FOG is considered the most common cause of slow and blocked drains in a commercial kitchen.
Ontario, Candida – One of the challenges kitchen and cleaning workers in the food service industry grapple with is FOG: Fats, Oils, and Grease collecting in drains. FOG is considered the most common cause of slow and blocked drains in a commercial kitchen. Fat, oil, and grease flow down drains initially, but as they cool, they harden, slowing drainage and causing drain backups.
“Of the three, grease is the big problem,” says Mike Watt with Avmor, a leading manufacturer of professional cleaning solutions for the food service industry. “Grease does not dissolve with water. Instead, it clings to drain pipes.” As oil and fats cool, they join the grease and collect on the sides of pipes as well. “Some kitchen workers pour vinegar or baking powder down slow moving or blocked drains,” says Watt. “Or they use a plunger. In most cases, these do not help, and [using] the plunger may damage the pipe.” Instead, Watt suggests doing the following to get rid of the FOG:
Remove the drain cover
Sometimes the blockage just involves the drain cover.
Pour boiling water down the drain
Just be careful. Boiling water will soften the FOG so it flows down the drain, but accidents have happened using this method.
Use a hand auger
While these can prove useful, “Make sure you know how to use one first… and this can be a messy job. Always wear gloves and goggles.”
Use a drain “maintainer”
Drain maintainers work by digesting the FOG. Using a microbial-based formation that eats grease and oil, after use, use tap water to rinse the drain, removing any grease, oil, or soil remaining in the drain.
Finally, Watt adds that usually there are warning signals before a FOG problem gets serious. “As soon as you see water flowing slowly down drains, it’s time to act. It’s best to address this FOGy problem before liquids stop flowing entirely.”
About Avmor Ltd.
Avmor was founded in 1948 by Avrum Morrow and Henry Chinks. Being North America’s leading manufacturer and marketer of professional cleaning chemicals and sustainable solutions, Avmor has remained in the industry forefront by providing A More Complete Clean. Avmor’s commitment to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 as well as cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) procedures signifies the importance of delivering and ensuring best in class performance cleaning products while remaining competitively priced. Avmor’s customized training program and solutions promote and educate the market about the importance of clean to prevent sickness and disease. Our UL ECOLOGO, GREENGUARD Gold certifications attest to our dedication to quality, performance, and commitment as well as our responsibility to always provide optimal cleaning solutions while maintaining and enhancing health and safety standards of people and the environment. Avmor Ltd. is a privately held company.
