Grease and Fat Blockages

Why grease blockages keep coming back

The surface becomes rough and sticky. Food particles and wipes then catch more easily, so a drain that is partly restricted can begin blocking with material that previously passed through.

Opening a narrow passage may leave most of the grease behind

Rodding can push a hole through a soft grease blockage and make the sink run again, while thick deposits remain on the wall. Jetting is better suited to washing a longer coated section back towards its full bore.

How to reduce the chance of another grease blockage

Wipe pans and trays before washing them and collect larger amounts of cooking oil separately. That prevents a freshly cleaned kitchen branch from building the same waxy coating again.

Why kitchen waste pipes often show the problem first

Grease often sets in the smaller kitchen waste pipe and the first underground section beyond it, where the water cools. The bore can narrow gradually for months before anyone sees a complete blockage, so slow kitchen drainage can be the first sign.

Strong drain chemicals may open a small path through grease without removing a thick coating farther along the pipe. Do not mix different products; if the restriction is substantial, mechanical cleaning or jetting is the more direct way to remove it.