What Not to Put Down Kitchen Sinks and When to Call for a Professional Drain Cleaning
Pulled the plug from your kitchen sink but nothing's going down? Most drain clogs happen due to problem items such as grease, coffee grounds, and food scraps.
Knowing what you shouldn't put down your sink helps avoid the need for professional drain cleaning. However, you also shouldn't ignore signs of trouble, so we've created this handy guide that explains:
Keep reading to discover how to keep water running smoothly through your drains.
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Common Items You Should Never Put Down the Kitchen Sink
If you have a garbage disposal, this can help avoid clogs due to small food scraps. However, there are some things you should never put down your drain, even with a garbage disposal.
The most problematic drain cloggers include:
- Grease and oils. Fats solidify deep inside your drains. While hot water and soap may help at first, they have little impact on grease clogs deeper inside.
- Coffee grounds. Convenient as the sink is, you should always throw coffee grounds in the bin. Otherwise, they swell up with water and bind to other debris, causing large clogs.
- Starchy foods. Starchy foods swell up from water and are sticky, so they trap anything else that enters your drain.
- Fibrous foods. Vegetables like celery don't break down much in water. Instead, they form large clogs that refuse to budge.
- Eggshells. Fragments of eggshells stick to pipe joints and eventually catch other waste as it flows through, leading to aggressive clogs.
- Chemical cleaners. While a little vinegar is typically safe, powerful acids and bases don't belong in your kitchen sink. They eat away at your pipes, creating rough edges that encourage clogs.
The Impact of Clogs on Your Plumbing
Clogs start small and grow over time, so you may not notice a problem until your sink starts draining slowly. At this point, simple plunging may work, but you'll need to change how you use the sink to avoid the problem returning. You should also check your garbage disposal for any damage.
However, clogged kitchen sinks can still worsen over time, especially if the problem lies deeper in your drain lines. You may notice a foul odor emanating from the drain when this happens. Eventually, increased pressure from the clog may even rupture the pipes, leading to extensive home water damage.
Why DIY Drain Cleaning Isn’t Always Enough
Plungers only clear superficial blockages, and chemical drain cleaners may work deeper down but can cause pipe damage. DIY kitchen drain cleaning typically doesn't address the root cause of a clog, either, so fixes are only temporary.
It's fine to try plunging and gentle enzymatic cleaners for minor drainage problems. However, if these remedies don't help, you should contact a professional to ensure a long lifespan for your pipes.
Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional
Wondering whether it might be time to call a plumber? Typical signs that your drains are at this point include persistent slow draining, unpleasant odors, and bubbling or gurgling sounds.
If water backs up in multiple sinks or drains, this may indicate a main sewer line clog. Always take a clog like this seriously because it impacts all the plumbing in your home, including sinks, showers, and toilets.
Preventing Future Clogs
As frustrating as kitchen sink clogs are, there are simple steps you can take to prevent them, including:
- Using a sink strainer
- Scraping grease into the trash after it cools
- Flushing your drains with hot, soapy water regularly
- Avoiding putting large quantities of bony/fibrous/starchy foods in your garbage disposal
However, if you still experience a clog, MSP can get your drains back in working order.
Sink Trouble? Let MSP Clear the Way with Professional Drain Cleaning!
Don't let a clogged sink turn into a bigger problem. Contact MSP for drain cleaning. Our prompt and friendly service has earned us over 1,000 5-star reviews.