UK householdscould cause more harm than just blocked pipes by carelessly pouring certain substances down their sinks. When it comes to plumbing, three key culprits to avoid are fats, oils and grease (FOG).

Some might choose to dispose of these in the sink after cooking, particularly when frying food. However, over time, these FOG products can build up significantly in your pipes, potentially causing a blockage.

But blocked drains aren't the worst consequence of FOG products; they could also inflict significant damage on your entire kitchen and even pose a serious health risk. This is due to the potential for accumulated FOG to result in something known as a sewer backup.

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Advice from Northumbrian Water emphasises that sewer blockages occur when FOG enters the sewer network via a home's sink, affecting not only your property but potentially your neighbours' too. A sewer backup essentially happens when the main sewer line beneath your homes is blocked, forcing wastewater to reverse back into your kitchen.

If the backup is severe enough and not halted promptly, this could lead to your kitchen being flooded, damaging the floor, lower cupboards, and spreading hazardous waste everywhere. Bear in mind that sewer water contains an extremely high amount of germs which could pose a health risk.

Common bacteria found in sewer water include:

• E.Coli


• Intestinal enterococci


• Adenovirus


• Hepatitis A and E


• Rotavirus A

However, you can easily avoid any catastrophe taking place in your kitchen by avoiding pouring FOG waste down your sink and safely disposing of it another way. For example, you can use grease traps that help to capture FOG before it enters the drainage system - keep in mind, though, that these need to be regularly cleaned.

You may also opt to collect FOG waste in a separate container from the rest of your kitchen waste and dispose of it in the rubbish, ensuring that any container is properly sealed to avoid leaks. You may also find that there are licensed waste collectors in your area who specialise in FOG disposal who you can contact directly.

It's also important to highlight that it is not generally considered safe to pour FOG waste down the toilet as this could still lead to blockages and contribute to issues in your area's sewer system.