Fats And Oils ? How They Block Drains And How To Prevent It Happening

Introduction

The world beyond the plug hole is so often one that most people never even think about. It is almost as though people consider it some kind of magical portal where once something passes through it no longer exists. Well, sadly, everything that goes down the plug most definitely still exists and when it comes to oils and fat from cooking it can become a very serious problem.

Whether you run a commercial kitchen in a restaurant or something like a care home or you are just a budding chef at home the problems and issues are the same, and they are not good!

Fats And Oils Change

We all know what fat looks like during the cooking process. Thoughts of roasting spuds or a glorious pork belly crisping up in bubbling oil all come to mind. It might be a little simpler than this and just the oil used to fry some bacon; whatever the use the physical properties are largely the same. When they are hot, oils and fats are liquid when they are cold…they are most certainly not.
Once FOGs (Fats Oils ad Greases) cool they go solid. It is something most people are aware of if they have ever cleaned a roasting tray after a slap-up Sunday dinner. The white “dripping” fat is hard and very tricky to shift. This is exactly what happens when fats go down the sink. They may go down hot, but they soon cool and turn into a real problem. In the winter this is even more of an issue because once the FOGs leave the house they will cool rapidly and often in the same place which can lead to a blocked drain.

Commercial Kitchens

As with everything commercial, things are bigger, faster and generally more expensive. The same goes for cooking oils and fats. The volumes are considerably bigger, even in a small kitchen, and the resulting blockages can be huge!

How Should I Dispose Of Fats And Oils

There are a number of ways to dispose of FOGs properly. Even in a domestic setting it is worth looking at some options. One simply one is to let all cooking fats cool properly and then simply place them in the bin when they are solid. However, in a commercial environment or when using a deep fat fryer, for example, it is best to store up the old oil and take it to your local recycling centre. Simply check with your local council and see what services there are on offer.

The time and cost involved in unblocking a fat clogged drain s considerable and it is something that is easily avoided through some sensible planning and actions to dispose of FOGs properly. We get called out to a huge number of domestic and commercial fat blocked drains each year and for many customers it is an experience they would prefer to have avoided.
If you have a blocked drain or think you may be seeing a slowing of water movement then get in touch. We can visit you and look into what is causing the problem as well as move any blockages and get your drains working as they should.