How Kitchen Grease Builds Up and Blocks Your Drains
Posted in Drain Cleaning , on December 02, 2025
Kitchen drains are one of the most common sources of drain clogs, and with the holidays around the corner, you may just find yourself struggling with slow draining. While cooking liquids like leftover grease or oil may seem harmless, they can cause major damage to your drains. So when you're cooking up your big holiday feast this season, ensure that you dispose of grease rather than pouring it down the drain; failing to do so may leave you needing drain cleaning in Deerfield Beach. If you are struggling with a slow or clogged drain, contact Broward Plumbing’s plumbers in Deerfield Beach for immediate assistance.
Here is a breakdown of how grease can build up in and clog your drain.
What Counts as “Kitchen Grease”?
Even if you do not cook with conventional “kitchen grease,” a number of other cooking oils constitute grease. Any kind of cooking oil, butter mixture, lard, rendered meat fats, dairy residue, or fat-based sauces should never be tossed into your kitchen drain. So any time you fry anything, even with small amounts of oil, you should wipe off excess grease with a paper towel before rinsing off your pan. This will limit the amount of grease entering your drain. Most homeowners may not even realize that even small quantities of grease can build up with time.
How Grease Hardens Inside Your Pipes
The main reason why grease is so problematic for your drain is that it can harden inside your pipes. When hot liquid grease hits your cold plumbing lines, it will slowly firm up and solidify on the walls of your pipes. Over time, as you send more grease through your drain, the buildup inside your pipes will grow, decreasing the diameter of your pipe. This can lead to slow draining, foul odours, and eventually, complete blockages. The only way to resolve this problem is with a professional drain cleaning in Deerfield Beach.
Other Factors That Make Grease Buildup Worse
- Throwing food scraps down the drain
- Using excess soap, as soap scum can bind with grease, worsening clogs
- Older homes with cast iron pipes that corrode and trap grease more easily.
What to Do When Grease Clogs Your Drains
While your first instinct may be to unclog your drain yourself, this will likely prove ineffective. Plunging your drain or pouring boiling water down will not effectively remove grease. The only effective remedy is professional drain cleaning by a plumber in Deerfield Beach. A combination of drain snaking and/or hydrojetting will help loosen buildup, allowing for better water flow and less backup. Just ensure that you enlist the help of a reputable plumber like Broward Plumbing. It is also vital to note that after a professional cleaning service, you need to continually avoid pouring grease into your drain to maintain the results.
Deter Clogged Drains with Proper Grease Disposal
If you want to avoid clogging your kitchen drains this holiday season, you need to ensure that you dispose of any cooking grease appropriately. Failing to do so can lead to hardened grease building up on your pipes, inhibiting water flow and eventually leading to clogs. To avoid this, dispose of grease in the trash. If you are already struggling with a clogged drain, reach out to Broward Plumbing’s plumbers in Deerfield Beach for repairs. Book a drain cleaning today!