Poured Grease Down Your Drain? Here’s What You Need to Do

 

What do you do with the grease left on your pots and pans after cooking? Most people would simply pour it down the drain. And while that may seem more convenient and harmless, it can actually cause problems down the line. When the grease cools downs and solidifies, it can result in plumbing issues that you can notice when you see that the drain has become sluggish. There are many remedies to clear a clogged drain including using a sink drain cleaner, but we’ll also share what you need to do when there is grease buildup in your drain and pipes.

Grease is bad for your kitchen plumbing

You may have poured the grease down the drain while it was still in liquid form, but when it cools down after a few minutes, it will solidify in the pipes. This could cause a buildup that can trap other debris that could make it down your drain. The result is a massive blockage, which can only be removed by professional help or a professional-strength drain opener chemical.

By now, you must understand how bad grease is for your kitchen drain. That means you should not pour it down the toilet or your bathroom sink, too. The same effect will occur: It will harden and clog up the sewer, which could mean costly repairs for your property or worse, the entire neighborhood when fatbergs occur. A fatberg is a congealed mass that can be found in sewer systems caused by the formation of accumulating grease with other kinds of debris. It could become extremely massive and weigh hundreds of pounds. Removal could take weeks as the process is not exactly easy. A fatberg was discovered in London in 2017 and it stretched over 820 feet and weighed almost 300,000 pounds!

Did you pour that grease down the drain?

In case you’re already experiencing problems with solidified grease in your drain, you will need to take some steps with a sink drain cleaner. Choose a high-quality and fast-acting professional strength drain opener chemical that is proven to break through the toughest clogs. Avoid pouring any acid or bleach down your drain after use.

For a more natural way to clear a clogged drain, get a gallon of boiling water and pour the liquid slowly into the drain while the faucet is running on its hottest temperature setting. At the same time, squirt in some liquid dish soap. Hot water should cause solidified grease to return to its liquid state and the soapy water should help carry it down further out of your pipes.

Prevention tips

Remind yourself and other people in your household to not pour grease and leftover cooking oil in the drain. Here’s what you can do with any oil after cooking:

1. Pour any hot grease into a dedicated can or jar (i.e. a mason jar or a makeshift one using a soda can). Leave it to solidify and throw the solid grease into the garbage or the entire can with it.

2. Leave grease to solidify in the pan then wipe it off with paper towels.

3. Let cooking oils cool off. If there is less than a cup’s worth, pour it into the trash can over a few paper towels. If there is more, consider saving the oil in a container, so you can reuse it for another frying session. You could also save up some plastic jugs with screw tops, so you can collect used oil and dispose of the whole container when it is full.

At times, a regular sink drain cleaner and the hot water + dish soap method may not do the trick because the grease has already solidified with other pipe-clogging debris, like hair, non-biodegradable objects, and food particles. In that case, you will need a professional plumber to look into that, or consider TruFusion’s Powerplay Hair and Grease Clog Buster, a drain opener chemical that can treat slow flow drains, full clogs, and blockage caused by hair, grease, soap scum, and organic matter.

How to Use A Drain Cleaner: 5 Steps

Are you dealing with a sluggish or clogged drain in your shower, bathtub, bathroom sink, or kitchen sink? Don’t let it ruin your day. There’s no need to spend a lot of money to get it fixed. With the right drain care product, you can effectively get rid of the blockage to let the water go down smoothly and quickly, so you can get on with your life.

Also known as drain cleaners, drain opener chemical products are formulated to dissolve any clogs in your drainage system. Some are even effective enough to remove blockage in drainage pipes. You can find them commercially available from supermarkets, but you can also get high-strength drain cleaners online from manufacturers specializing in making high-quality drain openers with their unique formulation.

Drain cleaners and openers range in different types. They can be caustic liquids or solids, acidic liquids, or enzymatic cleaners. When boiling water and natural unclogging remedies are unable to help, it is best to turn to drain cleaners to see if they can fix the problem before you call a plumber (this should really be your last resort).

