Cleaning fat from drains

[Condi]

The drain from my dishwasher - where it goes underground, not where it comes out the washer - keeps getting clogged with fat. I assume its because when the hot water comes out and cools, or mixes with the cold water already in the drain the fat solidifies and mixes with the leaves and other crap down there, blocking it. This happens every few months, and I usually stick the hosepipe down there or buy some drain cleaner. The drain cleaner is nearly useless and the hosepipe not a very nice task. Is there any way to clean it out properly without a jetwasher or Dyno-Rod bill. The drain worked fine for a good few years but now it does it every couple of months so I assume there is loads of crap down there which doesnt move, the drain clears just enough to get the water moving again.

Any suggestions? I've tried rodding it but due to the angle on both ends of the drain (ie dishwasher end and manhole cover end) this seems to be a nearly impossible job, the rods wouldnt bend round far enough. Ive tried a bit of hot water, that seems to work for a little bit but I cant help thinking that one kettle of hot water into a a U bend of cold water isnt going to do much good, and anyway, it only shifts the problem further down.

[Team 17]

Condi said:

The drain from my dishwasher - where it goes underground, not where it comes out the washer - keeps getting clogged with fat. I assume its because when the hot water comes out and cools, or mixes with the cold water already in the drain the fat solidifies and mixes with the leaves and other crap down there, blocking it. This happens every few months, and I usually stick the hosepipe down there or buy some drain cleaner. The drain cleaner is nearly useless and the hosepipe not a very nice task. Is there any way to clean it out properly without a jetwasher or Dyno-Rod bill. The drain worked fine for a good few years but now it does it every couple of months so I assume there is loads of crap down there which doesnt move, the drain clears just enough to get the water moving again.

Any suggestions? I've tried rodding it but due to the angle on both ends of the drain (ie dishwasher end and manhole cover end) this seems to be a nearly impossible job, the rods wouldnt bend round far enough. Ive tried a bit of hot water, that seems to work for a little bit but I cant help thinking that one kettle of hot water into a a U bend of cold water isnt going to do much good, and anyway, it only shifts the problem further down.

Wipe the fat off the plates/dishes before putting them in the dishwasher?

Begs the question though, how much fat do you use in your cooking for it to get congealed in the drain?!

[Busamav]

I suspect it will be a combination of fat and surplus food and washer powder all reducing the pipe size.

Maybe try a very very hot wash once a month , after the blockage is properly cleared of course

[Smiler.]

What about one of these?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monument-3344k-Drain-Auger...

Worked when we had a, er "blockage" at home.

[ShadownINja]

Busamav said:

I suspect it will be a combination of fat and surplus food and washer powder all reducing the pipe size.

Maybe try a very very hot wash once a month , after the blockage is properly cleared of course

Yeah, or chuck boiling water down there.

BTW Surplus food? Shouldn't that go in the recycling/bin/composter???

[herbialfa]

I read in the papers today that Leicester Square in London is just about to embark on removing 1000 tonnes of the stuff from their sewers!

So think yerself lucky!!!!

[ShadownINja]

herbialfa said:

I read in the papers today that Leicester Square in London is just about to embark on removing 1000 tonnes of the stuff from their sewers as part of McDonalds' recycling drive!

So think yerself lucky!!!!

EFA?

[BlackZeD]

Would suggest a mixture of caustic soda down there every day for a week.
Then every week for a month, should clear it.
Then use it every three months.
Be very careful with it, big rubber gloves, goggles etc, burns skin easily.