Grease buildup is the leading cause of drain clogs — and it builds silently until the pipe blocks.
Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) poured or washed down drains are liquid when hot. As they cool in the pipe — which starts within feet of the drain opening — they solidify and stick to the pipe wall. Each cooking session adds another thin layer. Over months and years, those layers build up, narrowing the pipe interior until flow is restricted and eventually blocked.
Where grease buildup happens
Kitchen drain lines — the highest-volume source in residential homes. Cooking fat, pan drippings, butter, cooking oil, and the residue from washing dishes and pots. Garbage disposals do not eliminate the problem — they break food into smaller particles that still carry grease into the drain.
Restaurant drain lines — commercial kitchens produce grease loads many times higher than residential kitchens. Lines that are not maintained on a regular jetting schedule can build up to near-full blockage within weeks to months.
Grease trap outlets — even with a grease trap in place, some FOG passes through and accumulates in the downstream lines. The trap reduces buildup frequency; it does not eliminate it.
Why snaking does not solve grease buildup
A drain snake punches a hole through the thickest accumulation and restores some flow. The grease coating on the pipe walls remains. The narrowed pipe accumulates new grease faster than a full-diameter pipe, and the clog returns — often within weeks.
Hydro jetting blasts the grease coating off the pipe walls and flushes it downstream, restoring close to original interior diameter. The results last significantly longer.
How to slow grease buildup
No pouring grease down the drain — collect and dispose of cooking fat in the trash. Run hot water after washing dishes (helps carry residue through rather than letting it solidify). Use a drain strainer to catch food particles. For restaurants: enforce no-grease-down-the-drain practices, maintain grease traps properly, and schedule regular drain jetting on a maintenance interval.
What to do when grease buildup has already occurred
Camera inspection shows us the degree of buildup and where it is worst. Hydro jetting clears it. For severe buildup in a long line, we may make multiple passes with different nozzle configurations to fully clean the pipe wall.
Ready to get clear pipes? Call Sunburst Environmental at 678-799-4389 — same-day response across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Or request a free estimate online.