Warning issued to households cooking turkey for Christmas dinner

MILLIONS of us will be enjoying a turkey dinner on Christmas Day this year, but what you do with the leftovers could have serious consequences for your plumbing.

One water company alone said it cleared nine million litres of fats, oil and greases from sewers and 28,782 blockages last year, all of which could have been prevented. 

As everyone gets ready to enjoy the holiday season, Midlands water firm Severn Trent reminded customers to ‘be a binner, not a blocker’.

Oil and fat from cooking are often poured down the sink.

But when these cool, they solidify, causing blockages, which can cause flooding or overflows, leading to the undesirable task of unblocking a kitchen sink or having to pay someone else to do it.

And it’s not only a problem for your own sink and pipes, but in the sewers below the ground.

Oils and fats poured into the sink become especially problematic when they mix with other items which should be binned, not flushed down the toilet – such as wet wipes, sanitary products and kitchen roll.

These create so-called fatbergs in sewers, causing major problems up and down the country.

Grant Mitchell, blockages lead for Severn Trent, said: “Did you know that most waste pipes are only the size of a saucer? 

“When it’s cold, it only takes a few wipes and some gravy down the drain to cause a problem.”

While water companies are responsible for clearing blockages in sewers, any clogged drains within the boundary of a property are the property owner’s responsibility.

According to Checkatrade, the cost of unblocking a drain depends on the size of the blockage and the method used.

The average call-out charge is £60, or £180 for an emergency call-out.

And then the drain unblocking cost using rodding costs £85 on average, while jetting costs £185.

But you could save some money doing it yourself, using a plunger or coathanger – check out our DIY guide.

“No one likes or wants a blockage when you just want to enjoy the holiday spirit but, luckily, there are things you can do to make sure you can keep a home protected,” explains Mr Mitchell. 

“Remember that fats, oils and greases shouldn’t be poured down the sink, and that only the three Ps – pee, poo and paper – should be flushed down the toilet.”

What to do with any cooking fat you want to get rid of

You can use kitchen roll to soak up grease from plates and pans before washing up, and then  put the used tissue in the bin.

Alternatively, you can scrape or tip used cooking oil, fat and grease into an old container, such as a jam jar or margarine tub, and put the whole thing in the bin once it is cool.

You should also use a strainer in your sink to avoid any large items going down the drain.

What about items that can cause blockages elsewhere?

Severn Trent advises customers to only flush pee, poo and toilet paper down the toilet.

You should also keep a bin in your bathroom for all unflushable items such as sanitary towels, tampons, nappies and wipes, to encourage you not to put them into the toilet.

The water company says even items which claim to be flushable – like some wipes – should be binned instead.

Here are four savvy ways of cutting the cost of calling out a plumber.