Here are some tips to help avoid drain problems:

• Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets! Too often, grease is washed into the plumbing system, usually through the kitchen sink, which will stick to the inside of sewer pipes. Over time, the grease can build up and block the entire pipe. Pour grease into a can (an empty coffee can works great). Keep it in the refrigerator so the grease can solidify and then dispose of it in the trash. Wipe grease from pots and pans with paper towels and throw in the trash.

• If you are deep frying a turkey, Bismarck residents can recycle the used oil at the Public Works Dept. (601 S 26th St) during normal office hours. Be sure the oil is in a tightly capped container.

• Use your garbage disposal sparingly! Never use your garbage disposal as a substitute for the trash can. Scrape grease and food scraps from trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, and grills and cooking surfaces into a can or the trash for disposal. Be especially careful with pasta, potatoes, and other starchy foods. Starch and water make paste, which can plug pipes. Be even more careful with what goes down the kitchen drain if you don’t have a disposal. Put strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids, and empty the strainers into the trash for disposal.

Following these simple steps can help you avoid having a backed up sewer line during the holiday season and throughout the year.