their used cooking grease. The collected grease is then processed and transformed into biodiesel, a renewable energy source. By participating in these programs, you contribute to a greener future while preventing plumbing problems.

Solidification and Disposal

Another effective method is solidifying the cooking grease before disposal. Allow the grease to cool and solidify in a container and then dispose of it in the regular trash. It is essential to use an appropriate container to prevent leaks and spills. Old cans or glass jars with tightly sealed lids work well for this purpose.

Composting

If you have a composting system in place, some types of cooking grease can be composted. However, it is crucial to check the guidelines of your specific composting program. Generally, small amounts of vegetable based cooking grease can be added to compost bins. Avoid adding meat based fats or excessive amounts of grease, as they can attract pests or create an unpleasant odor.

Reusable Containers

An alternative to pouring grease down the drain is to reuse containers for future cooking. Instead of discarding the excess grease, store it in a glass jar or stainless steel container, and place it in the refrigerator until needed again. This sustainable practice reduces waste and minimizes the amount of grease that requires disposal.

Properly disposing of cooking grease is crucial for the health of our plumbing systems and the environment. By avoiding the temptation to pour grease down the drain, we can prevent clogged pipes, sewer system issues, and environmental damage. Instead, consider implementing sustainable alternatives such as grease recycling, solidification and disposal, composting, and reusable containers. By adopting these practices, you contribute to a cleaner and greener future, while also avoiding expensive plumbing repairs. Let’s make a conscious effort to protect our environment and preserve it for future generations.

How to Safely Unclog Your Drain without Risking Pipe Damage

How to Safely Unclog Your Drain without Risking Pipe Damage

Clogged drains are a common problem in homes; they happen following the day-to-day use of your plumbing system. Ordinarily, Safe House Management company notes that clogs in your drain lines should not be a cause of concern since most drain clogs are avoidable and easy to solve.

Yet, at the same time, drain clogs can cause massive damage to your plumbing and building. Fixing them can also take a huge toll on your finances. But a clogged drain will only cause you big problems if you make the following three mistakes in your home:

  • Improper maintenance of the drainage system.
  • There are longstanding drainage issues that have been ignored.
  • Choose the wrong solution for your clogged drains.

If drain lines are not maintained to make it easy to spot and solve problems quickly, the system will be more vulnerable to severe clogs. Minor drain issues will have more time to grow into major plumbing emergencies.

As a result, your home’s drain issues will not only cost more money to fix, but the risk of pipe damage will be higher. This problem can get worse if you choose the wrong drain cleaning solutions. What are ways to safely clear a clogged drain line in your home?

DIY methods to unclog your home’s drain safely

Use a plunger

A plunger is a simple tool that all homeowners should learn how to use. Plungers use suction force to suck debris out of a blocked drain. Place the plunger over the drain opening in a way that ensures a tight seal between the two surfaces.

The handle is then pumped up and down with quick movements. The vacuum created by this action allows the debris inside the pipe to be pulled out. There are two kinds of plungers – sink and toilet plungers. Never interchange them.

Use a handheld drain snake

This is a handheld device which can be manual or automatic. The snake is inserted into the drain opening until it reaches the location of the clog to clear the affected drain. Twist it gently to push through the blockage or snag the debris.

When pulled from the drain, the wire will pull the attached debris with it. You may repeat this process several times to clear the pipe completely. Manual drain snakes and plungers are only effective if the clog is close to the drain opening.

Use baking soda, vinegar and hot water

To unclog a blocked drain with vinegar and baking soda, pour a half cup of vinegar into the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain opening and let the mixture fizz for 30 minutes. Flush the drain with hot water.

You can do this with hot water alone. Slowly pour hot water into the drain. Give it time to work its way through the pipes. Repeat this process until the grease and debris inside the pipes melt away. Do not pour boiling water into PVC pipes.

Use borax

Use this natural drain cleaner instead of chemical drain cleaners that can damage your pipes. To clear a clogged drain with this method, pour a solution of one part borax to four parts boiling water down the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes. Flush with hot water.

To unclog a toilet, scoop out as much water from the toilet as you can. Pour a half cup of borax powder into the toilet and let it sit for 15 minutes. Follow this with boiling water. You may need to do this a couple of times to get the desired result.

a plumber performing a hydro jetting service to unclog drains.

Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to blast away the clogs inside the drain line.

Professional drain cleaning methods that will not damage your pipes

The above methods only work for minor drain clogs. For chronic drain clogs or clogs that are deep inside the drainage system, you need a more powerful method. The recommended solutions for these drain clogs are sewer rodding and hydro jetting services.

