It’s tempting to pour leftover cooking oil and grease down your drain. However, your wallet and pipes will thank you if you don’t. To avoid calling plumbing contractors for repairs, here’s what you need to know about this dangerous practice. 

Why Oil & Grease Is Bad for Your Plumbing

When you’re thinking about dumping hot, oily grease down your drain, it’s most likely still a liquid. However, if you’ve ever seen this fat cool off before, you know it’s not going to stay that way forever. When grease cools down, it will lead to obstructions in your pipes, sewer, or septic system, requiring you to call a plumbing contractor. These blockages will make it more difficult for water to drain and eventually result in a clog.

What You Should Do Instead

Both grease and cooking oil should be thrown away properly once you’ve finished cooking. To prevent the need to call a plumbing contractor, fats, lard, and bacon grease should all be allowed to solidify and then tossed in the garbage. You could also pour the substance into a designated glass jar or metal can while it’s still a liquid and throw the container away once it’s full. 

Although cooking oil will not solidify once it has cooled off, you can still dispose of it in the garbage. If it’s a lot of liquid, you might be able to add it to a plastic container and reuse it; just make sure to remember what you used it for, as it will hold the previous flavor. Also, if you like to compost, vegetable oil can be an effective additive. 

If your pipes have already been victim to grease and oil disposal, you should call a plumbing contractor to remove any blockages that are currently piling up. Since 1985, Powell Plumbing & Pumps have provided trustworthy and dependable service to the Wisconsin Rapids, WI, area. They are a family-owned and -operated business and strive to maintain excellent customer service. Call (715) 325-2050 today to speak with one of their plumbers, or visit their website to learn more about their services.