7 November 2026 · 1 min read · By the Plumbees team
A commercial kitchen puts heavy demands on its plumbing. Hot water, fats, oils and food waste go down the drains many times a day. When a drain blocks mid-service, the cost is lost trade and unhappy customers.
The usual causes of blockages
- Fat, oil and grease that cools and hardens in pipes
- Food scraps that pass through sink strainers or are scraped into the sink
- Coffee grounds from machines and bar areas
- Items accidentally dropped into floor drains
- Damaged or poorly laid pipework that collects debris
Prevention in practice
- Scrape plates and pans into the bin before washing
- Fit and clean strainers on every sink and floor drain
- Collect used cooking oil for proper disposal, and never pour it away
- Use a grease trap if your premises are required to, and keep it emptied and serviced
- Train new staff on what must not go down the sinks
Watch for warning signs
- Water that drains slowly from sinks or floor gullies
- Bad smells from drains
- Gurgling noises
- Water backing up when another fitting is used
If these appear, act before the drain fails completely.
Check your obligations
Rules about grease management and discharge to the public sewer apply to food businesses. Check with your water company and local authority about what applies to your site.
When it goes wrong
If a drain blocks during service, tell us it is urgent. We clear the problem, identify the cause and advise how to stop it returning. See our commercial plumbing and emergency plumber pages, or get in touch.