As Christmas approaches, kitchens across the North West are gearing up for days full of festivities at home. But amid the bustle of cooking up the Christmas dinner, there’s one thing that’s easy to overlook and that’s how to keep your pipes flowing freely.
Pouring fats, oils and grease down the sink can lead to damage not only to your home but also the environment. Blockages in the pipes in your home or on your property can cause sewage to back up, leading to an expensive problem for you to fix.
An average Christmas dinner can contain around 190g of fat - even the gravy has hidden fats. Add in the greasy roasting trays, leftover oil from Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings, and you’ve got a recipe for major pipe problems if these liquids end up down the sink.
When fats, oils and grease hit cold pipes, they quickly harden and cling to food scraps. Over time, they form large, stubborn blockages that can back up into homes and gardens, or spill into local waterways. This can lead to storm overflow spills into rivers during heavy rainfall. If the clog is on your own property, you may find yourself footing the bill for an emergency plumber, not the Christmas surprise anyone wants!
By working with food establishments to install fat traps, United Utilities prevented almost 1,500 tonnes of cooking fats, oils and grease (FOG) from entering drains across the region in the past year. More than 295 tonnes – the same weight as around 1,200 Reindeer - of this was in Cumbria.
Across the North West, they were called out to clear more than 2,000 avoidable blockages caused by FOG – 73 of these were in Cumbria. Many more blockages, and even sewage flooding inside properties will have been dealt with by homeowners or private plumbers.
Christmas can be pricey enough without the hassle of a blocked drain and a plumber call out. Here are a few simple habits you can implement this Christmas to keep things running smoothly.
1. Give your plughole a shield
Pop a sink strainer over the plughole to catch stray food scraps before they slip into the pipes. Empty it into the bin after each meal prep.
2. Chill the fat
Let leftover oils and grease cool and solidify, then scrape them into your food waste bin. It’s quick, clean and far better for your plumbing.
3. Reuse your oil where possible
Many oils, such as vegetable oil can be safely reused several times. Strain it into a clean jar and save it for your next roasties or Yorkshire puddings.
4. Save water with a “scrape-first” rule
Whether you wash up by hand or load a dishwasher, scrape plates, trays and pans before rinsing. It prevents fat build-up and cuts down the amount of water needed to get them clean.
5. Try a pre-soak bowl
When it comes to your washing up, instead of running the tap continuously, fill a bowl with warm, soapy water and let greasy utensils soak. You’ll boost cleaning power while using less water.
6. Keep cold water running only when it counts
If you use a waste disposal unit or grind small scraps, flush with cold water to help keep fats solid so they can be captured rather than clogging pipes.
7. Use leftovers wisely
The less food waste you wash away, the less chance of blockages. Turn leftover veg and meat into next-day meals, or pop scraps into your bin instead of down the sink.
Please help us to keep rivers cleaner and safer for everyone by putting all rubbish and all cooking oils and leftover food in the bin. For more information and useful tips, please visit: www.unitedutilities.com/help-and-support/wastewater-services/stop-the-block/
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