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Grease is the Word!

By
Real Estate Agent with Metro Brokers/Priority Properties, Inc. ABR, CNE, CRS, GRI, e-PRO

Ask any sewer repair company and they will agree that grease is a major cause of clogged pipes. Think about it, grease is liquid when hot but when it cools it congeals.  It does that in the pipes too (and inside your pipes too but that is a whole other blog).  You are best to let the grease cool and dump in the trash.  And how about the potato peelings... No doubt they will clog your pipes at the most inopportune time too. so stick those in a compost bin as well.   Egg shells?  They turn to a fine gritty sand and sits on the bottom of the pipe accumulating until it prevents anything from passing over or through it. Food scraps??? Use the compost bin. I know...you have a disposal but that was the worst invention for the pipes. And then there is the flush. What not to flush?  Cigarette butts (but they are so little), hair, cat litter (yes, some people do?!?) and here is the one that will surprise you most: FLUSHABLE wipes. But I hear you yelling...Hey, they even say flushable on them. And yet, they are probably the number one clogger for number two jobs. 

 

Well, there you have it.  Think before you send it down into pipe kingdom and stress your pipes.  Leave the clogs for the dancers. 

Posted by

   

2015 Realtor of the Year (AAR)

Cheri A. Long, ABR,CNE, CRS, GRI, e-PRO

MB/Priority Properties, Inc.

O: 303-796-7000

C: 303-263-2072

www.CheriLong.com

 

Cheri@CheriLong.com

 

 

 

Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I knew that grease was a problem, but the other were news to me.

Thanks Cheri!

Dec 18, 2015 09:49 AM
Cheri Long

They all surprised me Bob Crane .  Thanks for reposting!

Dec 18, 2015 12:09 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Happy to see you recommending composting! I have a garbage disposal but NEVER use it. I'd much rather compost all my vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, and egg shells. Never, ever, EVER pour grease down the drain, unless you want a hot date with a pricey plumber!

Dec 18, 2015 10:44 AM
Cheri Long

Glad you compost Pat Starnes .  You would fit in well here in CO!  Thanks for your comments.

Dec 18, 2015 12:06 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Cheri, I once put stuffing down the disposal, and clogged it up right away.   Always use a compost pile or the trash can.  Great post! 

Dec 18, 2015 11:10 AM
Cheri Long

Stuffing?  Joan Cox -I have you beat.  I put potato peelings down with 17 guests for Thanksgiving.  Guess what happened?  Yup!

Dec 18, 2015 12:04 PM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

If the average person had to clean out their drains and pipes just one time they would treat them different

Dec 18, 2015 11:35 AM
Cheri Long

EEEWWWW.  William Feela You are so right.  Thanks for your input.

Dec 18, 2015 12:04 PM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Cheri - I am sure there are a lot of people who mistreat their kitchen sinks, as well as their toilets. You offer some great advice that should be adhered to, in order to prevent future issues.

Dec 18, 2015 02:02 PM
Cheri Long

And of course those issues never come at a good time!

Dec 19, 2015 09:33 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Yep, potato peels and Thanksgiving.  Been there did that.  Craig was so happy to pay a plumber almost $400 spuds to get that mess taken care of.  

Dec 19, 2015 03:02 AM
Cheri Long

Ah yes... the most inconvenient time, unless you are a plumber.

Dec 19, 2015 09:33 AM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Cheri Long , Good blog.  You're right, aks any septic cleaner company and they will confirm the problems with flushing flushable wipes.

Dec 19, 2015 05:49 AM
Cheri Long

Thanks Larry Johnston .  I have a bit of a weird sense of humor that comes out when I write.  

Dec 19, 2015 09:32 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Yowza!  I knew grease was an issue, but had no idea about potato peels and egg shells.....I may never use my garbage disposal again.

BTW, welcome to "the Rain", I'm here because of Belinda Spillman's re-blog of your post.  Any friend of hers is a friend of mine.....yeah, I know, I'm twisted.  

Dec 20, 2015 07:08 AM
Roger D. Mucci

My pleasurel thanks for the "Follow".....I returned the favor.

Dec 20, 2015 09:18 AM
Cheri Long
Yeah, as word spreads I'm afraid the Plumbers Union might want to try to quiet us. But onward we preach. Thanks for the welcome.
Dec 20, 2015 09:11 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Cheri -- I almost never put anything down my garbage disposal anymore ---- I have too many horror stories(mostly of my own doing) --- there's no need to feed my plumbers' bank account.   

Dec 20, 2015 07:49 AM
Cheri Long
Your plumber will miss you. He still has a child to get through college😄!
Dec 20, 2015 09:09 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Cheri, Belinda Spillman your buddy, was kind enough to send us your way! This is the simple and yet very important advice that many of us either don't know or forget! We got a new garbage disposal and our plumber said, Never put egg shells down here". Okay, then!! Plus all of the other items that you mention. 

Compost can right next to the sink--maybe a good closing gift??! 

 

Dec 20, 2015 08:51 AM
Cheri Long
What a great closing gift idea. Just not sure how a buyer might take that... A place to put your .... Well, you get it.
Dec 20, 2015 09:08 AM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

Hi Cheri. Welcome to the activerain network. Just write from the heart and you will do well!

Dec 20, 2015 11:48 PM
Cheri Long

Thanks Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 www.SpaceCoastHomesNow.com  great advice.  Will do.  

Dec 21, 2015 01:26 PM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

Great read Cheri Long ... When I'm tempted to use the garbage disposal (which I very very rarely do (just a few things in the sink from rinsing dishes) I think about my Grandma and Grandpa. They never had a garbage disposal and everything got used... They had a big compost pile out back and I think that had a lot to do with all of my fond memories of Grandpa's garden! Enjoyed your post!

Dec 21, 2015 04:32 AM
Cheri Long

Greetings Rene Fabre Isn't it funny how we thought we were doing so much better than our older generation and it turns out they really did know better?  Thanks for your memory.

Dec 21, 2015 01:26 PM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Great post, .  A little common sense with trash goes a long way, hopefully not down the drain.

Dec 21, 2015 10:51 AM
Cheri Long

Hi Mary Yonkers ,  common sense...a rare trait these days!  Thanks for your humor.

Dec 21, 2015 01:29 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Hi Cheri and welcome to the RAIN! I agree we should not use our disposal for many many things. I hardly use ours.

Dec 21, 2015 11:23 AM
Cheri Long

Thanks for the welcome Rebecca Gaujot, the Go To Realtor® I used to use mine and now I find out it was too much too.  Ahhh, the good ol' days before we owned them!

Dec 21, 2015 01:30 PM
Kathryn .
Rentec Direct - Grants Pass, OR
Rentec Direct

Oh yes!  Number one problem if you manage rentals. Some tenants puts all kinds of things down the sink if they have garbage disposals

Dec 22, 2015 02:10 AM
Cheri Long

It's a sure way to abotage a listing!  Thanks Kathryn Jones.  Have a great end of the year.

Dec 23, 2015 01:24 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Cat litter is probably too much....I hardly use my garbage disposal, but I eat quite healthy ( not much grease in this house:).

Dec 23, 2015 03:58 AM
Cheri Long

Right?!! Cat Litter...who does that?

Dec 23, 2015 06:03 AM