Most of us don’t think about the small amounts of grease that end up flowing into our sinks and showers, and for the most part, it’s not a huge issue.

But when larger quantities start building up in your pipes it can cause serious issues and blocked drains. So what happens if you accidentally send a large amount of grease and oil into your sink and what can you do to unclog a blocked drain?

What causes the blockage?

You’ve just finished frying up a tasty meal and your pan is full of leftover oil and grease. A lot of people’s first instinct is to send it down the sink with the washing-up water and think no more about it. Dont. While it may seem like just another liquid, the cooler temperature further down the pipe causes grease to start to solidify. When this happens it’s easy for it to become a large lump which can easily end up blocking up smaller diameter pipework. It also acts as a trap for food particles, waste matter and bits of wrapping that pass through it. This can cause serious damage and expensive leaks.

So how do you get rid of grease and oil? 

The best option is to put aside the leftovers in a jug, Tupperware or pan, let them cool and solidify and then just add them to your household waste. Though your area might have specific restrictions on what you can throw away so it’s worth checking that out in advance. 

Cleaning out the blockage

There’s a simple solution to smaller blockages and trapped grease. First of all its a good idea to pour a kettle of boiling water carefully into the sink. This will help prevent any solidification in the short term. You can then try and shift any remaining grease by pouring a cup of baking soda into the pipe, letting it settle for a few hours/overnight and then pouring in a cup or two of vinegar. The chemical reaction when they meet will help break down the oils and should get the pipe running again… unless the blockage is very serious. 

So what should you do with serious blockages?

Well… you could go out and buy some plumbers tools, head to youtube and have a go yourself but we don’t recommend it. Instead, it’s a far better idea to bring in a trained professional. They know what they’re doing, have all the right equipment and, often, more importantly, are insured in case something does go wrong.

At The Drain Cleaning Service we can put you in touch with a trained professional who can have your pipes running smoothly again in no time. By using HydroJet technology we use water pressure to push through tough blockages and clear out great build-up before it does any further damage. Get in touch with our team today to find out more.