Nothing can take the ho-ho-ho out of the holidays like a costly call to the plumber. When making that list and checking it twice for celebrating the season, take note to "dodge the clog" by keeping the FOG (fats, oils and grease) out of your home's pipes.
Don't be fooled by FOG in its heated state. Its slips easily down the drain, but as it cools it starts to solidify in your pipes and lead to costly repairs. Once FOG gets into the city's sewer system, giant congealed masses known as fatbergs can form. These are non-biodegradable solid matters that form from the combination of FOG and absorbing products like paper towels and wet wipes. Fatbergs can stick to the inside of sewer pipes, obstructing sewer flow.
Dodge the Clog
Wipe, collect and dispose of the following in the trash, not down the drain:
- Bacon grease
- Pan drippings
- Butter
- Milk & cream
- Mayonnaise
- Cooking oil
- Gravy
- Salad dressing
- Peanut butter
Tips to protect your pipes
- Never put FOG down the sink drain
- Before washing, use a paper napkin or paper towel to wipe FOG from dishes and dispose of it in the trash
- Pour cooled FOG into a container (used food cans or tubs work great!) and put the container into the trash
- Use sink strainers to catch food waste