When we say the word “FOG” on a plumbing blog, we’re not talking about the weather phenomenon. What we’re talking about is an acronym that stands for fats, oils, and grease, and it’s used by plumbers all over the world who maintain drains and sewer systems. There’s a very good reason for this acronym that we’ll get into in a bit, but the moral of the story is that you should only flush water and other liquids down your drain—not materials that are only sometimes liquids.
This blog post is going to be all about the science behind fats, oils, and greases, and why that can be especially devastating for your plumbing system. Then, we’ll briefly cover how you can just call our team for drain cleaning in Parma, OH so you can keep your plumbing system in good shape for the future.
Mix best practices with professional service and you’ll be set up for success.
Why FOG Is Bad for Your Drain
First, let’s start with some of the basics. We can’t just tell you to keep FOG out of your drains without a good reason, right? So here it is!
FOG, also known as fats, oils, and grease, is a material that we use as both solids and liquids. You’ve probably seen a lot of recipes where you take a stick of butter and melt it, right? Well, a lot of fats, oils, and greases are either solid or liquid—but the problem comes from them transitioning between the two forms.
For instance, many materials like bacon grease can be a liquid when you’re using them (like when you’re frying bacon in a pan), but as soon as they become room temperature, they turn solid. This can be a big hazard for your drain.
Think about it, you might flush your bacon grease down the drain, only for it to solidify while it’s in your pipes and over time create a pretty awful clog that’s hard to get rid of. Work with our team to fight against FOG.
Methods to Deal With Drain Hazards
Here are a few methods you can use to deal with the issue of FOG and other contaminants that can clog your drain.
- A mesh screen can help. While it might not help with most fats, oils, and grease, it can help with other solid contaminants by blocking them before they reach your drain.
- Wipe up FOG with a paper towel for the trash. Let the fats you use cool down so that they can quickly be scooped up with a paper towel and thrown into the trash. That’s a much better place for them than your drain.
- Set guidelines for your kitchen. Make it very clear to the whole family about what belongs down the drain and what doesn’t.
- Schedule drain cleaning. Work with our team to schedule routine drain cleaning services so we can remove clogs as they’re forming. This way, you’ll never be surprised by a particularly bad drain clog!
You can’t go wrong when you hire Westland Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing for your plumbing needs. Contact us today!
