Why does hot water cause the basement drain to back up?

 

Why Hot Water Causes Basement Drain Backups

  When you use hot water, it can melt fats and grease that have built up inside your drain pipes. This melted grease flows down the pipes but then cools off and solidifies further along the plumbing system, where the temperature drops. As a result, the solidified grease accumulates and causes blockages in your basement drain, leading to backups.

 

How Hot Water Interacts with Fats and Grease in Your Pipes

  Hot water plays a key role in turning solid fats into liquid. For example:

• Grease from cooking or other sources often builds up slowly in your pipes.
• When hot water is used, it melts these deposits, turning them into a liquid state that travels further down the drain.
• Once the liquid grease moves into cooler sections of your plumbing, it starts to solidify again.

This process can eventually create a thick, sticky blockage that stops water from flowing freely, causing the basement drain to back up.

 

Additional Factors that Worsen the Problem

  Several other factors can contribute to the backup when hot water is involved:

• If your pipes have a lot of existing buildup, even a small amount of hot water can push the melted grease into places where it hardens quickly.
• Some older drainage systems may have pipes that are not designed to handle rapid changes in temperature, which can worsen blockages.
• Hot water can sometimes loosen sediment that was previously settled, causing it to mix with the grease and form an even tougher blockage.

 

What You Can Do About It

  Understanding this process helps you take steps to avoid problems in your plumbing system. Here are a few helpful tips:

• Avoid using extremely hot water regularly if you have a history of drain issues, as it can contribute to melting and then re-solidifying grease deposits.
• Consider routine maintenance and cleaning of your drains to remove any accumulated fats or grease before they become a problem.
• If you notice persistent backups, it might be a good idea to consult with a professional plumbing service. Experienced utility providers, such as those in St. Louis and Nashville, know how to clear and prevent these backups by thoroughly cleaning your pipes and possibly recommending changes in water temperature usage.

 

Understanding the Whole Plumbing Process

  Your home's drainage system is designed to carry water away safely, but it is also susceptible to blockages from everyday substances like grease. Kitchen grease and fats, when heated, move easily and stick to the pipe walls. But when these melted substances cool down, they turn from a liquid into a semi-solid state. The cycle of heating and cooling, especially if repeated often, leads to layers of deposit that eventually narrow or block the passageway in your drain.

Every time hot water is used, it can contribute to this cycle, which is why the recommendation is often to mix water temperatures or ensure that kitchen waste is disposed of properly before it goes down the drain. This process is not only important for keeping your basement drain free of backups, but it also maintains the longevity of your entire plumbing system.