Avoiding Household Sink Clogs
A clogged sink is at least an inconvenience and, at worst, a disaster. First, the water will drain slower until it doesn’t drain at all. If the clogged sink is in the kitchen, the clog will inhibit meal prep and cleaning dishes. If it is in the bathroom, handwashing and other grooming habits will be a struggle. Other household sink clogs can interrupt the laundry and cleaning schedule.
Learn how to prevent sink clogs with these simple tips.
Safely Dispose of Cooking Grease
Grease from cooking meats and fatty foods should never go down the kitchen sink drain. Although it is a liquid when hot, as it cools, the grease fat solidifies into a wax-like substance. When dumped down the kitchen sink, this waxy grease fat will coat the drainpipe walls, slowly building up into a partial or total blockage. Other solid food waste may also get caught in the sticky grease, resulting in a clog.
Be sure to dispose of cooking grease safely. Allow it to cool down in the pan until it hardens, and scrape it into the trash. Homeowners can also save the grease to reuse in other recipes. Do not compost grease, as it will attract rodents and cause a stench. If one must dump some grease down the drain, they need to flush it thoroughly with very hot water.
Take Care of Your Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposals are designed to mulch food waste into pieces small enough to pass through the home’s plumbing system. But not everything can go down the garbage disposal.
Items to never put in the garbage disposal include:
- Bones
- Stringy vegetables like celery
- Coffee grounds
- Pasta
- Eggshells
- Potato peels
- Grease or oil
When running the garbage disposal, always let cold water run with it, and let the water continue to run for a moment longer once the disposal is off. This will help flush the small waste particles thoroughly down the drain. And periodically clean the inside of the disposal by dumping baking soda down it and pouring vinegar on top. This will result in a foaming chemical reaction that will dissolve residue and can be rinsed away.
Use Drain Stoppers To Prevent Clogs
Drain stoppers are devices that sit inside the opening of a sink drain that catches clog-causing debris like hair, lint and food waste. Found online or at home improvement stores, they come in various styles and materials, such as plastic, metal, rubber and silicone. Some models can be sealed to allow the sink to fill with water. Installing stoppers in the kitchen sink, laundry sink and bathroom sink will prevent drain clogs.
Clean the stoppers once a week by wiping out the solid buildup with a paper towel into the trash, and cleaning away soap residue and grime with an ordinary household cleaner.
For more advice on how to avoid clogged sinks and for help with drain cleaning services, consult a professional plumber.
About JD Precision Plumbing Services
Based in The Woodlands, TX, JD Precision Plumbing Services has been putting customers first since 2010. With decades of combined experience, their technicians are experts at drain cleaning and more. JD Precision Plumbing Services will always go above and beyond to provide 100% customer satisfaction.
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