In a post-breakfast haze, you may accidentally pour the leftover bacon grease down the drain. If you’re tempted to flush it with water and repeat this plumbing indiscretion again, think twice. Before you clog the pipes, or worse, take a look at why bacon grease and your home’s plumbing system don’t mix.
The Science Behind the Pipe Problem
Anyone who has ever felt or seen bacon grease knows that it’s sticky and congeals quickly. It makes sense that, in your pipes, the oily substance would coat the sides – eventually building up and causing clogs.
At room temperature, bacon grease (and other oily cooking byproducts) remain liquid. Liquids in drains won’t typically causes problems. But, as you may have already seen, bacon grease won’t freely flow down your drain. Issues arise as the grease cools, turning from a liquid into a pipe-clogging solid. Left untouched, the quickly cooling grease hardens and restricts pipes.
Your home’s water heater probably isn’t something that you think about — until it stops working. Don’t let an avoidable plumbing problem happen to you. Whether you’re a new homeowner, have recently installed a new appliance, or just want to know more about maintenance, take a look at these answers to common water heater questions.
Flushing a toilet should wash away waste without causing any surprise side effects in a home’s plumbing. Unfortunately, a clogged sewer line may trigger shower overflow issues when a person flushes their toilet. Determine the best way to unclog your sewer clog.
Main Sewer Lines Clog Up Over Time
A home’s sewer main takes wastewater out of the house and brings in fresh water when needed. Unfortunately, a large number of issues could cause a clog in the sewage line. These common concerns include the following:
Reducing your home’s water usage can help you save money on your water bills and is good for the
environment. You can do many things to your plumbing to reduce how much water your home uses every month.
These following tips can help improve your plumbing and save water.
1. Replace Pipes
Old pipes can develop leaks. Galvanized piping, in particular, is notorious for developing corrosion,
rust, and damage. If you own a home that was built sometime in the mid-20th century, your home likely has
galvanized pipes. If this is the case, you are likely to experience leaks and other problems that could
result in a lot of wasted water.
Have you ever wished there were a way to stop wasting water while you wait for hot water to make it to the tub or sink spout? Actually, there’s a device you can use to stop pouring clean, cold water down the drain. Have your plumber install a hot water recirculating system to save you time and money. Here are some facts about hot water recirculating systems.
Hot Water Runs in a Loop
Every time you turn on a hot water tap in a standard plumbing system, hot water flows to the fixture from your hot water heater. After you use the hot water and shut it off, hot water remains in the supply pipe. If no one turns on the hot water tap for a while, the hot water in the supply pipe slowly cools.
When you have a recirculating system installed on your hot water pipes, heated water doesn’t sit useless in the pipes after you use the hot water tap. Instead, the warm water in the pipes is sent back to the water heater. Eventually, the heated water loop provides instant hot water to all of the fixtures on the line since the water never cools down.
