Kitchen Drain Habits & The FOG Rule
The number-one enemy of residential and commercial drains is FOG: Fats, Oils, and Grease. When warm, melted fats from bacon, butter, gravies, salad dressings, and cooking oils are poured down the kitchen sink, they appear to wash away easily. However, as soon as they hit cold underground pipes, they solidify into rock-hard blankets along the bottom and sides of the pipe.
Kitchen Best Practices: • Never pour grease, pan drippings, or cooking oils down the sink or disposal. Let grease cool in an empty can or jar and dispose of it in the trash. • Scrape food plates thoroughly into the trash or compost before washing. • Avoid feeding fibrous, starchy, or expandable foods into your garbage disposal (such as potato peelings, celery stalks, pasta, rice, and coffee grounds).
Bathroom Drains: Hair, Soap & The 'Flushable' Wipes Myth
In the bathroom, the combination of hair and sticky soap scum is responsible for nearly all sink and shower clogs. Installing simple, inexpensive stainless steel mesh hair catchers over shower and tub drains eliminates 95% of these clogs before they enter the plumbing.
The Truth About 'Flushable' Wipes: Despite manufacturers marketing them as 'flushable,' baby wipes, sanitizing wipes, facial tissues, and paper towels do not break down like toilet paper. Toilet paper dissolves into tiny cellulose fibers within seconds of contact with water. In contrast, wet wipes are woven with synthetic plastic fibers that remain intact for years, catching on pipe joints and creating massive blockages known as fatbergs. Only flush the 'Three Ps': Pee, Poop, and Paper (toilet paper).
Recommended Preventive Maintenance Schedules
- Single-Family Residential Homes: Hydro jetting every 18 to 24 months for homes with mature trees nearby, or every 3 to 5 years for newer properties with modern ABS/PVC piping.
- Multi-Family Apartment Complexes: Annual hydro jetting of main building collection laterals to prevent first-floor backups.
- Commercial Restaurants & Cafes: Quarterly or semi-annual hydro jetting of kitchen grease lines and grease interceptor connections to maintain code compliance and uninterrupted business operations.
Need Professional Hydro Jetting in La Mirada?
If your property is currently struggling with slow drains, recurring tree root invasions, or heavy grease buildup, our high-pressure hydro jetting rigs can completely restore your pipes without tearing up your yard.