Cease the Grease: Keeping Kitchen Drains Clear in Downtown Truckee Homes and Restaurants

What Truckee Sanitary District Says About Grease

Truckee Sanitary District’s sewer education page is direct: “When fat, oil & grease are washed down the drain, it can solidify & cause clogs in pipes.” It adds that those clogs can lead to spills that are harmful to the environment. The district’s slogan for it is “Cease the grease!”

The same page warns about coffee grounds, which it says do not break down in water and clump together, and describes fatbergs: clumps of wipes, fat, oil, grease, dirt and debris that build up in pipes (TSD).

Kitchen Habits That Keep Drains Clear

• Let cooking grease cool, then scrape it into the trash or a sealed container.
• Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them.
• Put coffee grounds in the trash or compost, not the sink or disposal.
• Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps.
• Run the garbage disposal with plenty of cold water, and don’t use it for grease or fibrous scraps.

Why Downtown Buildings Are Worth Extra Care

Downtown Truckee has many older buildings, and older drain lines are less forgiving of buildup. Our article on galvanized pipe in old Truckee buildings covers what aging pipe looks like. Where units share a drain or lateral, one tenant’s grease habit can back up a neighbor’s sink.

Restaurants and Food Service Kitchens

Commercial kitchens are held to a higher standard. The Truckee Sanitary District Code includes dedicated sections on food establishments, grease interceptors and grease traps, plus testing of grease interceptors. TSD also handles commercial sewer permits for new or changed connections. If you run a restaurant or cafe in Truckee, read those code sections or call the district at 530-587-3804 to confirm what applies to your kitchen.

On the plumbing side, a grease interceptor that is overdue for service is a common cause of slow floor drains and backups during a busy weekend. Keep a written pumping and cleaning schedule and stick to it.

Signs Grease Is Building Up in Your Line

• The kitchen sink drains slowly even after plunging.
• Gurgling from the sink when the dishwasher or washer drains.
• A rancid smell from the drain.
• Water backing up into the other side of a double sink.

When home remedies stop working, our drain cleaning team can clear the line, and we repair and install garbage disposals throughout Downtown Truckee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pour grease down the drain if I run hot water?

Truckee Sanitary District says fat, oil and grease washed down the drain can solidify and cause clogs. Let it cool and put it in the trash instead.

Are coffee grounds bad for drains?

Truckee Sanitary District says coffee grounds do not break down in water and clump together. Throw them in the trash or compost.

Do Truckee restaurants need a grease interceptor?

The Truckee Sanitary District Code has dedicated sections on food establishments, grease interceptors and grease traps. Restaurant owners should check those sections or call the district at 530-587-3804.