Decrease the Grease with These Easy Tips

The holidays are quickly approaching, and in between traveling, cooking and decorating, you won’t want to worry about a clogged sink. That’s why Aqua is here to help you keep any and all grease monsters out of your home.

Follow these easy tips to prevent fat, oil and grease from blocking your drains and pipes.

BE INFORMED

First, it’s important to know what types of food can cause clogged sinks. Here are some of the most common culprits:

Butter
Cooking oil
Lard (shortening)
Meats
Greasy sauces

CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES

A clogged sink may not seem like a big inconvenience, because all it does is flood your sink—right? Wrong. Blocked pipes can cause serious damage to your home, community and wallet.

Clogged pipes can become a health hazard by spreading bacteria that leads to various illnesses and unsanitary water.
Clogged pipes can also cause an overflow of sewage, which is both gross and expensive. Sewage overflow can affect streets, yards and parks, and it can also lead to higher costs for local wastewater utilities.
Aside from all of that damage, clogged pipes can also pollute nearby groundwater, which harms both homes and the environment.

PRACTICE SMART CLEANING HABITS

You don’t have to cut foods containing fat, oil and grease out of your diet to avoid issues, simply make these small adjustments to your cleaning habits in order to keep your sinks grease-free.

Pour grease into a metal can rather than down the sink. It will change from liquid to semi-solid in form, and at that point, just toss the can into your trash bin.
Keep strainers in your sink drains to catch small pieces of food and globs of grease. When you finish cooking and cleaning, empty the strainer into your trash bin.
Don’t rely on a garbage disposal to keep your drain clog-free—they can’t keep grease out of your plumbing system.
Throw away baby wipes, “flushable” wipes and other sanitary items that can get stuck in your pipes.

INVEST IN EXTRA HELP FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Businesses often see higher traffic than private homes, which can mean more grease and bigger consequences. If you’re a business owner, consider installing vented grease traps that are designed to handle appropriate amounts of grease. Grease traps should be cleaned, maintained and serviced on a regular basis to ensure they work properly.

Don’t let fear of a clogged drain ruin your holiday fun. With these tips, you’ll be sure to kick out the grease monsters long before they can even make an appearance.

Keep checking back here for holiday water-smart tips from Aqua!