Is there anything more frustrating than a clogged kitchen sink? No matter what you do, water just won’t drain and your sink is temporarily out of action.
Should you call a plumber? What has caused this problem?
The good news is, this won’t happen again if you follow proper drain maintenance. Keep reading for three simple tips that can keep your drains clear, making annoying clogged kitchen drains a thing of the past.
1. Keep Food Away from Drains
If you’re frequently dealing with a clogged sink, be careful that no one in the household is putting food down the drain. Unless you have a garbage disposal, there is nowhere for food to go when it’s washed down the sink and it’s going to build up over time and clog your drain pipes.
It is especially important to avoid starchy foods, such as rice, pasta, and potatoes, as these foods will swell with water when they get wet, and can congeal into a thick, starchy paste that will be the enemy of any drain.
If you’re keeping drains clean, also avoid foods such as coffee grounds, eggshells, seeds, or chicken bones. All of these cannot be broken down without a garbage disposal and will quickly cause clogs.
If you are sure food isn’t going down the drain and you’re seeing clogged pipes, or if you want to install a garbage disposal, consider reaching out to a professional kitchen plumber.
2. Flush with Hot Water for Better Drain Maintenance
After each use, try to run hot water down the drains. If you notice that water has started to drain slower than it should, you can also add some gentle dishwashing soap. Hot water and soap will help push through any oils or grease that might have gone down the sink, keeping pipes clear.
By doing this regularly, you can get rid of potential problems before they become big ones. This is an easy and affordable trick to help keep drains clear.
3. Dispose of Grease Properly
Grease is a liquid, so it can go down the sink, right?
Nope, be careful with this one- although hot grease is commonly found in many kitchens when cooking, it should never go down a drain. As soon as it cools, it will congeal and harden, making it then extremely hard to get out of pipes.
The same goes for oils, which can stick to the sides of pipes, slowing creating problems and reducing water flow.
Grease and oils should always be disposed of properly when they’re no longer needed. Do this by sealing it in a watertight container before placing in the trash, or check to see if your county or city has a recycling program in place.
Learn More
If you have any questions about drain maintenance in your kitchen or bathroom plumbing systems, contact us. We have over 30 years of experience, and all our technicians are NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified and we can make sure your kitchen drains are working at optimum performance, year after year.