Prevent Costly Sewer Clogs at Home
The majority of sewer backups and overflows caused by fats, oils, and grease (FOG) can be resolved in residential areas. You can help prevent clogs by learning about FOG and how to dispose of it.
FOG is costly to the environment and to ratepayers, as the costs of repairing clogged pipes may be passed on to customers.
Common Misconceptions
- "Hot water dissolves grease!"
- Not true! Using hot water and soap to "dissolve" oil and grease to wash it down the drain will not work. Grease will still stick to pipes after it cools. Usually, just out of your sight until it creates big problems.
- "I've never had a clog, so there's no problem!"
- Wishful thinking! Just because fats, oils, and grease make it down the drain doesn't mean they aren't building up in your pipes and sewer lines. Over time, they can cause a nasty clog and sewer backup or overflow!
- "My in-sink disposal takes care of grease!"
- Wrong Again! A garbage disposal won't make fatty and greasy food scraps disappear. Once they've passed the disposal, they can still clog the pipe.