What Happens If I Put Grease Down My Drain?

Keeping Grease Out of Your Septic System? Easier Said Than Done.

Most of us know Septic System 101: Don’t pour meat drippings, butter, and other greases down the drain. Even if we can’t give a scientific explanation of exactly what happens to FOGs (Fats, Oils, Grease) in the subterranean depths beneath our homes, we know that the results are the stuff of which nightmares are made. Unfortunately, however, Septic System 101 is not quite enough.

Read on for Septic System 102 where we learn that, like many things in life, keeping our septic systems free of FOGs is not as easy as we would like.

First Some Definitions:

Solidifying Greases

Solidifying greases are FOGs that form solids or semi-solids from room temperature (76 degrees) down to water’s freezing temperature (32 degrees). Most people recognize the dangers of putting this kind of grease into their septic system.

Here are the common types of solidifying grease and their effects on septic systems:

1. Animal Fat Grease: Grease from cooking animal fats, such as bacon grease or lard, is one of the worst kinds of grease for forming clogs in drains. This grease quickly solidifies and clogs septic system pipes and drainage fields. It also interferes with the effectiveness of bacterial digestion in the system.
2. Butter, etc.: Butter, high quality olive oil, shortening, and non-fractionated coconut oil are another common class of solidifying greases that can wreak havoc in septic pipes.
3. Petroleum-based Grease: Although less commonly introduced into home septic systems, petroleum-based products like motor oil or grease used in machinery are a giant no-no. Besides their clog-forming potential, these substances also majorly disrupt the bacterial action of the waste digestion process.

Note: Pouring hot water down the sink along with these greases may prevent clogs directly beneath the sink, but the negative impact in your septic system will be the same.

Liquid Greases

Liquid greases are FOGs that remain liquid even below 32 degrees, the freezing point of water. Because they remain liquid even longer than water does, most homeowners see little harm in pouring them down their drains. This is a mistake. Although they may not solidify and form clogs, they cause harm in other ways.
Common types of liquid greases:

1. Vegetable Oil Grease: Cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil, can still solidify in the pipes and cause clogs. They may not solidify as readily as animal fats, but they can still accumulate over time and hinder the flow of wastewater.
2. Emulsified Grease: Emulsified grease, most commonly found in soaps and detergents, is often not considered harmful, but excessive use of emulsified products can still contribute to grease buildup in the system.
3. Baby oil and bath products: While excellent for skin health, baby oil and moisturizing bath products (some of which are actually solidfying greases – take coconut oil for instance) are another common way that FOGs are introduced into your septic system.

Septic System 102: Grease in Your Septic Tank – Here’s What Happens

What most septic owners don’t realize is that all FOGs—even those that remain liquid below the freezing point of water—pose significant dangers in a septic system.

Here’s why:

Waste within your septic tank separates into three, fairly distinct layers. From top to bottom, they are as follows: sludge, the heavy solids that sink to the bottom; effluent, the gray water above the solids; and floating on top, we have the scum, composed basically of FOGs since they are the lightest.

Although some of this scum will partially break down over time, a thick layer of FOGs can trap other debris and necessitate more frequent pumping of your tank as well as unnecessary wear on system components. In bad cases, a smell can also permeate back into the house, leading to bad odors around household drains and toilets.

Part of the problem with FOGs is that they are not in the proper place in the tank. They belong with the solids, which remain in the tank until they are pumped, but floating as they are above the effluent, there is real danger that they will escape the filter on the outlet baffle and flow out into the drainfield along with the gray water.

This can become a catastrophe, since all FOGs have the potential to either clog drainfield pipes or destroy the permeability of the soil, leading to a complete failure of the septic system’s ability to discharge waste water.

In short, allowing FOGs to enter your septic system will have 4 negative long-term effects:

1. More frequent tank pumping
2. Premature deterioration of septic system components
3. Introduction of bad odors into the home
4. Partial or total failure of the septic system

What Can We Do About It?

Here are 5 steps to limit or eliminate the introduction of common FOGs into your household septic system:

1. Drain Cooking Grease: Drain cooking grease into disposable containers before disposing of them in the trash.
2. Scrape Table Dishes: Scrape dishes thoroughly before placing them in the dishwasher and dispose of scraps in the trash can.
3. Rethink Your Garbage Disposal: Garbage disposals miraculously carry food away, but both the natural food greases and those used in food preparation go along into the septic tank. Limit its use to non-greasy foods.
4. Keep Petroleum Grease Away: Avoid any introduction of  petroleum grease and machinery grease into household drains.
5. Watch Toiletry Ingredients: Learn to read labels and avoid using toiletry and bath products that contain dangerous FOG levels. Consider using body and hand lotion rather than shower and bath products.

Regular Septic Maintenance Is Key!

Unfortunately, FOGs are too common to be completely avoided.

Although severe problems can usually be prevented with these best practices, regular maintenance is the only way to stay on top of the problems long-term.

Contact RenewSource today to clean out that layer of FOGs in your tank!

P.S. Don’t let that layer of scum build up and destroy your system. Give Septic Solutions a call today at 717-933-5819 to schedule your spring pumping!