What Is a Fatberg?

A fatberg is a large lump of congealed fat, grease, oil, and other non-biodegradable items that clogs up sewage systems. It is often formed from items like tampons, condoms, wet wipes, cotton swabs, nappies, food scraps, and coffee grounds that have been flushed down the toilet. A fatberg can be as hard as concrete and can grow as big as the size of a double-decker bus. In 2021, a team of Thames Water engineers found a bungalow-sized fatberg in Canary Wharf sewer.

Fatbergs can cause serious issues such as sewer blockage, pipe damage which can cause an overflow into rivers and streams, and expensive repairs.

How Does a Fatberg Form?

When fat, oil, or grease are poured down the sink, they solidify and form gunk that accumulates on the walls of sewer pipes. Items such as tampons, condoms, and cleaning wipes that are incorrectly flushed down the toilet will then latch onto the gunk on the sewer pipes. Over time, the coagulated mass of non-biodegradable matter will grow bigger and find its way into the sewers.

How to Avoid Fatbergs

Dont treat your toilet as a trash bin

Some of the items found in a fatberg include menstrual products, condoms, diapers, cleaning wipes, and cotton balls, which are flushed down the toilet. You should only flush the 3Pspaper, poo, and pee.

Do not pour fats, oils, or grease down the drain

You should never pour fats, oils, and grease down your drains as they will eventually solidify and create blockages that will restrict the flow of wastewater. Fats, oils, and grease should be disposed of in a trash can.

Install drain covers in your bathtub

A drain cover filters hair and keeps larger objects from getting into your pipes.

Regularly maintain your drains

Over time, drain pipes tend to accumulate gunk and mineral build-up on the walls and this may lead to the formation of fatbergs. Thats why its important to clean and maintain your drain pipes at least once every year to reduce clogs and keep expensive repairs at bay. Regular drain cleaning also gets rid of bad odors and improves the lifespan of your drains. If your drains are slow to empty, call a nearby plumber to inspect your drain pipes and resolve the problem. If youre in need of reliable drain cleaning services in your home, call Mr. Rooter Plumbing for help.

Need Help with Drain Cleaning? Get in Touch with Mr. Rooter Plumbing

If youve noticed signs of clogged drains in your home or business and need help with clearing your drains, you can rely on Mr. Rooter Plumbing to get the job done.

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we take pride in providing a full range of residential and commercial plumbing services, including sewer repair, drain cleaning, pipe repair, plumbing maintenance, clogged toilet fix, and many more. Whether you need help with clearing a fatberg, your drains are slower than normal, or your pipes are damaged, our plumbers are ready to help you with all of your plumbing needs.

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