A grease blockage develops where food waste, cooking fats, detergent residues and rinsings from kitchen activity accumulate in the waste pipe or downstream drain. Unlike pure fat blockages, grease deposits often contain fibrous material from vegetables, rice, pasta and coffee grounds that bind together with congealed fats into a dense plug. Symptoms include slow draining sinks, gurgling and standing water, particularly downstream of busy domestic kitchens or in flats with shared drainage runs. Engineers usually address common causes by mechanical clearance or high pressure water jetting, often combined with the use of biological enzyme treatments to break down residual deposits. Building Regulations Part H1 sets out installation requirements for kitchen waste pipes, and BS EN 1825 covers grease separators that may be required in commercial settings.
Grease blockage (food waste)
Drain blockage caused by accumulated food waste, fats and detergent residues from kitchens.
