Why You Should Never Pour Grease Down the Drain

It pours like a liquid, so it feels harmless. But grease is behind some of the most stubborn kitchen-line clogs we clear — and it's completely avoidable.

The Cooling Trap

Hot grease, fat, and cooking oil flow freely down the drain, then cool and solidify as they hit the cooler pipe walls. Layer after layer, they build a greasy sleeve that narrows the pipe and grabs every bit of debris that follows — the recipe for a total blockage.

What to Do Instead

• Pour cooled grease into a can or jar and throw it in the trash
• Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing
• Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps
• Run hot water only — it doesn't actually dissolve the problem

Already Clogged?

For a grease-packed line, hydro jetting is the real fix — it scours the grease off the pipe wall instead of just boring a hole through it.