For best results, you need to make sure that you use the drain care product correctly. Here’s how to do that:

1. Pour.

Slowly pour 16 fl. oz. of the product or 1/8 of the bottle directly into the drain of your shower, tub, or sink. Don’t forget to remove the drain stopper before pouring so that the drain cleaner will not damage it or cause it to corrode.

2. Wait.

Let the drain opener chemical work for about 10 minutes. You do not have to use a plunger. In fact, it is not advisable to use a drain cleaner with a plunger.

3. Flush.

Use warm water to flush it down.

4. Repeat.

If there is a major clog, the drain opener chemical may not work right away with just one application. Repeat the steps above when necessary.

5. Use drain cleaners safely.

Use a drain care product only according to the manufacturer’s recommendation and specifications. Avoid smelling it or bringing your eyes close to the container’s opening. It is best to avoid any possible contact with your skin, so be sure to wear protective gear, like long and thick rubber gloves.

Moreover, you should never mix two or more different types of drain cleaners in one use. Doing this could cause them to neutralize their effect or dangerously react with one another. Keep in mind that you are using serious chemicals that require careful application and handling. By following the steps to using the drain opener chemical product, you safely and effectively unclog your drain without any professional help.

And of course, not all drain openers are the same. Choose products that are developed by industry experts and formulated to specifically target the issue.

TruFusion offers a great selection of drain cleaners and openers to help you tackle any clogged drain at home. You can’t go wrong with TruFusion’s PowerPlay Pro-Strength Drain Opener, a fast-acting, professional strength solution that can dissolve even the toughest clogs caused by organic matter, soap scum, food, hair, and grease.

 

5 Benefits of Regular Drain Cleaning

Most homeowners understand the importance of regular home maintenance to items such as the air conditioning and heating unit, roof system, and door and window seals. As a matter of fact, there are numerous websites that provide free maintenance checklists for homeowners based on the season.

Unfortunately, one of the most overlooked but extremely important maintenance tasks for homeowners is often left off these lists.

Keeping the drains in your home clean and clear of cloggs should be at the top of the list when it comes to regular home maintenance. The idea of good drain maintenance often doesn’t even cross the minds of most homeowners until a problem like a backed up sink or shower drain occurs. The stench caused by these blockages can become unbearable and can release unhealthy gases into your home. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” 

We have listed below the top 5 benefits of regularly cleaning the drains in your home.

1- Faster, improved drainage

One of the first signs of a clogged drain is water that drains slowly or stands for a long period of time before gurgling down the drain. When water is draining this slowly, it is definitely time to purchase a drain care product to clean the clogged drain. Clean drains in kitchen and bathroom fixtures are much less likely to overflow, preventing even more damage to your home that can be caused by flooding.

This is especially essential in toilet drains to prevent the backflow of waste into the home.

2 - Boost drain life & prevent leaks

Gutting your home to replace corroded plumbing is a massive expense that can be avoided through regular drain maintenance. Chemical buildup inside your drain pipes cause corrosion over time. By cleaning drains regularly instead of waiting until the need to clear a clogged drain arises, you can prevent damaging leaks from ever occurring.

3 - Avoiding foul odors

Mold spores love a dark, damp environment, and there is an abundance of darkness and dampness inside your home's drains. While many people think that foul smells caused by backed up drain pipes only occur with the toilet, this is actually far from the truth. The lack of regular cleaning can cause mold and bacteria growth to build up inside both kitchen and bathroom drains, leading to very unpleasant, foul smelling odors. A good drain opener can help fix the problem 2x better than bleach if proper maintenance has been ignored.

4 - Preventing Home Damage

As stated above, lack of regular home drain maintenance can cause chemical build up in drain pipes, overflow in sinks and backflow of waste from toilets.

When flooding occurs due to damage in clean pipes, the cleanup is bad enough. When a leak occurs in a dirty, clogged drain pipe, not only are you left cleaning up foul smelling waste water, but you also have to deal with the harmful chemicals and dangerous bacteria that comes with it. This dirty, unsanitary water causes damage to any walls and floors it comes in contact with, and the cost for repair can run into the $1000’s.

5 - Prohibiting clog from forming

The greatest and most obvious benefit of regular drain maintenance is that you prevent clogs from ever forming in the first place. All of the damage mentioned above is prevented by simply giving your drains a good cleaning on a regular basis.

