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The holiday season brings some of the best food of the year — Christmas dinners, Hanukkah latkes, buttery sides, rich sauces, and sweet desserts shared with family and friends. But the very foods that make these celebrations special can also pose a risk to your home’s plumbing and your neighborhood sewer system: fats, oils, and grease, also known as FOG.
Why FOG Is a Problem
Fats, oils, and grease come from many common holiday foods. Things like roast, ham, or turkey drippings, gravy, frying oil, butter, sauces, dairy-based dishes, and even dessert toppings often contain FOG.
FOG flows easily when hot but solidifies when it cools. That means once you pour it down the sink or garbage disposal (or flush it down a drain), it can harden and cling to pipes and joints. Over time, those deposits can build up until a clog – or worse, a full sewer backup – occurs.
Sewer backups can cause damage to your home, leading to unsanitary conditions and costly repairs. They can also cause issues with sewer mains, creating a problem that extends beyond your home.
How to Stay Away from the Drain
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or both, these simple steps can help prevent FOG-related plumbing issues this season:
Let it cool and trash it. Pour leftover cooking grease, drippings, or frying oil into a disposable or sealable container, like an empty jar. Let it cool and solidify, then throw it in the trash.
Skip the garbage disposal for greasy pans and plates. Instead of rinsing greasy dishes directly into the sink or disposal, wipe off food scraps and grease first. Then throw scraps in the trash or compost bin.
Avoid pouring grease or oil down drains. Avoid pouring cooking oil, gravy, or grease-based sauces down sinks or toilets, even if you chase them with hot water.
For restaurants or large cooks: Consider recycling FOG. Some rendering companies take used cooking oil and grease and convert it into soaps, fertilizers, or animal feed, so what’s waste for one kitchen is a resource for another.
A Little Extra Effort Makes a Big Difference
It might feel like extra work after a big meal, but taking a few extra minutes to properly dispose of grease can save a lot of hassle (and money) later. FOG-related sewer backups can be expensive to fix, not to mention messy and inconvenient.
On top of that, keeping FOG out of the sewer system helps local wastewater infrastructure run smoothly for everyone.
If you’re hosting friends or family, you might want to gently remind them of the “no-grease down the drain” rule, especially if you’re in charge of the kitchen cleanup. Maybe even put up a small sign by the sink or send a quick reminder before everyone arrives.
A little awareness can go a long way—for your pipes, for your neighborhood, and for the community.
❤️ Happy Holiday from Citizens Energy Group. And thanks for doing your part to keep Indianapolis flowing!
About Citizens Energy Group
Citizens Energy Group provides safe and reliable utility services to about 900,000 people in the Indianapolis area. Citizens operates its utilities for the benefit of customers and the community.
Media Contact Information
Citizens Energy Group
Phone: 317-519-1515
Email: media@citizensenergygroup.com