Households across the UK could face repair bills of £200 or more if they pour cream liqueurs down the kitchen sink, experts have warned. With warmer weather encouraging people to enjoy alcoholic drinks, those reaching for cream liqueurs such as Baileys are urged to take care, as pouring leftovers away can lead to serious plumbing problems.
Cream Liqueurs Are a Plumber's Nightmare
According to experts at SAGE, cream liqueurs have seen a resurgence in popularity, now available in flavours from mango and strawberry to espresso and salted caramel. However, regardless of flavouring, all cream liqueurs are classified as FOG—fats, oils, and grease—which can wreak havoc on pipes. FOG also includes gravy, ice cream, cream, cooking oils, salad dressings, butter, and lard. Pouring any of these down the sink can cause blocked pipes and fatbergs, large hard blockages in sewers made from hardened FOG mixed with other waste.
Thames Water Data Highlights Scale of Problem
Thames Water reports that in London alone, more than 100 tonnes of fat are poured down sinks every day. The company has to clear more than 100,000 blockages a year, with solidified fat responsible for over half of them. A spokesperson for Thames Water stated: “Even if you block a pipe in your home by mistake, it’s legally your responsibility to fix it. Calling out a plumber to fix it could cost you more than £200.”
DIY SOS Presenter Nick Knowles Adds Warning
On Friday, June 26, DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles appeared on Morning Live to discuss fatbergs. He urged people not to pour tuna brine or oil down the sink, explaining that although brine is mostly water and salt, leftover fish oils and particles can build up in pipes, mix with soap, and cause serious blockages or fatbergs. Knowles said: “Don't pour your oils down the sink. I mean, most people know not to pour oils down your sink in the bathroom or in your kitchen now. But actually, most of us will drain a tin of tuna into the sink. With the oil that's in a tin of tuna, or maybe the fat from an air fryer, or coffee grounds, all these things, add to create a block.” He advised scraping such waste into a disposable container, like a baked bean tin, and disposing of it in the bin.