Drain care can be a constant battle. When you’ve neglected regular maintenance of your home kitchen and bathroom drains, or simply have an unexpected clogged drain to deal with, TRUFUSION is here to help. Our PowerPlay™ product line offers four powerful options tailored for clearing clogged drains in any home. Click here for more information.

The 3 Most Common Household Drain Clogs

 

There Are Few Hassles Worse Than Stepping Into Your Shower And Noticing The Water Failing To Drain. To Make Matters Worse, The Standing Water Can Stain Your Tub And Cause Leakage. Wouldn’t It Be Ideal To Avoid This Issue All Together? We Must Become Conscious Of What We’re Putting In Our Pipes, From Toilet To Tub, All The Way To The Kitchen Sink. Some Common clog culprits include:

• Bathroom Clogs – In your showers, tubs and bathroom sinks, the most common issue that takes place is dirt, skin flakes and hair combining with soap scum to create major clogging.
• Clogged Toilets – A little different than your typical clog, this is usually a byproduct of putting things in your toilet that do not belong there. Some common items responsible are: feminine hygiene products, cotton-tipped swabs, dental floss and pre-moistened diaper wipes.
• Kitchen Sink Clogs – This can range from cooking grease to foods that expand, to veggie peels and large amounts of leftovers.

How to Unclog a Toilet with a Plunger

When your toilet is flushing poorly or not flushing at all, you could be dealing with a stubborn clog. Don’t worry—it can be quickly eliminated with the right tools, provided that you know the right technique to handle the clog situation. Clogged toilet solutions from TruFusion can certainly come handy when you are faced with a clog that needs some softening or dissolving before it completely dislodges from your toilet pipes. With the right toilet drain cleaner and the proper plunging techniques, you’ll be able to free your drain in no time. Here are steps to help you power through a stubborn toilet clog with a plunger:

1. Choose the right plunger for your toilet.

Did you know that there are different types of plungers for different plumbing fixtures? The most basic kind of plunger is the cup plunger, which has a dome-shape rubber cup and a flat bottom. Cup plungers are great for sinks and tubs because the flat bottom creates an effective seal around the tub or sink basin. The best plunger to use on a toilet is a flange plunger, which as a taller cup and a sleeve-like the extension (a flange) on the cup bottom. This fits right into the toilet bowl hole, which gives the pump a good seal. The first step to clearing a toilet drain with a plunger is to buy the proper tool for the job.

2. Fill the toilet bowl to the ideal plunging level. 

There must be enough standing water in the toilet bowl—just the right amount so that the head of the plunger is submerged.

3. Position the plunger correctly. 

It is important to make sure that the plunger’s flange is completely out of the cup. Pull the rest of the flange from inside the cup if it isn’t all the way out before you lower it into the bowl. Do this at an angle that allows as much water to fill the cup as possible. Going straight down will trap a lot of air inside the cup—this reduces your plunging force. Once filled, fit the cup over the drain hole, the flange forming a complete seal around the drain.

4. Once in position, work the plunger. 

Gripping the handle with both hands, push down forcefully on the cup and pull back up, careful not to break the plunger’s seal around the drain hole. Repeat this back and forth motion several times before pulling the cup off after your final thrust. Your goal is to introduce rapidly alternating forces of suction and compression in the drain to loosen the clog. Repeat the plunging motion until the bowl empties.

5. Finally, flush the toilet.

See if the toilet flushes normally once done with the plunging. You’ll know the clog is over and done with if the toilet flushes smoothly without overflowing.

If this doesn’t work, try a toilet auger to snake the toilet drain before repeating your plunging motions. If the clog is too stubborn for these DIY hacks and clogged toilet solutions, seek the help of a professional.

The Chemical Used in Drain Cleaner

Chemical drain cleaner solutions are products that are typically poured into clogged or sluggish drains, effectively clearing them from obstructions that are causing the slow flow of liquid from your sinks, toilets, tubs, and drains. These formulations are devised to help dissolve or at the very least soften or break down human hair, waste, grease build up, and/or food particles, that usually back up sinks and drains. Drain cleaner chemical products come in a variety of shapes and forms. Most cleaners are liquid formulations that can easily be poured down directly into your drain pipes. Others come in powder form, designed to be used with warm water or poured directly into drains to cause a reaction and soften clogs. Drain cleaner formulations available these days either use conventional chemical formulations or more environmentally friendly, biodegradable forms.

