Imagine this: it’s the end of a long week, you’re tired from work, and you’ve got a family gathering to plan for this weekend. You’re cleaning up a quick Friday night dinner you made on the fly, when you realize…water is rising in the sink, even though it’s not plugged.
You’ve got a clog. And, in the typical way of clogs, it’s made its presence known at the worst possible time.
Luckily, that’s just an imaginary scenario — and there are many things you can do to prevent clogs from happening. If you want to prevent problems before they can happen, you’ve come to the right place.
Why Do Kitchen Sinks Clog?
There’s no denying that a kitchen sink clog is annoying, but why exactly does it happen? The most common reason as to why your kitchen sink clogs is thanks to whatever has been put down it.
Even if you have a garbage disposal, it’s important to be aware of what should and should not be put in it. For example, things like grease (of any kind), coffee grounds, oils, and fats can cause some serious drain blockages. Large food pieces (especially if you don’t have a garbage disposal) can also cause clogs.
Luckily, many clogs can be avoided.
How to Avoid Kitchen Sink Clogs
Some of the most surefire way to avoid kitchen sink clogs include:
· Using a container for your cooking grease.
- Instead of tossing your grease down the drain after you’re done cooking, pour it into a coffee can or another type of disposable container. Then, simply throw it away.
· Putting coffee grounds in a better place.
- Instead of down the drain, add coffee grounds to your compost, mulch pile, or throw them directly into the garbage. The sink is never a good place for them to be.
· Using a screen or a drain grate.
- A screen, drain grate, or mesh drain prevents soap scum and food debris from making their way into your kitchen drain. These devices are super easy to find, use, and clean.
· Using your garbage disposal the right way.
- A clogged garbage disposal is no one’s friend, so it’s important for all members of your household to realize that it’s not a trash chute. Things that should never be put in the garbage disposal include eggshells, coffee grounds, meat, bones, pasta, rice, fruit and vegetable peels, harsh chemicals, paint, and paper products.
- To make sure your disposal runs smoothly, use a constant flow of cold water (only cold, since hot water may cause fats and oils to congeal) while the disposal is running and for about a minute after. This helps clean food residue and encourages the grinding process.
· Use natural cleaning products.
- Harsh chemicals, as we’ve stated, can harm your drain pipes. Natural products like vinegar and baking soda will clean your sink and drain in a much safer manner.
Keeping Your Drain Clean
Preventing clogs also hinges on knowing how to keep your kitchen drain clean. A simple cleaning tactic is to pour some hot (preferably boiling) water down the drain. Even better, sprinkle some baking soda down the drain first and follow it with your hot water, as this will eliminate odors and do a great job cleaning.
You can also pour a cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for about a half hour before following it with boiling water. This will help remove organic buildup from the pipes.
Your Clog-Free Kitchen Sink
At Gibson’s Heating & Plumbing, we have experience with all types of drain services. That, combined with the fact that we work with almost all brands of equipment (sinks, pipes, drains, etc.), with our expert services, makes us the perfect choice for all of your kitchen drain needs.
If you’ve got a clog (or if your drain is becoming repeatedly clogged) and need our expert services, a Gibson’s service technician will come to your home, analyze the needs of your drain, and provide personalized options in order to fix the issue. We also have a drain maintenance program that ensures pesky clogs don’t turn into something major.
Give us a call today at (260) 667-9919 for a free, in-home estimate. We’re looking forward to helping you!
