Abstract: A cooking appliance is provided comprising a grill unit having one or more heating units, a sump basin for collecting grease and other fluids used or generated during the cooking process, a drain opening disposed in the sump basin pan for allowing for the removal of fluid materials from within the basin, and a grease drain conduit extending from the drain opening of the sump basin to a grease receptacle. The grease drain conduit is disposed in sufficient heat-transfer relationship with the cooking unit to maintain the grease and other fluids traveling within the conduit in a flowing state to assist in the prevention of the grease coexisting and thereby obstructing the drain conduit.