Plumber warns of little-known Easter mistake that could cost you hundreds of pounds

This Easter weekend, many households will be getting together for a family feast, with a traditional roast lamb with all the trimmings being a particular seasonal favourite.

As tempting as it may well be to dine on nothing but chocolate Easter eggs all day, savoury spring offerings can also be a real treat, especially when you've got a tray of perfectly crisp roasties to pick at. Of course, clearing up after a good Sunday roast isn't exactly the fun part, and it's easy to end up rushing and dumping your dirty plates and greasy pans in the sink without a second thought.

However, taking an extra few minutes to clean properly before kicking back on the sofa may well save you hundreds in the long run, as highlighted by a cautionary TikTok video. In this viral clip, a plumber warns followers of the grim dangers of pouring grease and fatty oils down the sink.

The video shows a drain clogged so tightly with grease that a spade is required to break through and get water flowing once more. In the accompanying caption, TikTok user ThatPlumbGuy urged: "Don't put grease down your sink. It's the worst drain blocker other than baby wipes."

Meanwhile, plumber Tom Watts explained via Magnet Kitchens: "Fatty oils and grease disposed of in kitchen drains will dry out and solidify, causing severe blockages within your pipework. This puts your sink and any appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, and boilers) within your kitchen at risk of becoming damaged.

"Once the oils have solidified, the blockages won’t be removable with a plunger, and will require a plumber to come out and use expensive machinery to either vacuum or rod the blockages. You could pay £250 upwards, depending on the blockage and time required to unblock. If pipework is unrepairable due to permanent damage, you could be looking at £500+ to renew the pipes completely."

Experts at Magnet warn that proper disposal of grease and fatty oils is crucial. "Instead of pouring grease down the sink, collect it in a container or empty it into a separate bin and dispose of it once it has cooled and solidified," the company says. Magnet also issued three crucial steps to follow to avoid damaging your drainage system:

Most kitchen sinks will come fitted with a strainer or filter to prevent any large chunks of food or grease from draining into the pipework, but fitting a larger filter is a great option to ensure your pipes don’t get clogged.

It can seem practical to just rinse small chunks of food waste off plates and utensils before cleaning them; however, even the smallest food chunks can begin to cause a blockage, and over time, could mean there's a huge build-up of solidified food in your drainage system. To avoid this, simply scrape any food waste from plates and kitchen utensils into a bin rather than down the sink.

If you have noticed a change in your drainage systems, it’s best to flush out your sink with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This mix will help break down any existing grease and prevent any blockages. Simply follow with boiling water down your sink to get rid of any remaining residue.

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