Chemical drain cleaners are by far the most commonly sold and used types of cleaners the world over. Most formulations consist of sodium hydroxide in the form of lye or caustic soda and/or sulfuric acid.

These are extremely corrosive chemicals that break down organic materials along with many types of metals. Chemical cleaners help clear clogs quickly, but they can also be damaging to different materials and can burn through skin and clothes. This is why utmost care must be taken when using these types of cleaners. More environmentally friendly cleaners come in the form of enzymatic formulations, which may not work as quickly as chemical based cleaners but don’t pose the same risks as corrosive chemicals.

Caustic soda or sodium hydroxide in its pure form comes as a solid, waxy, white substance that readily absorbs water. Sodium hydroxide is a caustic base that decomposes proteins. This highly soluble compound absorbs carbon dioxide and moisture from the air. It is most commonly used as an ingredient for many types of cleaning agents, including industrial cleaners. A powerful compound, sodium hydroxide in cleaning solutions is able to dissolve oil, grease, fats, and other protein-based deposits. This is what makes sodium hydroxide an effective chemical for cleaning and unclogging waste discharge pipes. In many cases, surfactants are added to sodium hydroxide solutions to help stabilize the dissolved substances and prevent redeposition.

TruFusion has the best range of drain cleaner chemical products and chemical drain cleaner formulations designed to help dissolve clogs and prevent further build-up. TruFusion’s series of drain cleaners feature concentrated formulations that ensure rapid action against stubborn drain obstructions, opening up your pipelines for a continuous, smooth flow of fluids.

Best Drain Cleaners for Toilets Bathroom and Kitchen

Does your sink take too long to drain? Do faint, strange, and unpleasant odors permeate drain sites? Do water pools form around your feet when using the shower? It’s possible that your drains are clogged and in need of a good cleaning. Failing to address a drain clog can lead to even more disastrous outcomes when your pipes become completely blocked and you’ve got standing water everywhere. Pouring down the right liquid drain cleaner down your pipes is your best defense against clogs and build-up.

A powerful liquid drain cleaner can help you clear clogs fast without damaging your pipes. When manual methods do not work, it helps using cleaning products that are strong enough to de-gunk without causing damage to your pipes. There are three main types of liquid drain cleaners (enzymatic, caustic, and acidic cleaners) designed for various clog types, drain locations, and pipe configurations, age, and kind. Home plans and inspection reports should list the age and type of your pipes.

Determining the type of clog that’s impeding your water flow can sometimes be as simple as shining a torch light on the drain opening. Deeper clogs may require a lot more involved inspection, but you can always make an educated assumption based on the location of the clog. For instance, kitchen sinks are prone to grease and morsels of food, whereas tubs and bathroom sinks tend to collect soap scum, hair, and paper products.  Dealing with different kinds of clogs require the proper kind of clog buster:

1. Enyzymatic cleaners contain bacteria that feed on clogs and produce enzymes that help clean tough gunk and prevent them from re-occurring. Enzymatic drain cleaners are soft and gentle formulations and are non-corrosive, making them ideal for metal as well as plastic drain pipes.

2. Caustic drain cleaners, on the other hand, are made using alkaline chemicals which convert clogs into a substance with soap-like consistency, enabling dissolution with plain water. These types of cleaners are great at removing soap scum, food, and grease build-up in sink, shower, and tub drains.

3.  Acidic cleaners are more industrial in nature because of their corrosive and toxic properties. While they are generally safe to use with newer pipe installations, older pipes and those made out of stainless steel, aluminum chrome, and galvanized steel are better off cleaned with less powerful formulations.

Experience the power of the best liquid drain cleaner systems with TruFusion products. These specially formulated drain cleaners and clog and build-up removers offer superior strength against all kinds of gunk and organic materials that compromise bathroom and kitchen drain systems.