Dallas, TX
Drain cleaning in Dallas
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Short answer
Grease is one of the biggest causes of clogs in Dallas homes and city sewers. Dallas Water Utilities runs Cease the Grease, created under an agreement with TCEQ to cut grease-related overflows, and collects residents' used cooking oil at 28 recycling stations. For a slow drain, a cable usually works; a grease-coated line clears better with jetting.
What's different in Dallas
Cease the Grease began in April 2005 as part of a sanitary sewer overflow agreement with TCEQ and expanded into a comprehensive program in June 2007. [1]
Grease can block both city sewer lines and homeowner pipes, causing overflows, property damage and road closures for repairs. [1]
Dallas collects used grease and cooking oil from residents at 28 recycling stations and converts it to heat and electricity at its Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant. [2]
Cable or jetting?
| Situation | Usual method |
|---|---|
| Hair or a single soft clog | Hand auger or cable |
| Kitchen line that clogs every few months | Hydro jetting to remove grease |
| Main line backup with roots | Cable to open it, then a camera inspection |
Keeping it clear
- Take cooled grease and oil to a city recycling station instead of the drain.
- Run the garbage disposal with plenty of cold water, and keep grease out of it.
- Use strainers in kitchen and bathroom drains.
Related
What Dallas homeowners usually check next
- SymptomToilet overflowing
- SymptomDrain backing up
- SymptomSink not draining
Common questions
Where can I recycle cooking grease in Dallas?
At one of the city's 28 grease and cooking oil recycling stations.
What happens to grease Dallas collects?
It's converted to heat and electricity at the Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Why did Dallas start Cease the Grease?
As part of an agreement with TCEQ to reduce grease-related sanitary sewer overflows, starting in 2005.
Can grease damage my own Dallas pipes?
Yes; grease blocks homeowner pipes as well as city sewers.
Is jetting better than a cable for Dallas kitchen drains?
For grease-coated lines, jetting usually keeps them clear longer.
Does a garbage disposal handle grease?
No; grease passes through and hardens farther down the line.
When should a Dallas drain be camera inspected?
When clogs keep returning or a main line backs up.
Do Dallas sewer overflows cause property damage?
They can, along with road closures for repairs, according to the city.
How do I keep hair out of Dallas bathroom drains?
Use drain strainers and clean them regularly.
Is a slow Dallas drain an emergency?
Usually not, unless several fixtures back up or sewage appears.
More plumbing help in Dallas
- Water Heater Replacement in DallasReplacing a water heater in Dallas: why a permit is required even for like-for-like swaps, who can obtain it, the homestead homeowner exception, and the inspection.
- Water bill suddenly high in DallasDallas leak adjustments: customers pay for leaked water, but DWU can bill excess use at the lowest rate for up to three months, once a year.
- Backflow Testing in DallasDallas backflow rules: lawn irrigation assemblies don't need annual tests, only when new, repaired or replaced; high-hazard assemblies need annual registered tests.
- Water Line Repair in DallasDallas Water Utilities' service line inventory: how materials were identified, letters to 225,000 unknown lines, and the GIS lookup.
- Toilet Installation in DallasDallas Water Utilities' New Throne for Your Home: up to two free high-efficiency toilets or $90 rebates for replacing pre-1994 toilets. Check current status.
- Frozen Pipe Repair in DallasFrozen pipes in Dallas: DWU's freeze prep, the private shutoff you're responsible for, required sprinkler freeze sensors, and what to do in a water emergency.
- Drain Cleaning: the full guideHow professional drain cleaning works, when a clog is in one fixture or the main line, snaking vs. hydro jetting, and what to try before you call.
- Plumbing in DallasLocal water, housing and climate conditions, and the calls Dallas homes need most.
Sources (2)
- Dallas Water Utilities, Pretreatment Program FAQs · checked 2026-10-03
- Dallas City News, City converts grease to energy · checked 2026-10-03