At Happy Drains, there’s only one thing we love more than a novelty BBQ apron…
…and that’s wearing one at our annual staff BBQ.
There’s nothing quite like good food, good company and a bit of sunshine. The burgers are sizzling, the sausages are disappearing faster than we can cook them, and someone has inevitably crowned themselves the “BBQ King”. (Yes Will, it does sound like you!)
But while everyone’s enjoying the feast above ground, there’s another guest quietly waiting for the leftovers… Your drains.
Every summer, we attend more blocked drains caused by BBQ grease, cooking fat and food waste than you might think. The good news is they’re also some of the easiest blockages to prevent. So, before you scrape that greasy grill or rinse those plates, here are a few simple tips to help keep your drains as happy as your guests.
Fat does not stay liquid for long
When bacon fat, burger grease, cooking oil, or melted butter is hot, it pours away easily.
The problem starts once it cools.
Inside your drain, that liquid fat quickly hardens, sticking to the inside of the pipe like candle wax. Every little bit of food that follows starts sticking to it too.
Before long you’ve created the perfect recipe for a blocked drain.
A little grease today can become a major blockage tomorrow. (Fatbergs)
Top Tip:
Pour cooled fat into a container or jar and dispose of it in your household waste instead.
Marinades and sauces aren’y innocent either
It isn’t just grease that’s the problem.
Sticky marinades, BBQ sauces, honey glazes and sugary dressings all leave residue inside pipework. Add bits of onion, herbs and spices and you’re creating the perfect environment for food waste to collect.
Use kitchen paper to wipe greasy trays and bowls before washing them.
Your dishwasher and your drains will thank you!
Don’t forget the outdoor drain
Garden parties often mean drinks get spilled, plates are rinsed outside and leftovers mysteriously disappear into the nearest gully.
Outdoor drains aren’t designed to deal with chunks of food.
Keep leaves, food scraps, disposable plates and napkins well away from gullies and surface water drains. If rain arrives later, all that debris can be washed straight into the drainage system.
The great washing-up marathon
After everyone has gone home comes the mountain of washing up.
Large amounts of grease, gravy and food scraps entering the sink all at once can overwhelm your pipework.
Before washing plates:
- Scrape food into the food waste bin.
- Wipe grease off with kitchen roll.
- Let cooking fat cool before disposing of it.
- Avoid pouring oil down the sink, even if you chase it with hot water.
Contrary to popular belief, hot water doesn’t solve the problem. It simply carries the grease a little further down the pipe before it cools and solidifies.
Disposable BBQ’s need the bin, NOT the drain
It sounds obvious, but every year we see ash, charcoal and burnt food ending up in drains. Ash turns into a surprisingly stubborn sludge when wet and can contribute to blockages. Allow disposable BBQs to cool completely before disposing of them according to your local council’s guidance.
Warning signs you drains have had too much
If your drains are showing any of these signs after BBQ season, it might be time to investigate:
- Water draining slowly
- Gurgling noises
- Bad smells from the kitchen sink
- Outdoor gullies overflowing
- Water backing up in sinks or outside drains
Don’t ignore them as they rarely fix themselves!
Keep the good times flowing
Nobody wants a blocked drain to be the lasting memory of a brilliant summer BBQ.
A few simple habits can keep your drains flowing freely all season long, leaving you to worry about the weather instead.
Whether it’s a stubborn kitchen blockage, an overflowing outdoor drain or a CCTV drain survey to get to the bottom of the problem, Happy Drains is here to help.
07788 254933 / 0800 849 8099
Enjoy the burgers.
Enjoy the sunshine.
Just don’t feed the drains.
David & Will
