Grease clogs in the kitchen sink
Kitchen drains in older Monterey Park houses often run long and flat, where grease builds up.
Updated · 3 min read
Bottom line
Grease and oil cool and stick inside the drain pipe, then trap food bits until the sink backs up. A plunger may move a fresh clog; a drain cable or professional rooting clears a pipe lined with grease. Wipe pans and scrape plates to prevent it.
Contents
Why kitchens clog differently
Bathroom clogs are mostly hair and soap. Kitchen clogs are fat, oil and grease (often called FOG) mixed with starch and food.
Hot grease runs down liquid, cools in the pipe, and coats the walls. Each meal adds a layer.
Old kitchen plumbing
A big share of Monterey Park homes were built from the 1940s through the 1960s, per Census Reporter's B25034 table. Kitchen drains in those houses often run long and nearly flat to reach the main.
Slow, flat runs let grease settle. Galvanized drain pipe also has a rough interior that grease grips.
Clearing the clog
Plunge first with the disposal off and the dishwasher hose clamped if possible. If that fails, remove the trap and cable the drain arm.
For a pipe lined with grease, a cable punches a hole but leaves the coating. Rooting with a cutting head or jetting scrubs the pipe walls.
Keeping grease out
- Pour cooled grease into a can or jar and put it in the trash
- Wipe pans with a paper towel before washing
- Use a sink strainer
- Run the disposal with plenty of cold water
Before you call
Will hot water and dish soap clear a grease clog?
They can move a light film, but grease re-solidifies further down the line.
Are enzyme drain cleaners worth it?
They help as upkeep on a flowing drain. They do not clear a full blockage.
Why does my dishwasher drain into the sink?
It shares the kitchen drain, so a clog downstream pushes its water back into the sink.
Cited sources