fats are a pain in the drain...

FOG or fats, oils, and grease have been key criminals in the war on clogs for decades. When poured down sink drains, these villains buildup, clogging drains, preventing the flow of water and eventually blocking pipes completely. The cost of a plumber’s visit to snake a drain to clear clogs is beween $95 and $500 (Angi.com). Worse, if wastewater can’t move freely through pipes and out into the sewer system, sewage can back up into your home, causing an unsanitary and expensive mess.

Grease clogs sanitary sewer system much like bad cholesterol and fatty acids clog arteries in the human body. Known agents of FOG include meat fats (Thanksgiving turkey, gravy, bacon, sausage, beef), lard, cooking oil, butter, baking products, milk and dairy products, and other food scraps. These clogs block the sewer line and can cause disgusting and dangerous backup into your basement.

While drain cleaners might clear out your pipes in your home, the greasy mess just gets washed into the sewers afterward, creating a bigger problem down the line. Your grease is adding to the grease of everyone else who has ever lived in your building and on your block; even just a tablespoon per person can really add up when it all mixes together in the sewers.

Important: When sewer pipes back up on private property, the homeowner or business owner is responsible for the cleanup.

Save Your Sink

Whether leftovers, peelings, or byproducts, food should never go down the sink! Remember this for your sink safety: Cool it, Can it, Trash it.

1. Cool it: Let the grease cool and solidify in your pan.

2. Can it: Scrape FOG and excess food scraps into a secure, sealable container like a peanut butter jar. Before washing, wipe down pots and pans with a paper towel.

3. Trash it: Throw the full container of FOG and your paper towel into a trashcan.

*Tip: Store your FOG in a sealed container and place it in the freezer