Sewer rodding

This is a motorized version of the traditional drain snake. Also known as an auger, drain snake, or plumbing snake, rodding machines are several times larger than handheld drain snakes and can remove difficult clogs like sludge and tree roots.

Hydro-jetting

This uses high-pressure water to blast away the clogs inside the drain line. Like a plumber’s snake, hydro jetting will remove sludge and tree roots. But it has the added advantage of washing the debris out of your pipes.

Finally, note that you will not get the best results from any of the above drain cleaning methods if you don’t have an effective drain maintenance strategy. Ideally, this should be a program of preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance is the best way to care for drains.

That entails a plan for inspecting and cleaning the pipes periodically, whether there are problems or not. That will let you catch problems in their early stages or even eliminate drain clogs. Would you like to know more about preventive drain maintenance for your home?

How Clogging Leads to a Sewer Backup

How Clogging Leads to a Sewer Backup

A sewer backup is the most disgusting drainage problem you can ever have in your home. Every year, tens of thousands of homeowners find themselves dealing with this issue in their homes. Yet, in most cases, sewer backups can be prevented if the problem is detected on time.

What is a sewer backup?

Most homes have a sewer line that carries wastewater from the sinks, drains, and toilets in the home to the main sewer lines beneath the streets. A sewer backup happens when the contents of this sewer line backflow into your home instead of flowing into the main sewer lines.

When this happens, all the content of the sewer line (including raw sewage) will start coming up inside the home via the floor drains, toilets, and sinks. A sewer backup releases foul-smelling unsanitary water into the house, causing untold problems for the home’s inhabitants, warns Compass Property Management.

What causes a sewer backup?

Sewer backups happen due to clogs inside a home’s sewer lines. Clogs make it impossible for wastewater to pass through the drainpipes. Having nowhere to go, and as more water is added from the house, the sewer line eventually fills up and spills its contents into the home.

There are many reasons why your home’s sewer lines may become clogged. Some of these reasons are outside your control because they result from natural events. But most sewer line clogs are caused by misuse of your home’s drains or failure to maintain the sewer lines properly. If your sewer line does in fact have a clog, the best way to remove it is by way of a professional hydro jetting service.

Here are a few ways drain clogs can cause sewer backups:

Non-flushable items inside the drains

The only thing that should be flushed into your home’s toilets is toilet paper. When items like wipes, feminine hygiene products, fabric, dental floss, or so-called flushable products enter the toilet, they can block the sewer line. 

Hair can also block your sewer line if it gets into sink and shower drains. Soap scum is another major cause of drain clogs. It forms when soap and minerals inside hard water come into contact. Soap scum becomes a hard lining on drainpipe inner surfaces.

Cooking oil and grease buildup

A major cause of sewer line blockage is cooking oil or grease buildup inside drainpipes. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) congeal into a hard mass as they cool inside the sewer line. This hard, sticky mass can directly block the channel or stick to the surface of the pipe. 

Once in place, the greasy lining will start to trap debris until the diameter of the pipe narrows to a point where water can no longer flow freely. If this situation is not reversed, it can culminate in a sewer backup.

Use of chemical drain cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners can dissolve the clogs inside your sewer lines. But while they remove clogs in the short term, they also cause long-term damage to sewer lines. That’s because cleaners contain caustic chemicals. 

These chemicals are responsible for the corrosive nature of cleaners that allows them to eat away the clog inside the pipes. The problem is that the chemicals can also weaken the drainpipe, causing sections to collapse, thereby blocking the pipe.

Old pipes 

If a sewer line has old pipes, it is more susceptible to clogs, and the risk of sewer backups in the home will be greater. This is particularly true for sewer lines made of clay or metal pipes because those start to degrade as soon as they are buried in the ground. 

Long terms exposure to moisture, from within and without, eventually causes the pipes to leak or even collapse, in turn calling for an unexpected sewer line repair expense. If the surrounding soil finds its way into the pipe, it can result in the sewer backing up into the home.

Earth movements

The soil around a sewer line can cause it to become clogged if that soil moves in a way that alters the position of the pipes. Upward or downward movements in the soil can change the level of the sewer line and make it difficult for water to flow freely. 

If the water inside the pipe is forced to slow down, it will deposit debris in that pipe section. This can continue until enough dirt accumulates in that lowered pipe section to block it and cause a sewer backup emergency.

Tree roots

Tree roots may pierce a sewer line and block it. Most times, this happens due to small leaks in the pipe, which attract the attention of tree roots. To access the nutrient-rich water inside the pipe, the tree roots break into the sewer line and block it. Tree roots can also block a sewer line by growing over or above it and moving it out of place. This creates a depression inside the pipe, where debris is dumped until the entire sewer line is blocked.