Bacon is among one of the most universally loved ingredients in modern cooking. Just a few perfectly cooked strips can complete breakfast or add a delicious salty note to any dish. Despite all the amazing things bacon can do, bacon grease is the number one most harmful item commonly poured down the drain. Here are a few bullet points on why bacon grease is so harmful to your home’s plumbing system.
BACON GREASE IS A STICKY SUBSTANCE.
Even when this grease is hot, it clings to whatever surface it touches. When we have a hot pan of bacon we may find ourselves tempted to pour the mess down the drain and forget about it. Despite the fact that this hot grease looks like a liquid, it does not act as a liquid. When poured down the drain this grease will quickly cool and begin to harden. Making it only a few inches down the drain, it will begin to harden and collect on the interior walls. As other materials go down the drain they will likely stick to the grease and begin to form a stubborn and difficult to remove the clog.
IT WILL ACCUMULATE OVER TIME.
One of the main things hot bacon grease will stick to is hardened bacon grease that has been previously poured down the drain. Just like a clogged artery, this will cause thicker lining in the pipes, restricting water and waste flow. When this problem has started it is only a matter of time until a drain cleaning is needed. It is not uncommon for bacon grease clogs to reach 10 feet in length. These types of clogs are almost impossible to be properly removed by residential homeowners.
THESE CLOGS ALMOST NEVER GO AWAY ON THEIR OWN
As the grease breaks down it will combine with calcium and make some kind of semi-hardened soapy substance. Even hot water and soap being poured down the drain is not sufficient to wash the clogged grease. This blockage can cause uneven pressure points in your pipes which not only can blog the drain, it can lead to water leaks.
