There is a hard and fast rule amongst plumbers; never, ever, ever pour fat or oil down your sink. We may think we aren’t culpable but we all know when there’s some fat left over in the roasting tin and you’ve been washing up for 30 mins you think to yourself, “a bit won’t harm”!

Well think again! Recently the workers down at Thames Water discovered, to their horror, the largest ever ‘fatberg’ in the London sewers at Kingston-Upon-Thames. Incredible as it may seem the mass of congealed fat weighed 15 tonnes and was the size of a double-decker bus. This huge blob of congealed grease, reminiscent of a 50’s horror movie, took three whole weeks to clear.

The reality is that 65% of blocked drains are caused by a build up of oil or fat being deposited in our sinks. Having blocked drains can be inconvenient, frustrating, smelly and can cause unnecessary expense. The problem doesn’t just cost the water companies, as a home blockage in the sewer pipes on a domestic property means you, the householder, will be liable for the clean up cost. This can be pricey and can lead to higher water charges.

Following the rule- ‘prevention is better than cure,’ there are a number of ways to avoid these blockages:

  • Avoid pouring grease or oil down the drain, because grease hardens when it’s in your pipes and can cause a blockage over time. Put it in a container such as an old drinks carton and bin it.
  • Wipe off greasy plates and pans with a paper towel before washing them.
  • Bag ‘wet wipes,’ then bin them, don’t flush them.
  • Put food scraps in a bin and recycle.

Having clean running water and a fully functioning sanitation system is something we all take for granted, until it all goes wrong. Imagine getting up in the morning to find there’s no clean bowls, the kitchen sink is blocked, the toilet wont flush and there are 3 kids and 2 parents to get ready for school and work. Think about that the next time you’re tempted to pour it down the sink. Stop and use an oil container instead.

If you do have blocked drains and can’t shift it- give us a call. We cover the whole of London and Greater London and we guarantee you won’t find better service.