Don’t Let FOG Ruin Your Holidays!

What is FOG?

“FOG” is plumbing industry shorthand for “fats, oil & grease.” FOG provides our company with a lot of business over the winter holidays, yet nothing but headaches for you.

The Holiday FOG Problem

Many of you celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with traditional holiday feasts that include turkey, ham, gravy, stuffing, and deliciously gooey desserts. Tasty as these dishes may be, they require preparation with lots of cooking oil, grease, butter, and fat.

All that FOG can wreak havoc on kitchen drains and the rest of your home’s wastewater system. The holidays may be a good time to forget about your waistline, but they’re the worst time to suffer a clogged drain line or worse—such as raw sewage backing up through toilets, sinks, or tubs.

While we’re happy to gain your business, we’d prefer to see you happy over the festive winter holidays.

Holiday Plumbing Tips to Avoid FOG Problems

1. Never Pour FOG Down the Drain

• Avoid pouring fats, oils, or grease down sink drains, toilets, or tubs.
• Do not dispose of meats or other greasy foods down the drain.
• Instead, place these items in a garbage bag or sealed container and dispose of them in the trash.
• FOG can also be poured into kitty litter and then thrown away. Even small amounts can cause problems in your drain lines.

2. Wipe Greasy Dishes Before Washing

• Use a paper towel or napkin to absorb cooking oil from greasy dishes and pots before washing.

3. Be Selective with Garbage Disposals

• Garbage disposals are great for table scraps but struggle with stringy or fibrous foods like celery stalks or potato peels, especially in high-volume holiday meal prep.
• Toss stringy debris in the garbage instead.
• Use drain baskets and strainers in your kitchen sink to catch smaller food items.
• Consider collecting vegetable and fruit scraps for a backyard composting pile if you’re into gardening.

4. Don’t Flush FOG or Trash Down Toilets

• Avoid using toilets as substitutes for sink drains.
• Don’t flush paper towels, sanitary napkins, or wet wipes, even if labeled “flushable.”
• Provide a wastebasket in every bathroom and empty it frequently.
• If concerned about guests’ habits, consider placing a sign advising against flushing inappropriate items.

5. Keep a Plunger Handy

• Place a plunger next to every toilet for emergencies.

When to Call Us

When all else fails, give us a call. Some drain lines are at a tipping point, just waiting for the slightest accumulation of debris to clog up. Annual routine maintenance of your drain and sewer lines can prevent these unpleasant surprises.