If you started looking out of the window when you read that, don’t worry – you’re not alone. But we didn’t say fog, we said FOGS, which are very different from the misty, slightly eerie weather, and usually a lot more serious.

FOGS stands for Fats, Oils and Greases, and it’s the professional term for when all of those substances get into your plumbing system.

Over time these things solidify and cause blockages in your pipes, wreaking havoc on your plumbing. If you find yourself constantly battling drainage problems, particularly in your kitchen sink, then you probably have FOGS.

FOGS are easy enough to prevent, but a nightmare to get rid of. To avoid FOG build up, you need to make sure that you aren’t pouring fats, oils and greases down your drains. They’re found in a lot of common foods that you might be throwing in the sink without thinking about it, including butter, margarine, dairy products, baked goods, eggs, dressings and sauces, meat and meat drippings, and even coffee!

Thoroughly scraping your plates before washing in hot, soapy water (even if you plan to dishwash) will go a long way to avoiding any problems.

If you think you have FOGS, then there is not a lot you can do yourself to get rid of them. Standard drain unblocker probably won’t help for more than a day or two (if at all), so your best bet is to call a professional. To find out more, get in touch with our team!