Why kitchen lines are their own problem

Cooking fat, oil and grease pour down the sink as a warm liquid, then cool and cling to the pipe. Food particles and soap stick to that film, and over months the line narrows from the outside in. Hot water and dish soap move grease a little farther down the pipe; they do not remove it.

In slab-on-grade homes, the kitchen branch often runs under the floor to meet the main line, sometimes over a long horizontal stretch. That run is where grease settles. When it finally closes up, the sink backs up, the dishwasher drains slowly, and sometimes water appears in the other side of a double sink.

Signs of grease buildup

  • The kitchen sink drains slowly but bathrooms are fine
  • Water backs up into one side of the sink when the other drains
  • The dishwasher leaves standing water
  • A rancid smell from the kitchen drain
  • The kitchen line was snaked recently and is slow again

Snaking vs. jetting a grease line

Snaking

  • Punches a hole through the grease plug
  • Restores flow quickly
  • Leaves most of the coating on the walls
  • Clogs often return sooner

Jetting

  • Scours grease off the full pipe wall
  • Flushes debris toward the main
  • Needs access, often through a cleanout
  • Usually slows how quickly the line re-coats

Habits that keep a cleaned line open

  1. Wipe before you wash.Scrape plates and wipe greasy pans with a paper towel into the trash before they go in the sink or dishwasher.
  2. Collect cooking fat.Pour cooled fat into a can or jar and throw it out. Ask the city about any household grease or oil drop-off options.
  3. Use a sink strainer.Catch food scraps rather than relying on the disposal to send everything down the line.
  4. Go easy on the disposal.A disposal grinds food; it does not make grease or starches disappear. Fibrous and starchy scraps belong in the trash.

Questions to ask about a kitchen line

  1. Where does my kitchen line run, and where does it meet the main?
  2. Is there a cleanout you can jet from, or will you need another access point?
  3. Will you camera the line to check for sags where grease collects?
  4. Is anything about the pipe itself, not just grease, making this worse?

Common questions

Do enzyme drain products help?

Some people use them as routine maintenance. They work slowly and will not clear a blocked line. Ask a plumber whether they are useful for your situation.

How long will a jetted kitchen line stay clear?

It depends on what goes down the drain and the condition of the pipe. Better habits make the biggest difference.

Can grease from my kitchen block the main sewer too?

Yes. Grease that passes the kitchen branch can settle farther down the lateral, especially at sags or rough joints.

General information for Buena Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.