Why Bacon Grease Is A Plumbing Nightmare

Bacon is among one of the most universally loved ingredients in modern cooking. A few perfectly cooked strips can complete breakfast or add a delicious salty note to any dish. Many Utahans cook bacon at least once a week for their families. Despite all the fantastic things bacon can do, bacon grease is the number one most harmful item commonly poured down the drain. Salt Lake City, drain cleaning companies, have warned locals for decades about things that should never be disposed of down your kitchen drain. Despite our best efforts, however, the convenience of a disposal system often leads to its misuse. Below is more information about why bacon grease harms your home’s plumbing system.

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Why Bacon Grease Clogs Drains So Badly

Bacon grease is a sticky substance.

Even when this grease is hot, it clings to whatever surface it touches. When we have a hot pan of bacon, we may find ourselves tempted to pour the mess down the drain and forget about it. Even though this hot grease looks like a liquid, it does not act as a liquid. When poured down the drain, this grease will quickly cool and harden. It will begin to set and collect on the interior walls, making it only a few inches down the drain. As other materials go down the drain, they will likely stick to the grease and begin to form a stubborn and difficult-to-remove clog.

It will accumulate over time.

One of the main things hot bacon grease will stick to is hardened bacon grease that has been poured down the drain. Like a clogged artery, this will cause thicker lining in the pipes, restricting water and waste flow. When this problem has started, it is only a matter of time until a drain cleaning or rooter company needs to fix it. It is common for bacon grease clogs to reach 10 feet long. These clogs are almost impossible to remove adequately by residential homeowners.

These clogs seldom go away on their own.

As the grease breaks down, it combines with calcium, making some semi-hardened soapy substance. Even hot water and soap pouring down the drain is insufficient to wash the clogged grease. This blockage can cause uneven pressure points in your pipes, which not only can clog the drain it can also lead to water leaks. If these large lumps make it into the city’s sewer system, they form what is commonly called “fatbergs.” Adam Ruins Everything has a short video about “fatbergs” and how damaging they are to our water supply.

Contact a drain cleaning expert.

Plumbing Utah Heating & Air is here to provide drain cleaning and rooter services to all residents in and around Sandy, Utah. Contact us today at (801) 601-1298 to speak with a professional and schedule a service dispatch call. Please feel free to use the coupon on this article to help save money on your next call.