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Holiday Cooking Grease: A Top Cause of January Drain Calls

  Holiday Cooking Grease: A Top Cause of January Drain Calls January drain service calls often spike after the holiday season, and one culprit rises above the rest: cooking grease. While it may look harmless as it goes down the sink, grease can cool, solidify, and build up inside pipes, narrowing the flow until clogs form.   During holiday cooking, families use more oils, gravies, frying fats, and pan drippings than usual—then wash the residue away with hot water or dish soap. That combination can move grease through plumbing briefly, but it typically coats interior pipe surfaces and creates a sticky base for other debris to collect.   Why grease leads to backups   Unlike water, grease doesn’t reliably stay “in suspension.” As it travels downstream, it cools and adheres to pipe walls. Over time, it traps food particles and other household waste, producing thick blockages that can restrict drainage, trigger slow sinks, and in worst cases cau ... Read more »
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Mainline Rodding vs Power Rodding: Key Differences

 Mainline Rodding vs Power Rodding: Key Differences

Mainline Rodding vs Power Rodding: Key Differences


When a drain won’t flow, plumbers often turn to rodding—a method that pushes a tool through a pipe to break up or remove the blockage. Two common options are main line rodding and power rodding. While both aim to clear the line, they use different mechanics and are typically chosen for different blockage types and risk levels.

 

Main line rodding: manual control for typical clogs

 

Main line rodding is generally a manual or hand-operated approach. A rod or cable is fed into the drain and advanced through the pipe while a technician applies controlled force to break up the obstruction. Because the operator can feel resistance and adjust pressure, this method is often favored for more routine situations where the clog is not extreme.

 

It’s commonly used for issues like hair, soap buildup, minor grease deposits, or partial bl ... Read more »

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