Aqua Illinois is offering some tips as the holiday season approaches. The company is reminding its customers they should never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets. Instead, carefully pour warm (not hot) grease into a metal can, wait for it to cool, and dispose of it in the trash.
Also use strainers in sink drains to catch scraps of food or other solids. And scrape food scraps and grease into a trash can.
Aqua reminds customers that garbage disposals do not keep fat, oil or grease out of plumbing systems or prevent clogs. Other common items – such as butter, lard, sauces and dairy products – can also contribute to blockages. And Aqua adds you should avoid flushing any wipes down a toilet – even if the product says it is flushable. Wipes do not break down and are a leading cause of problems with home plumbing. They can also contribute to larger blockages in wastewater systems.