Experts have warned that you could make an easy mistake on pancake day which may cost you £300. Although pancakes are tasty treats, the batter itself can cause serious damage to your drains if its poured down the sink.
A plumbing expert at Rated People said: “Pancake batter contains flour, fat and oil and this is a recipe for disaster when it comes to drains as it can quickly harden in pipes and lead to blockages and burst pipes which can be costly to repair.”
As well as damaging your own pipes, pouring leftover pancake mix down the drain can contribute to fatbergs in sewers. This is when fat and grease combine with unflushable items (such as wet wipes and cotton buds).
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Fatbergs prevent water from flowing through, and it’s estimated that South West Water spends a huge £4.5 million every year just clearing blockages from its 17,000km sewer network. One recent fatberg in London’s sewers, nicknamed ‘Fatty McFatberg’, was reported to have stretched for 250 metres and weighed in at a whopping 130 tonnes.
A block pipe can cost around £150-£300 to fix, depending on how easy it is to access the pipe, which costs a lot more than a pancake.
The Rated People plumbing experts also said: “Leaking or fully burst pipes caused by increased pressure from blockages can cause damage to your property and possessions, which means fixing the broken pipework could only be part of the repair cost.
Whether it’s a plastic or copper pipe, the solution will likely involve replacing the section of the pipe that’s damaged. Fixing a burst water pipe that’s easy to access will cost around £150, but with no visible access, the job is trickier and that can set you back by around £300 on average. Those hard-to-locate leaks are where a plumber’s expertise is even more valuable.”
What should you do with leftover pancake mixture instead?
This Shrove Tuesday, Rated People plumbing professionals explain how you can save your pipes from any pancake-related problems by trying these four alternatives to pouring leftover batter down the drain:
Freeze leftover batter: Portion control can be tricky, and you can only store homemade batter in the fridge for up to two days. So, if you are pancaked out, and don’t fancy going for round two the next day, you can freeze the batter for up to three months. Simply store it in an airtight container or freezer bag and place in your freezer. Make sure you thoroughly defrost the mixture in the fridge before using it, and if the mixture separates a little in the freezing process, this is nothing to worry about - just mix it really well before cooking.
Use it for Yorkshire puddings: Pancake mixture uses the same recipe as Yorkshire puddings, so you can use the remaining batter to create a batch of Sunday roast Yorkies and then just pop them in the freezer until you need to use them.
Fakeaways: If you want to create an at-home version of a traditional fish and chips takeaway, then hold onto your batter. By coating a piece of cod in your pancake mixture and deep frying (or shallow frying it) you can use up that leftover batter to create a delicious evening meal.
Dispose in food waste bin: If your batter didn’t turn out as the recipe promised (we’ve all been there) then wait until it’s cool and then tip it into a food waste bin. Be sure to check that your local authority accepts this type of food in the waste first though.
Natalie White, Head of Brand Communications at Rated People, added: “We understand the excitement around Pancake Day and we, like so many others in the UK, will be channelling our inner Mary Berry to create the best pancake stacks. However, it’s really important that people are aware of the damage that pouring leftover batter down the drain can do to your home. To avoid facing an unwelcome repair bill of around £300, it’s a much better idea to reuse the leftover batter instead of pouring it down the kitchen sink.
If you’re already noticing plumbing changes like leaks and water that’s slow to drain away, or you’re worried about a blockage, we’d recommend bringing in a skilled plumber to identify and fix the problem sooner rather than later when it could get worse.”
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