Cooking grease or any kind of coagulating substance is the worst thing you could put in your drains. Grease can cause major clogs that are hard to remove. It can also damage your pipes and lead to replacement costs. While it is best to avoid grease going down your drains in the first place, it may not always be avoided. Cleaning grease out of your drains is possible, but you may need to use multiple methods to completely remove the clog. Some cleaning methods can be used to help break down grease and remove it from your drains. 

It is important to note that if your drains are extremely clogged, calling a professional is the best way to go. S&B Plumbing can help narrow down where your plumbing is having the most problems and make efficient repairs. Our team performs many drain cleanings every day, which means we have the experience needed to remove all clogs efficiently. 

1- Hot Water Therapy

Using hot water to clean your drain might seem like a waste of time, but the hot water out of your tap isn’t hot enough to break up stubborn grease. Pouring boiling water down your drain is a simple way to clear out blockages. Hot water can help melt grease and make it easier for it to move through your system. You can boil some water and pour it down in stages so it can make its way through the pipes. Making this a part of your routine maintenance can help keep your pipes flowing easily. 

2- Chemical Reaction Of Baking Soda And Vinegar

This age-old trick is still being used today for cleaning grease because of how effective it is. This method doesn’t cause damage to your pipes and uses household items you likely already have laying around. Putting a small amount of baking soda in your garbage disposal or drain and dumping in about a teaspoon of vinegar at a time should help create the reaction without causing it to overflow out of the sink. 

3- Abrasive Salt And Baking Soda Combo

Mixing equal parts salt and baking soda and putting it in your drain is abrasive enough to cut through grease. Let the mixture sit in your drains for several hours before rinsing it down with water. This method will also help to eliminate odors in your drains and pipes making it the perfect addition to your regular cleaning regimen. 

4- Plunger Power

When you have stubborn clogs or are cleaning grease out of drains, you may have to use a plunger to help remove them. Create a tight seal around the drain and plunge vigorously. The pressure from the plunger will help dislodge the clog from the sides of your pipes and help it move out of the pipe easier. Repeat this process as many times as necessary. 

5- Use A Snake Or Auger

It is common for plumbers and homeowners alike to use a drain snake or plumbing auger. These special tools help to break up grease into much smaller pieces which will help it exit your pipes. It is important to follow the instructions when it comes to an auger because when used incorrectly, it can cause damage to your pipes. When you use a drain snake, be careful to avoid puncturing the pipes or pushing the clog further into the piping system. If you think that a drain snake is your best option, hire a plumber to use a professional-grade snake. 

6- Call In A Professional

Are these tips for cleaning grease out of drains not helping? Time to call in a plumber! Professional plumbers can help remove clogs quicker because they have the right tools. Specialized plumbing snakes, safe drain cleaners, and basic plumbing wrenches can all be used to remove major blockages. A plumber will be able to determine if the pipes need to be taken apart to remove the blockage, how far down in your system the grease clog goes, and much more. Not all of us have the background knowledge of a professional, so if you have tried cleaning grease without success, it’s time to hire a pro. 

S&B Plumbing has some of the best plumbers in the state of Utah. We offer drain and sewer cleaning 24/7 because it is the most common plumbing problem. We understand that clogs can be frustrating and difficult. Each of our plumbers shows up to your home or business with all the tools necessary to remove that clog. Work with our plumbers to help improve your pipes and eliminate stubborn grease.

The sinking feeling when you drop something in the sink or down the drain is something that most people want to avoid. Losing precious items down the drain can be devastating, but is there really no way to retrieve them? Preventing disasters from occurring in the first place is the best place to start, but if you have lost something in your drains, all hope is not lost. Below are our tips for helping retrieve items that wash down the drain. 

Prevention Is Better Than Retrieval 

The best way to avoid panic is to implement prevention strategies. There are some inventions that have been created for this exact reason. Taking time to adjust drain plugs and other items, will save you heartache later. Here are a few things you can do to help limit accidents from occurring. 

Sink Strainers

The best way to catch items that may accidentally wash down the drain is to install a sink strainer. They are affordable and easy to install. They come in multiple sizes to fit different sink types and protect your items from falling into the depths of your drain. Sink strainers are the best prevention method for the majority of drains. 

Take Caution When Washing Dishes

People who wear their wedding rings or other rings while washing dishes should take special precautions when washing in the sink. You run the risk of your rings washing down the drain when you wear them while dealing with warm water and soap. 

There are jewelry dishes, hooks, or ring holders that can be placed by the sink to hold your rings while doing the dishes. Remembering to place your rings here will limit heartache from a mistake, later. 

Secure Drain Plugs 

For homes that have removable drain plugs, ensure that they fit snugly if you want to prevent items from slipping down the drain. Drain plugs can become damaged after months of use, which will cause them to let smaller items get into sink, shower, and bathtub drains. 

If you are worried about the quality of your drain plugs, replacing them will help you avoid disaster and mishaps with small items. 

Use A Magnet

If the item is metallic, using a magnet may be a simple solution to retrieving items. If you have a telescoping magnet, you can lower it into the drain to help extract the object. A small magnet could be attached to a stick or pipe cleaner if you don’t have a magnetic rod. Make sure to move the magnet slowly as this will give you a better chance of finding the object. 

Most rings, jewelry, and other items are coated in gold or silver and will be able to be grabbed by a magnet. If your object is pure gold or silver, a magnet will not stick to the object that has gone down the drain. 

Try Pliers Or Other Grabber Tools

Sink drains are small, so reaching your hand down into the drain to retrieve an item is almost impossible. Using a tool like pliers, a grabber tool, or a pronged pick-up tool can help you reach farther in the drain and pipes. Using a flexible tool will make it easier to navigate the drain, avoid clogs in the drains, and find exactly what you are looking for. 

Turn Off The Water

Once an item washes down the drain, turn off your water immediately to prevent the item from washing father into your pipes. Don’t use the sink or the tub until you have retrieved the item.

If you can not retrieve the item and call a plumber, having the water turned off before they arrive will make their jobs easier. This will help keep the pipes clear so they can remove sections to hopefully reach your lost item. 

Call A Plumber For Help

Any licensed plumber can help improve your drains to limit clogs and small items from falling down the drain. Our company at S&B Plumbing can help retrieve items that may fall down your drains and into your pipes if they have not traveled too far into your system. 

Calling a plumber will help you retrieve lost items in a more efficient way because plumbers have the tools and expertise to take apart sinks or other piping systems. Our plumbers can help you with other plumbing issues like leaking faucets, running toilets, sewer clogs, and more. If your home or business is located in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, or Box Elder County, work with S&B Plumbing to improve your plumbing.